Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Sentiment in its place":
I think that wreck that was supposed to be part of the Heritage Park thingee is in even worse condition but no one has been inside for years from what I gather. One wonders at what stage a town has to demand that a property be cleaned up. If it was just a matter of the grass never being cut there would be a by-law officer on the doorstep.
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 12 June 2014 13:01
*********************
The Report to Council on the proposal, noted four contractors were consulted., one an expert on heritage re-development.
They concluded there was no place for public participation in such a scheme.
The Readman House should be demolished, they said.
A site plan was approved for the property ten years ago. Another example of many many hours of planning on a project that came to nought.
The building has been boarded up since then. Before that it was rented out in units.
No light or heat in all of those years and who knows what living and dying behind the boards.
We had the experience with the Petch House. We know the deterioration that occurs.
Yet the approved site plan calls for the Readman House to be incorporated in re-development of multiple town houses.
The property has been for sale since site plan approval. Obviously, no buyers. despite shortage of building sites.
Builder-developers would be the target market. Only a builder-developer would know the plan was not do-able. Even with shared driveway access with the Hillary house ,it was never going to happen.
An unwary speculator might be seduced.
Failure to sell therefore is not mysterious.
The real estate owner agreed with anything that would lead to approval of the plan for multiple residential . Asking price, calculated by number of units. would maximize profit.
Only if the project was feasible.
It never was.
Hence came the idea of persuading the municipality. Staff reported , appraised value was according to number of units that could be built.
Only they couldn't
Thursday, 12 June 2014
Sentiment in its place
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Fish,Fowl or Good Red Herring":
I read Chris’s blog entry talking about the heritage rating on the Browning House. 92.5 out of 100? Maybe there was a mistake with the decimal placing. I would have thought 9.25 would have been generous.
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 12 June 2014 09:55
*******************
I always thought that house was a blight on the landscape. Forty years ago the planner told me
the inside was worse .
I was not delighted with the proposal to adapt the building to modern use.
The owners undertook the project. A local architect was hired and set about designing the new structure and gutting the old.
A team wearing masks and protective clothing cleaned out the premises. I believe the owners were part of that.
Foundations were discovered to be inadequte. A permit was obtained from the town to secure the structure.
The town steered the owners to access from a right-of-way at the rear. Yonge Street was the
address and the frontage.
Neighbours who shared the righof-way objected. Their concerns were valid and took precedence.
However much may have been invested at that point was wasted.
The owners were not at fault. All the planning was for nought.
Town man-hours invested in the project were equally unproductive.
It may be more expense is incurred in work that comes to nought than work that obtains results.
Everybody pays the price.
The plan went off the rails.
Thousands of dollars,private and public,, wasted in the process.
It's not a solitary event.
Waste of resources must number in the millions in Aurora alone.
I appreciate the orderliness and charm of old Aurora. People of vision and imagination have invested private resources to that end.
Families opting for old versus new, with personal resources have restored old neighbourhoods to new gentility.
My applause goes to the private sector.
Towns seldom build anything. Perhaps not a bad thing. e.g. Works yard and garage $26.9 million and counting.
I do not share the view every relic of the past needs to be preserved. Or massive infusion of public funds should be used to that end.
I don;t believe bureaucracy is better placed to manage preservation.
Stories are legion to prove otherwise.
The fishing/ sailing ship, BlueNose languishing in Lunenburg Harbour is the latest
Each time I go to Nova Scotia, I visit Lunenburg to catch a glimpse of it.
But the latest story of millions spent and no end in sight, makes me shiver.
Chris's viewpoint is his . I offer no challenge .
But sentiment does not buy the baby a new bonnet
I read Chris’s blog entry talking about the heritage rating on the Browning House. 92.5 out of 100? Maybe there was a mistake with the decimal placing. I would have thought 9.25 would have been generous.
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 12 June 2014 09:55
*******************
I always thought that house was a blight on the landscape. Forty years ago the planner told me
the inside was worse .
I was not delighted with the proposal to adapt the building to modern use.
The owners undertook the project. A local architect was hired and set about designing the new structure and gutting the old.
A team wearing masks and protective clothing cleaned out the premises. I believe the owners were part of that.
Foundations were discovered to be inadequte. A permit was obtained from the town to secure the structure.
The town steered the owners to access from a right-of-way at the rear. Yonge Street was the
address and the frontage.
Neighbours who shared the righof-way objected. Their concerns were valid and took precedence.
However much may have been invested at that point was wasted.
The owners were not at fault. All the planning was for nought.
Town man-hours invested in the project were equally unproductive.
It may be more expense is incurred in work that comes to nought than work that obtains results.
Everybody pays the price.
The plan went off the rails.
Thousands of dollars,private and public,, wasted in the process.
It's not a solitary event.
Waste of resources must number in the millions in Aurora alone.
I appreciate the orderliness and charm of old Aurora. People of vision and imagination have invested private resources to that end.
Families opting for old versus new, with personal resources have restored old neighbourhoods to new gentility.
My applause goes to the private sector.
Towns seldom build anything. Perhaps not a bad thing. e.g. Works yard and garage $26.9 million and counting.
I do not share the view every relic of the past needs to be preserved. Or massive infusion of public funds should be used to that end.
I don;t believe bureaucracy is better placed to manage preservation.
Stories are legion to prove otherwise.
The fishing/ sailing ship, BlueNose languishing in Lunenburg Harbour is the latest
Each time I go to Nova Scotia, I visit Lunenburg to catch a glimpse of it.
But the latest story of millions spent and no end in sight, makes me shiver.
Chris's viewpoint is his . I offer no challenge .
But sentiment does not buy the baby a new bonnet
Wednesday, 11 June 2014
Fish,Fowl or Good Red Herring
I toyed with the idea of rising on a Question of Privilege last night.
At the previous council meeting, the Mayor stated 'Your conduct is inappropriate, Councillor Buck"
I waited for the follow-up. None came .
I asked; "Are you ruling me out of order, Mr..Mayor"
"I am" he said.
"Are you going to specify a reason, Mr.Mayor" I asked.
