Comment 14516

By Matt A (registered) | Posted November 25, 2007 at 15:24:50

Hi all

This is my first post.. so be nice!

I think it fantastic that the city is investing in derelict and empty buildings downtown to get them going. As mentioned above, there are a number of them in the works... and buildings being used certainly a) help to bring activity and vibrancy to a city and b) result in much greater tax revenues (and without the added expense of distant city-edge servicing).

Having said that, I noticed that the spec building was mentioned, and agree to some extent with the criticism of the City. My agreement lies here: the City seems to be bent on some idea that it is desperate for development and will accept any that comes along. This both gives the impression that it is true and potentially damages the value of the built environment. I'll use myself as an example: I want to live downtown. I have looked at the 'new developments' at the Spec building; at the former Eatons building on Rebecca St; at Chateau Royale; and at the small condo redevelopment in the International Village. None of these pique my interest. All seem to have been done by suburban type developers who are not in tune with the type of place a downtowner would like to live. The small condos in the International Village, for example, are all stark and new inside!! No evidence of the nice old brick building that they are located in!! If I wanted 'new', I probably wouldn't be looking downtown.

So.. here's my point: incentives for development downtown are great, but the City needs to evaluate bids for redevelopment and choose those that meet the needs and desires of potential users of the area. Otherwise, the whole thing's just a facade!

Matt

p.s. I would enjoy living in Treble Hall (if it was fixed up right)

Permalink | Context

Events Calendar

There are no upcoming events right now.
Why not post one?

Recent Articles

Article Archives

Blog Archives

Site Tools

Feeds