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By Greg Smith (anonymous) | Posted April 04, 2013 at 19:09:36
I really enjoyed this article and it got me thinking about how reform is achieved by connecting a great many ideas into one vision. I feel as though several promising projects in Hamilton are done in such a disjointed manor that they do not achieve the ultimate goal. One example of that is the York two-way conversion; limited turning from James, start and stop bike lanes, ends at Victoria, and on and on and on. I worry that people against two-way converstion and complete streets will then use this as and others as examples of no positive coming from the action.
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I read Raise the Hammer on a daily basis. I find myself in agreement with 95% of the posted content. I'm hugely in favour of complete streets, two-way conversion, LRT, by-law and zoning reform, etc. My concern is that in order for Hamilton to thrive, all reforms will need to be implemented in conjunction with one another.
A complete street through an area such as Barton will not succeed without changes to laws governing zoning and restrictive red-tape that prevent fledgling start-up businesses from opening up. I recall reading that business owners receive a break on taxes when their retail element is not occupied. This seems counter intuitive to business creation. A break on taxes to get a new business off the ground is reasonable, but an ongoing break is unacceptable. This is just one example, cost of rezoning and other issues related to small business are often reported as being extremely complicated and expensive.
Similarly if we do not achieve significant two-way conversion before the implementation of LRT what will be the incentive to get out of ones car when you can still speed across town riding the Green wave? A complete street that continues to allow double container transport trucks will also not work.
These are just a few examples that lead to my question of what can we do to further encourage rejuvenation? While this blog does an admirable job of bring these issues to the forefront, I believe we need a civic leader to step forward and push for collective reforms. 2014 is just around the corner, are there people out there who will stand up and fight for a better Hamilton? Anyone, anyone, Bueller, Bueller?
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