"No I am not " he said.
I think I said he had to . He just repeated that my conduct was inappropriate
Here's the thing; if a Councillor makes a statement that offends Council or a Councillor,
the presiding member has a duty to call the member to order. Point out the offending statement.
The member then has an opportunity to remedy either with a withdrawal or an apology or both.
It called civil discourse. It;s the reason for the rules of order.
Without stating the point of order, the Mayor had no authority to interrupt me while I was speaking.
He was out of order. The remedy then is for the Councillor to challenge the ruling of the chair.
At the time though what came into my head was that scene in Scent of Woman when Al Pacino
whacked a table with his cane and roared.
"No. you're out of order. If I was the man I was ( he was a combat veteran) I would take a flame thrower to this place" There was a lot more about the school being a place to shape young minds
and what the principal was doing was the opposite.
The Principal, under threat of expulsion of a scholarship student, was trying to force him to give up names of other students for dropping a paint bomb on his car.
It was a great scene in a great movie.
Anyway, I didn't rise on a question of privilege. There were other matters of priority,
But it was interesting to note. Time is of the essence when there are delegations present.
The rules allow questions from Councillors. They specifically do not allow discussion or debate or any other exchange wit the delegate.
The rules are not observed. Either Councillor Humfryes or Gaertner will feel compelled to express
heart- felt appreciation to the delegate for their service to the community.
Last night was no exception. First it was Councillor Gaertner then Thomson, I think Pirrie got in a word or two but the torrential outpouring came from Councillor Abel. On and on he lavished enough praise to fertilize the entire ravine.
The Mayor gazed complacently throughout. Obviously completely satisfied with the Councillors supremely appropriate conduct.
Oblivious to the rules that prohibit the same.
People half my age feel sometimes compelled to remind me of how things change. As if they better situated in youth to judge than I am in maturity.
Times past, a performance like Councillor Abel's last night would have drawn a collective groan from around the Council table.
A politician blatantly trying to catch a glow from somebody else's effort would quickly be called to order.
With Mayor Dawe, things mostly depend on what makes him comfortable.
At the previous council meeting, the Mayor stated 'Your conduct is inappropriate, Councillor Buck"
I waited for the follow-up. None came .
I asked; "Are you ruling me out of order, Mr..Mayor"
"I am" he said.
"Are you going to specify a reason, Mr.Mayor" I asked.
"No I am not " he said.
I think I said he had to . He just repeated that my conduct was inappropriate
Here's the thing; if a Councillor makes a statement that offends Council or a Councillor,
the presiding member has a duty to call the member to order. Point out the offending statement.
The member then has an opportunity to remedy either with a withdrawal or an apology or both.
It called civil discourse. It;s the reason for the rules of order.
Without stating the point of order, the Mayor had no authority to interrupt me while I was speaking.
He was out of order. The remedy then is for the Councillor to challenge the ruling of the chair.
At the time though what came into my head was that scene in Scent of Woman when Al Pacino
whacked a table with his cane and roared.
"No. you're out of order. If I was the man I was ( he was a combat veteran) I would take a flame thrower to this place" There was a lot more about the school being a place to shape young minds
and what the principal was doing was the opposite.
The Principal, under threat of expulsion of a scholarship student, was trying to force him to give up names of other students for dropping a paint bomb on his car.
It was a great scene in a great movie.
Anyway, I didn't rise on a question of privilege. There were other matters of priority,
But it was interesting to note. Time is of the essence when there are delegations present.
The rules allow questions from Councillors. They specifically do not allow discussion or debate or any other exchange wit the delegate.
The rules are not observed. Either Councillor Humfryes or Gaertner will feel compelled to express
heart- felt appreciation to the delegate for their service to the community.
Last night was no exception. First it was Councillor Gaertner then Thomson, I think Pirrie got in a word or two but the torrential outpouring came from Councillor Abel. On and on he lavished enough praise to fertilize the entire ravine.
The Mayor gazed complacently throughout. Obviously completely satisfied with the Councillors supremely appropriate conduct.
Oblivious to the rules that prohibit the same.
People half my age feel sometimes compelled to remind me of how things change. As if they better situated in youth to judge than I am in maturity.
Times past, a performance like Councillor Abel's last night would have drawn a collective groan from around the Council table.
A politician blatantly trying to catch a glow from somebody else's effort would quickly be called to order.
With Mayor Dawe, things mostly depend on what makes him comfortable.
A Passing Thought
Four senior journalists were guests on Charlie Rose last night. Hilary Clinton and a potential bid for the Presidency was the subject.
All had been following her activities since the husband was President.
They spoke with clinical detachment. Merciless .Without feeling.And yet without hostility.
Brad Cranston who won the Tony last week for his role as Lyndon Johnson was Charlie's guest a couple of weeks ago.
Lyndon Johnston was the topic for the full hour of the show. Both men were totally engrossed in the subject.
The actor provided a quote ; Lyndon Johnstone all eleven of him, was the best President the United Sates ever had.
From this tiny spot on God's Green Earth , it' s impossible to imagine what its like to be President of the United States of America.
It continues to surprise me that journalists and authors and Charlie continue to focus on the human being in the office and where they fail, and not on the office itself.
I think it's not possible for a mere human to do what that job requires.
I'm amazed by the strength and courage of those who try
All had been following her activities since the husband was President.
They spoke with clinical detachment. Merciless .Without feeling.And yet without hostility.
Brad Cranston who won the Tony last week for his role as Lyndon Johnson was Charlie's guest a couple of weeks ago.
Lyndon Johnston was the topic for the full hour of the show. Both men were totally engrossed in the subject.
The actor provided a quote ; Lyndon Johnstone all eleven of him, was the best President the United Sates ever had.
From this tiny spot on God's Green Earth , it' s impossible to imagine what its like to be President of the United States of America.
It continues to surprise me that journalists and authors and Charlie continue to focus on the human being in the office and where they fail, and not on the office itself.
I think it's not possible for a mere human to do what that job requires.
I'm amazed by the strength and courage of those who try
Things evolve
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Up To The Minute":
19:39 is right - well done! You did a 180 on the Petch House, and tonight you voted in favour of funding the Arboretum's budget
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 10 June 2014 21:37
**************************
Councillor Ballard has taken a leave of absence to campaign in the provincial election.
Councillor Gallo's wee lass broke her collarbone.
Councillor Humfryes has the flu.
In 2006 I voted to fund the Arboretum initially. I think I moved the motion. So that's twice in seven years ,I've changed my vote on the same issue
We were not doling out money by the hundreds of thousand hand over fist in 2006..
Twelve thousand dollars regularly raised in a March fund-raiser to help fund the July 1st
Parad became a dry well in 2009 and turned into a twelve thousand dollar drain on the town's treasury.A " volunteer" was paid and funds provided to hire an assistant.
The Jazz Festival followed to soak up several thousand more soon after.
We sold Aurora Hydro in 2006. The Lambert Wilson ravine stretches from St.John's Sideroad toWellington Street. A huge wild swath of geological formation without a purpose.
The Arboretum was a perfect purpose. I'd visited Edwards Gardens and Bouchard Gardens created out of a dump with private money.
The Arboretum group are not special interest. Gardening is their hobby but they do it for others to enjoy.
I need to see something for the money. Hydro proceeds could cover it . It wouldn't be a tax burden.
The first budget was $100,000. In that year, they bought a shed and awarded a contract for weeding.
It was disappointing.
It's also hard to spend $100,000 in a few months.
As noted , groups grew and funds handed out to spend will-nilly grew along with them.
The Arboretum budget request was halved to $50,000.
Less than The Historical Society gets and there's no museum.
Aurora Chamber of Commerce probably gets close to that amount and I don't know why.
The Arboretum has the potential of being a beautiful asset for a very long time.
Jim Tree ,parks manager works hand in hand with the group. The Director of Parks and Recreation monitors the budget.
I am once again content an Arboretum in that great wild place will do us proud.
My vote was earned.
19:39 is right - well done! You did a 180 on the Petch House, and tonight you voted in favour of funding the Arboretum's budget
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 10 June 2014 21:37
**************************
Councillor Ballard has taken a leave of absence to campaign in the provincial election.
Councillor Gallo's wee lass broke her collarbone.
Councillor Humfryes has the flu.
In 2006 I voted to fund the Arboretum initially. I think I moved the motion. So that's twice in seven years ,I've changed my vote on the same issue
We were not doling out money by the hundreds of thousand hand over fist in 2006..
Twelve thousand dollars regularly raised in a March fund-raiser to help fund the July 1st
Parad became a dry well in 2009 and turned into a twelve thousand dollar drain on the town's treasury.A " volunteer" was paid and funds provided to hire an assistant.
The Jazz Festival followed to soak up several thousand more soon after.
We sold Aurora Hydro in 2006. The Lambert Wilson ravine stretches from St.John's Sideroad toWellington Street. A huge wild swath of geological formation without a purpose.
The Arboretum was a perfect purpose. I'd visited Edwards Gardens and Bouchard Gardens created out of a dump with private money.
The Arboretum group are not special interest. Gardening is their hobby but they do it for others to enjoy.
I need to see something for the money. Hydro proceeds could cover it . It wouldn't be a tax burden.
The first budget was $100,000. In that year, they bought a shed and awarded a contract for weeding.
It was disappointing.
It's also hard to spend $100,000 in a few months.
As noted , groups grew and funds handed out to spend will-nilly grew along with them.
The Arboretum budget request was halved to $50,000.
Less than The Historical Society gets and there's no museum.
Aurora Chamber of Commerce probably gets close to that amount and I don't know why.
The Arboretum has the potential of being a beautiful asset for a very long time.
Jim Tree ,parks manager works hand in hand with the group. The Director of Parks and Recreation monitors the budget.
I am once again content an Arboretum in that great wild place will do us proud.
My vote was earned.
Tuesday, 10 June 2014
Markham Can't Afford It
I meant to mention a news item from Markham last week.
The Arts Council was having to contemplate shutting down for lack of funding. Encouragement in art was what they were about.
The annual budget was $120,000. It sounded like the municipality had cut back. Markham has four regional councillors ,they probably have several times higher population.
The news story provided a list of Arts Council budgets in the GTA
Etobicoke was highest at a little over $300,000.
Etobicoke, Ford's Nation, probably has at least ten times the population of Aurora.
This year we doled out more than half a million dollars to the Culture Centre Board. People we know nothing about.
We provide them a newly renovated building to generate revenue with no overheads except payroll.
The governing body is self-selected. Like the Farmers Market
The Arts Council was having to contemplate shutting down for lack of funding. Encouragement in art was what they were about.
The annual budget was $120,000. It sounded like the municipality had cut back. Markham has four regional councillors ,they probably have several times higher population.
The news story provided a list of Arts Council budgets in the GTA
Etobicoke was highest at a little over $300,000.
Etobicoke, Ford's Nation, probably has at least ten times the population of Aurora.
This year we doled out more than half a million dollars to the Culture Centre Board. People we know nothing about.
We provide them a newly renovated building to generate revenue with no overheads except payroll.
The governing body is self-selected. Like the Farmers Market
Up To The Minute
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Proof is in the Pudding":
What's happened to Hillview is quite sad. How this Town can let that happen yet someone who wants to take down a couple of trees and replace them gets dicked around for months and God know what financial costs. How does the Town explain that? Ten's of thousands spent on studies, and plans, and we end up with a Hillview. I can see why the handful of those entitled wanting to designate a whole community heritage after seeing what happened on Hillview, but their plan was as ridiculous as what happened to Hillview. Can we not have a happy medium. What the Town is requesting from 83 George st. is ridiculous! Somehow I doubt whatever the property owners are planning won't be.
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 9 June 2014 23:13
********************
What happened in Hillview had been happening elsewhere for ten and twenty years before with no opposition expressed.
In the seventies property owners on the north side of Kennedy Street west divided their 2
plus acre lots and created a new court behind them similar to Hillview.
Lots further east on Kennedy west eventually changed hands .Modest homes belonging to another age were replaced by homes three times the size .
No great outcry occurred.
New neighbourhoods were built throughout town with houses of similar size and opulence, The market was there.
Builders build houses to make a living. It makes sense to build houses to sit the market. Not much point in doing otherwise. Large old lots have been in demand at premium prices for decades.Old homes are disposable.
Hillview residents had a small exclusive neighborhood. They loved it...became upset when they noticed modest houses demolished and replaced with million dollar mansions.
Council was approached and a Bylaw to control size and style was demanded.
Staff said it would be difficult. Council directed it be done.
Before much time passed,Hillviewresidents realized such a Bylaw would materially affect the material value of their properties.
The Bylaw fell by the wayside for lack of interest and support.
Some people might see the transformation of Hillview as sad. Others might see it as
inevitable. Still others might see it as a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
I myself like things to stay the same. I made a few dramatic changes in my life before I found my place. It's been mine now for over fifty years.
The advisory committee endorsed staff recommendations last night.
Six of seven members were present. One Councillor. Three staff , Director of Planning, Heritage
Planner and Secretary.
What's happened to Hillview is quite sad. How this Town can let that happen yet someone who wants to take down a couple of trees and replace them gets dicked around for months and God know what financial costs. How does the Town explain that? Ten's of thousands spent on studies, and plans, and we end up with a Hillview. I can see why the handful of those entitled wanting to designate a whole community heritage after seeing what happened on Hillview, but their plan was as ridiculous as what happened to Hillview. Can we not have a happy medium. What the Town is requesting from 83 George st. is ridiculous! Somehow I doubt whatever the property owners are planning won't be.
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 9 June 2014 23:13
********************
What happened in Hillview had been happening elsewhere for ten and twenty years before with no opposition expressed.
In the seventies property owners on the north side of Kennedy Street west divided their 2
plus acre lots and created a new court behind them similar to Hillview.
Lots further east on Kennedy west eventually changed hands .Modest homes belonging to another age were replaced by homes three times the size .
No great outcry occurred.
New neighbourhoods were built throughout town with houses of similar size and opulence, The market was there.
Builders build houses to make a living. It makes sense to build houses to sit the market. Not much point in doing otherwise. Large old lots have been in demand at premium prices for decades.Old homes are disposable.
Hillview residents had a small exclusive neighborhood. They loved it...became upset when they noticed modest houses demolished and replaced with million dollar mansions.
Council was approached and a Bylaw to control size and style was demanded.
Staff said it would be difficult. Council directed it be done.
Before much time passed,Hillviewresidents realized such a Bylaw would materially affect the material value of their properties.
The Bylaw fell by the wayside for lack of interest and support.
Some people might see the transformation of Hillview as sad. Others might see it as
inevitable. Still others might see it as a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
I myself like things to stay the same. I made a few dramatic changes in my life before I found my place. It's been mine now for over fifty years.
The advisory committee endorsed staff recommendations last night.
Six of seven members were present. One Councillor. Three staff , Director of Planning, Heritage
Planner and Secretary.
Monday, 9 June 2014
The Meeting will be over already
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Lord,,,Give me strength":
The Agenda for this evening's Heritage Advisory Committee Meeting is in front of me.
HAC14-015 is a request to remove a Property from the Aurora Register of Properties of Cultural Value or Interest - 83 George Street.
You state: "The request is for a demolition permit.
The recommendation is to be denied.
Council approval is apparently required.
I am familiar with the property. From an assessment perspective, the business of the municipality, the
property is underutilized.
If revenue can be increased from town investment in urban services we should be doing that."
Beyond the above mentioned Agenda I know nothing about a demolition permit. Possibly one has been applied for by the owner and if this is the case I can understand the reference in the third paragraph "to sever the property into two lots in the future." I do not know what the specific zoning is for this particular property and the planning designation within which it is located. I would imagine
there will be objections from neighbourhood residents if a severance application goes before the Committee of Adjustment.
I really don't see what business it is of the town to attempt to maximize property tax revenue in this particular instance while being completely ignorant in the case of several planning applications during the past few years concerning condominium development and building height from the standpoint of number of floors. The present Kaitlin construction on Yonge Street was delayed foe
several years over this point.
If the town is interested in maximizing revenue it should also be interested in maximizing building height, or does the nasty nose of aesthetics enter the picture?
George Street homes have for the most part existed for quite some time and even with the differences in style and size there is a general atmosphere of an acceptable, comfortable neighbourhood.
Go over to Hillview and you have some of the remaining original homes overpowered by some of the ugliest monstrosities I have seen in many years. In order to build a 5,000 - 7,000 square foot house on a 50 - 55 foot lot all of these buildings have two-car garages under the house so when you look at them from the front you see an inclined driveway and planted above and beside it an Italianate or Franco-Prussian or God knows what bizarre style of architecture the builder has selected for his latest tasteless You should be happy with this crap as it is generating a much higher revenue for the town than the little old bungalow that used to occupy this lot.
You should really drive over there and see for yourself what could possibly be built beside your home. You might just throw up
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 9 June 2014
**************************
O.K. Item 1 was a request for 83 George Street to be removed from the sacrosanct list.
Item 3 was the request for a demolition permit of 81 Catherine Ave. It's in the N.E. Heritage Designated District.
Approval was recommended.
But the owner has to arrange a site visit with the Advisory committee in order to determine availability of amy architectural elements which may be incorporated into the Architectural Salvage program providing they meet the program guideline.and
The owner apply to donate materials to the Architectural Salvage Program should appropriate materials be identified by the Heritage Advisory Committee.and
that the mature tree located against the sidewalk in front of the existing building on the subject property remain on the subject property because it supports the character of the district, and
That the owner of the subject property submit a heritage permit to the Heritage Advisory committee
in the future for the construction of any new buildings on the property lot.
I wasn't going to re-hash Item 3. The above commenter made me do it.
It was the remark about it not being the town's business to maximize revenue .
I don't know how many staff attend the Heritage Advisory Committee.
One of the other Advisory Committee have a public health nurse from the Board of Health
attend their meetings. Never a word contributed but you can be certain ,we are paying for her to be there, With four or five other employees.
Councillors of course have nothing to say about that either.
That would be micro-managing.
The Agenda for this evening's Heritage Advisory Committee Meeting is in front of me.
HAC14-015 is a request to remove a Property from the Aurora Register of Properties of Cultural Value or Interest - 83 George Street.
You state: "The request is for a demolition permit.
The recommendation is to be denied.
Council approval is apparently required.
I am familiar with the property. From an assessment perspective, the business of the municipality, the
property is underutilized.
If revenue can be increased from town investment in urban services we should be doing that."
Beyond the above mentioned Agenda I know nothing about a demolition permit. Possibly one has been applied for by the owner and if this is the case I can understand the reference in the third paragraph "to sever the property into two lots in the future." I do not know what the specific zoning is for this particular property and the planning designation within which it is located. I would imagine
there will be objections from neighbourhood residents if a severance application goes before the Committee of Adjustment.
I really don't see what business it is of the town to attempt to maximize property tax revenue in this particular instance while being completely ignorant in the case of several planning applications during the past few years concerning condominium development and building height from the standpoint of number of floors. The present Kaitlin construction on Yonge Street was delayed foe
several years over this point.
If the town is interested in maximizing revenue it should also be interested in maximizing building height, or does the nasty nose of aesthetics enter the picture?
George Street homes have for the most part existed for quite some time and even with the differences in style and size there is a general atmosphere of an acceptable, comfortable neighbourhood.
Go over to Hillview and you have some of the remaining original homes overpowered by some of the ugliest monstrosities I have seen in many years. In order to build a 5,000 - 7,000 square foot house on a 50 - 55 foot lot all of these buildings have two-car garages under the house so when you look at them from the front you see an inclined driveway and planted above and beside it an Italianate or Franco-Prussian or God knows what bizarre style of architecture the builder has selected for his latest tasteless You should be happy with this crap as it is generating a much higher revenue for the town than the little old bungalow that used to occupy this lot.
You should really drive over there and see for yourself what could possibly be built beside your home. You might just throw up
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 9 June 2014
**************************
O.K. Item 1 was a request for 83 George Street to be removed from the sacrosanct list.
Item 3 was the request for a demolition permit of 81 Catherine Ave. It's in the N.E. Heritage Designated District.
Approval was recommended.
But the owner has to arrange a site visit with the Advisory committee in order to determine availability of amy architectural elements which may be incorporated into the Architectural Salvage program providing they meet the program guideline.and
The owner apply to donate materials to the Architectural Salvage Program should appropriate materials be identified by the Heritage Advisory Committee.and
that the mature tree located against the sidewalk in front of the existing building on the subject property remain on the subject property because it supports the character of the district, and
That the owner of the subject property submit a heritage permit to the Heritage Advisory committee
in the future for the construction of any new buildings on the property lot.
I wasn't going to re-hash Item 3. The above commenter made me do it.
It was the remark about it not being the town's business to maximize revenue .
I don't know how many staff attend the Heritage Advisory Committee.
One of the other Advisory Committee have a public health nurse from the Board of Health
attend their meetings. Never a word contributed but you can be certain ,we are paying for her to be there, With four or five other employees.
Councillors of course have nothing to say about that either.
That would be micro-managing.
Lord,,,Give me strength
As soon as the laneway to the swimming pool was mentioned I knew it was the Armata House we
are talking about.
The last discussion I heard for that property, a long time ago, the proposal was multiple residential.
The house is not designated. There is no bylaw registered against the title .
The property is listed as "of interest".
Even without legal authority, the heritage planner has set out for all to see the methods used to compel owners. to do as they're told.
Note the words. owners be "encouraged" to conserve the building because it has been listed as worthy of conservation.
"encouraged" to "work with staff" by "submission of a structural engineering report" and by a
"letter of undertaking" "to re-locate the building" " should the owner submit an application for
severance to the Committee of the Adjustment"
"That the owner be encouraged to ensure that any new structure on a newly severed lot should be in harmony with the established context of the Neighbourhood in scale, design,rhythm and massing and that this be reflected in the Letter of Undertaking"
''Encouraged '' is the operative word throughout the report.
Because there is no authority to require
No authority to compel an owner to provide a "Letter of Undertaking"
The request is a for demolition permit.
The recommendation is it be denied .
Council approval is apparently required.
I am familiar with the property. From an assessment perspective,the business of the municipality, the property is under-utilized.
If revenue can be increased from town investment in urban services we should doing that.
Increasing revenue from existing investment is preferable to increasing the tax burden.
The property is service with sewers and water.
Roads and sidewalks are plowed. Streets are illuminated. Construction maintained.
Police and fire protection are provided.
Nothing encourages me to conserve cultural heritage interest of the property, whatever that means.
George Street and Hillview Drive have a variety of housing styles.
How are harmony and rhythm established among structures designed for privacy, security and shelter from the elements ???
Never mind... I don't care....sue me.
In Aurora,we are touched
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "A little bit of this ,,,A little bit of that":
I am reading a book that mentions how radios were banned in Germany during the war. It was quite insidious how the regimentation & mind-set worked. We have to keep challenging anything leading to such a situation. I think Blogs are great. Just like books and all media. You can use them or not. But they must exisr
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 9 June 2014 16:21
************************
St Maximillian Kolbe High School is a named for a young Polish priest who knew instinctively
the value of radio in spreading information and education among the people.
It was exactly opposite to the objective of Nazi Germany and the priest was soon in one of their
internment camps. He was executed when he offered to take the place of a husband and father wgo was chosen for extermination.
The school Ptincipal took the first class of students before the school opened to see where it all happened and learn everything to know about the man for whom their school was named and purpose dedicated
*********
I am reading a book that mentions how radios were banned in Germany during the war. It was quite insidious how the regimentation & mind-set worked. We have to keep challenging anything leading to such a situation. I think Blogs are great. Just like books and all media. You can use them or not. But they must exisr
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 9 June 2014 16:21
************************
St Maximillian Kolbe High School is a named for a young Polish priest who knew instinctively
the value of radio in spreading information and education among the people.
It was exactly opposite to the objective of Nazi Germany and the priest was soon in one of their
internment camps. He was executed when he offered to take the place of a husband and father wgo was chosen for extermination.
The school Ptincipal took the first class of students before the school opened to see where it all happened and learn everything to know about the man for whom their school was named and purpose dedicated
*********
A little bit of this ,,,A little bit of that
Christopher Watts publishes his Blog. He makes the rules. He does not accept anonymous comments.
It's his decision to make.
Occasionally he comments to my Blog. True to his conviction,he does so under his name.
I allow anonymous comments. I screen the comments. Some are not published.
Many would not be made if they had to be identified.
The blog is political. I would rather provide the freedom to comment than not.
We all know anonymous comments do not carry the same weight .
For the purpose of this blog ,weighed in the balance, participation is paramount.
We have been informed by a nameless contributor , government at senior levels
monitor blogs.
I doubt opinions are separated by identity. What would that signify?
The silent majority are a little less silent
It's his decision to make.
Occasionally he comments to my Blog. True to his conviction,he does so under his name.
I allow anonymous comments. I screen the comments. Some are not published.
Many would not be made if they had to be identified.
The blog is political. I would rather provide the freedom to comment than not.
We all know anonymous comments do not carry the same weight .
For the purpose of this blog ,weighed in the balance, participation is paramount.
We have been informed by a nameless contributor , government at senior levels
monitor blogs.
I doubt opinions are separated by identity. What would that signify?
The silent majority are a little less silent
Proof is in the Pudding
The Auroran has a letter to the editor about Council's decision to stop heritage designation of the S.E.quadrant.
The proponents of the plan "promise" to hold Council accountable for whatever might happen in their neighbourhood that does not meet with their approval.
Consultant and staff claimed property-owners who understood designation would not be afraid.
Councillors said, we did a poor job of communicating the meaning of designation.
Councillors seem to have a hard time understanding property-owners are perfectly capable of understanding precisely the implications of designation on their properties.
Proponents of the plan tossed accusations of fear-mongering about indiscriminately.
Both consultant and staff indicated designation was non-invasive.
Tonight's Agenda of the Heritage Advisory Committee tells a different story.
Item 1 relates to a request ny the owner to remove 83 George Street from the Aurora Register of Properties of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest .
Staff recommend the request be denied.
And further
Owners be encouraged to conserve the building.
Encouraged to work with staff in regards to submission of a structural engineering report and the
submission of a Letter of understanding to relocate the building on the subject property to a suitable
location on one of the severed lots should the owner submit an Application to the Committee of Adjustment to sever the property into two lots in the future,and
That the owner be encouraged to ensure that any new structure on a newly severed lot should be in harmony with the established context of the neighborhood in scale,design,rhythm and massing and that this be reflected in a Letter of Understanding.
At this moment I am unfamiliar with 83 George Street. It's not an old neighborhood..
The owner has the right to apply to the Committee of Adjustment for a severance.
The Committee is a quasi judicial body with authority to decide.
Comments are invited from the town and other agencies to be considered in the decision .
Staff's recommendation to the Heritage Advisory Committee is to advise Council to require the property-owner to provide a Letter of Undertaking to re-locate the building on the subject property to a suitable location on one of the severed lots should the owner submit an Application to the Committee of Adjustment to sever the property into two lots in the future.and all that other stuff
are, to my mind,intervention in the authority of the C of A and a denial of the rights of the property owner to receive an impartial decision untainted by politics.
There is nothing innocuous about the recommendation.It is not helpful advice.
It's a requirement for the owner to commit to an undertaking even before an application for severance has been made .
It imposes conditions for severance before the Committee has had an opportunity to adjudicate.
Of course, the Heritage Advisory Committee has to approve the recommendation and Council has to
adopt the Heritage Advisory Committee's recommendation before it can happen.
If the Report is not called for discussion and they rarely are, Council will approve it.
If the owner makes an application for severance to the Committee of Adjustment, as staff appear to anticipate, he will be effectively denied the fair and impartial decision he is entitled to under law.
Council will have exercised power it does not possess. It has been recommended by staff.
Item 2 and 3 of the Agenda are similar in scope.
The concept of heritage designation and protection is illuminated better than any opposing argument a property owner could present.
The decision to discontinue Heritage designation in the S.E. quadrant halved the expenditure on the
Heritage designation Study.
Clearly it has not resolved the problem for owners of properties listed in the Register of Properties of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest.
As long as the Register exists , the problem will continue. .
The proponents of the plan "promise" to hold Council accountable for whatever might happen in their neighbourhood that does not meet with their approval.
Consultant and staff claimed property-owners who understood designation would not be afraid.
Councillors said, we did a poor job of communicating the meaning of designation.
Councillors seem to have a hard time understanding property-owners are perfectly capable of understanding precisely the implications of designation on their properties.
Proponents of the plan tossed accusations of fear-mongering about indiscriminately.
Both consultant and staff indicated designation was non-invasive.
Tonight's Agenda of the Heritage Advisory Committee tells a different story.
Item 1 relates to a request ny the owner to remove 83 George Street from the Aurora Register of Properties of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest .
Staff recommend the request be denied.
And further
Owners be encouraged to conserve the building.
Encouraged to work with staff in regards to submission of a structural engineering report and the
submission of a Letter of understanding to relocate the building on the subject property to a suitable
location on one of the severed lots should the owner submit an Application to the Committee of Adjustment to sever the property into two lots in the future,and
That the owner be encouraged to ensure that any new structure on a newly severed lot should be in harmony with the established context of the neighborhood in scale,design,rhythm and massing and that this be reflected in a Letter of Understanding.
At this moment I am unfamiliar with 83 George Street. It's not an old neighborhood..
The owner has the right to apply to the Committee of Adjustment for a severance.
The Committee is a quasi judicial body with authority to decide.
Comments are invited from the town and other agencies to be considered in the decision .
Staff's recommendation to the Heritage Advisory Committee is to advise Council to require the property-owner to provide a Letter of Undertaking to re-locate the building on the subject property to a suitable location on one of the severed lots should the owner submit an Application to the Committee of Adjustment to sever the property into two lots in the future.and all that other stuff
are, to my mind,intervention in the authority of the C of A and a denial of the rights of the property owner to receive an impartial decision untainted by politics.
There is nothing innocuous about the recommendation.It is not helpful advice.
It's a requirement for the owner to commit to an undertaking even before an application for severance has been made .
It imposes conditions for severance before the Committee has had an opportunity to adjudicate.
Of course, the Heritage Advisory Committee has to approve the recommendation and Council has to
adopt the Heritage Advisory Committee's recommendation before it can happen.
If the Report is not called for discussion and they rarely are, Council will approve it.
If the owner makes an application for severance to the Committee of Adjustment, as staff appear to anticipate, he will be effectively denied the fair and impartial decision he is entitled to under law.
Council will have exercised power it does not possess. It has been recommended by staff.
Item 2 and 3 of the Agenda are similar in scope.
The concept of heritage designation and protection is illuminated better than any opposing argument a property owner could present.
The decision to discontinue Heritage designation in the S.E. quadrant halved the expenditure on the
Heritage designation Study.
Clearly it has not resolved the problem for owners of properties listed in the Register of Properties of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest.
As long as the Register exists , the problem will continue. .
Listen up, guys
KA-NON has left a new comment on your post "It's Not Fair":
I was at the "debate" on Saturday, though it was less a debate and more a question and answer session, polite almost to a point of fault.
I agree that this was probably the worst I have ever seen Mr. Baxter. I can only assume that he meant to come across as funny ("all shook up", "thank you, thank you very much"), but in fact he came across simply as pathetic. Though he has no shame I am sure - really, how could he - he really OUGHT to be ashamed of himself.
The Green candidate was very thoughtful and likeable, even if he did begin every answer (and I mean EVERY answer) with "so". This can seem condescending (e.g. let me dumb down my message so that you will all understand), though it wasn't in this case. Nice guy, will finish 4th in all likelihood, maybe 3rd.
It was my first opportunity to hear Ms. Twinney speak. While very likeable, and seemingly genuine, she was really not very good on her feet. She was most comfortable when she was on the one talking point that seemed to matter, which is that we need to, above all other things, eliminate the debt. It was clear that her marching orders for the day were to turn every question into a debt question. If she is to win this, it will be on the strength of Mr. Klees' endorsement, name recognition in the larger of the two constituent communities, and getting out the conservative vote, which my instincts tell me is the tougher of the vote to mobilize, particularly in affluent Aurora.
Whatever your opinion of Mr. Ballard, it was clearly obvious that he was the most capable in this
format. He had a perspective on each point that was actually related to the question asked. In a real debate, with the usual accompanying parry and thrust, I suspect that he may have gotten shouted down by Reverend Elvis, probably to the point where he would have exhibited even more aggressive body-language and verbal ordnances than the usual posture and awkwardness that we have come to recognize from him, which was on display in its usual measure on Saturday.
I wouldn't care to boldly predict who will win this in Newmarket-Aurora. Based on phone calls and door-knocking, it appears to me that the Liberals are better organized, so I might give them the slight edge, but I wouldn't bet the mortgage on it, that's for sure!
Posted by KA-NON to Our Town and Its Business at 9 June 2014 10:49
I was at the "debate" on Saturday, though it was less a debate and more a question and answer session, polite almost to a point of fault.
I agree that this was probably the worst I have ever seen Mr. Baxter. I can only assume that he meant to come across as funny ("all shook up", "thank you, thank you very much"), but in fact he came across simply as pathetic. Though he has no shame I am sure - really, how could he - he really OUGHT to be ashamed of himself.
The Green candidate was very thoughtful and likeable, even if he did begin every answer (and I mean EVERY answer) with "so". This can seem condescending (e.g. let me dumb down my message so that you will all understand), though it wasn't in this case. Nice guy, will finish 4th in all likelihood, maybe 3rd.
It was my first opportunity to hear Ms. Twinney speak. While very likeable, and seemingly genuine, she was really not very good on her feet. She was most comfortable when she was on the one talking point that seemed to matter, which is that we need to, above all other things, eliminate the debt. It was clear that her marching orders for the day were to turn every question into a debt question. If she is to win this, it will be on the strength of Mr. Klees' endorsement, name recognition in the larger of the two constituent communities, and getting out the conservative vote, which my instincts tell me is the tougher of the vote to mobilize, particularly in affluent Aurora.
Whatever your opinion of Mr. Ballard, it was clearly obvious that he was the most capable in this
format. He had a perspective on each point that was actually related to the question asked. In a real debate, with the usual accompanying parry and thrust, I suspect that he may have gotten shouted down by Reverend Elvis, probably to the point where he would have exhibited even more aggressive body-language and verbal ordnances than the usual posture and awkwardness that we have come to recognize from him, which was on display in its usual measure on Saturday.
I wouldn't care to boldly predict who will win this in Newmarket-Aurora. Based on phone calls and door-knocking, it appears to me that the Liberals are better organized, so I might give them the slight edge, but I wouldn't bet the mortgage on it, that's for sure!
Posted by KA-NON to Our Town and Its Business at 9 June 2014 10:49
Soon we will know what the people decide
Responses to the previous post demonstrate the mood of the people in this election.
It does not bode well for office holders in general and Liberals in particular.
I am not soliciting sympathy. I share the outrage and frustration that the options are not palatable.
On one fleeting occasions, the Premier claimed the opposition supported the decision to
cancel the contracts for the gas-fired hydro generation plants.
There were no denials.
The cancellation was done on the eve of the last election and by The Honourable Dalton Mcguinty
Just as closures of coal-fired generation plants in the same location were done on the eve of the previous election.
Both decisions were a significant benefit to incumbent municipal politicians at the time.
Hazel's persuasion was no doubt substantial . Hence the eagerness to dismiss the significance of
$2.1 billion waste of public resources.
"The people didn't want it" she said.
"It's water under the bridge" she said.
"Let's look to the future" she said.
Well, no.... not yet. Looking to the future is fine when the past is in order.
When the past is a scandalous mess that cannot be glossed over, elections are payback time.
Except election year once in four
When people decide ,not one day more
It does not bode well for office holders in general and Liberals in particular.
I am not soliciting sympathy. I share the outrage and frustration that the options are not palatable.
On one fleeting occasions, the Premier claimed the opposition supported the decision to
cancel the contracts for the gas-fired hydro generation plants.
There were no denials.
The cancellation was done on the eve of the last election and by The Honourable Dalton Mcguinty
Just as closures of coal-fired generation plants in the same location were done on the eve of the previous election.
Both decisions were a significant benefit to incumbent municipal politicians at the time.
Hazel's persuasion was no doubt substantial . Hence the eagerness to dismiss the significance of
$2.1 billion waste of public resources.
"The people didn't want it" she said.
"It's water under the bridge" she said.
"Let's look to the future" she said.
Well, no.... not yet. Looking to the future is fine when the past is in order.
When the past is a scandalous mess that cannot be glossed over, elections are payback time.
Except election year once in four
When people decide ,not one day more
Sunday, 8 June 2014
It's Not Fair
I think the Honorable Kathleen Wynn has already felt the chill of rejection.
About now, the Premier may be wondering why politics ever held any appeal and wishing for a private exit.
I don't know the Honorable Members electoral background. If defeat has ever been a factor.
I can empathize.
The campaign has been long,intense and probably unforgiving.
Cronyism and entitlements have been called to assist. Worst attack ads against Hudak have been funded by health and educational workers.
They alone didn't gain the most but they have identified themselves.
The silent majority are again misread.
Premier Kathleen Wynn carries the entire weight on her shoulders.
Neither Horvath or Hudak have the same burden. Neither are Premier, they lose little
in defeat.
It's not fair.
But who ever said it was.
About now, the Premier may be wondering why politics ever held any appeal and wishing for a private exit.
I don't know the Honorable Members electoral background. If defeat has ever been a factor.
I can empathize.
The campaign has been long,intense and probably unforgiving.
Cronyism and entitlements have been called to assist. Worst attack ads against Hudak have been funded by health and educational workers.
They alone didn't gain the most but they have identified themselves.
The silent majority are again misread.
Premier Kathleen Wynn carries the entire weight on her shoulders.
Neither Horvath or Hudak have the same burden. Neither are Premier, they lose little
in defeat.
It's not fair.
But who ever said it was.
What's that about?
The Town owns the east side of Library Square on Victoria Street from Church to Mosely. Street.
It's a substantial area.
My proposal is to ask for a meeting with United Church representatives to explore possibilities
in our joint future.
It's hard to understand why anyone would object to that.
It's a substantial area.
My proposal is to ask for a meeting with United Church representatives to explore possibilities
in our joint future.
It's hard to understand why anyone would object to that.
No organization required
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Readers":
I understand your point, Evelyn, but feel that it is a good thing that the community is not organized at the moment. That means that the entitleds are unable to find an easy target. They are hard pressed to come up with lists of those they find offensive when the supposed culprits are spread throughout the town. The down-side is that they can attack your Blog.
If a white knight or knightess or two should emerge, then there might be
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 8 June 2014 12:53
*****************
Regular reference to the "silent majority" continues . Politicians make the mistake of confusing silence with acquiescence. or inattention.
I have never been silent. Since I came to Aurora I wrote letters to the editor. Because of the letters my constituency is the silent majority.
They did not choose silence They don't want an echo. They want to hear what they are thinking.
My role in Council has never been a mystery to me. Blog has simply extended my reach.
There are not enough hours in the day to tell all you have a right to know.
But it's growing. Commenters contribute thoughtful opinions, information and research.
Chris Watts started his blog because I was blogging. With all his expertise,
he was ashamed not to be doing what I was.
Love him or hate him, Christopher has a powerful voice. He has no fear.
His roots are deep in this community. I am a successful transplant.
There are other blogs . How influential I don't know. I don't know if Aurora is ahead .
I am content to be using . I think social media is the most significant development in self-government since the right was established.
Everything I own is on the line to protect the right to use it and make it available .
As I write .I am watching forms ,little more than children, move in a way that could never be imagined.
Yet they are doing it....before our very eyes.
We can try no less.
I understand your point, Evelyn, but feel that it is a good thing that the community is not organized at the moment. That means that the entitleds are unable to find an easy target. They are hard pressed to come up with lists of those they find offensive when the supposed culprits are spread throughout the town. The down-side is that they can attack your Blog.
If a white knight or knightess or two should emerge, then there might be
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 8 June 2014 12:53
*****************
Regular reference to the "silent majority" continues . Politicians make the mistake of confusing silence with acquiescence. or inattention.
I have never been silent. Since I came to Aurora I wrote letters to the editor. Because of the letters my constituency is the silent majority.
They did not choose silence They don't want an echo. They want to hear what they are thinking.
My role in Council has never been a mystery to me. Blog has simply extended my reach.
There are not enough hours in the day to tell all you have a right to know.
But it's growing. Commenters contribute thoughtful opinions, information and research.
Chris Watts started his blog because I was blogging. With all his expertise,
he was ashamed not to be doing what I was.
Love him or hate him, Christopher has a powerful voice. He has no fear.
His roots are deep in this community. I am a successful transplant.
There are other blogs . How influential I don't know. I don't know if Aurora is ahead .
I am content to be using . I think social media is the most significant development in self-government since the right was established.
Everything I own is on the line to protect the right to use it and make it available .
As I write .I am watching forms ,little more than children, move in a way that could never be imagined.
Yet they are doing it....before our very eyes.
We can try no less.
Readers
An average of almost six hundred people a day read the blog .
A third spend almost five minutes reading , Two thirds spend half that time.
Stephanie tells me the shorter time is average time span of reading .
Considering the blog concentrates mostly on Aurora's political affairs, I'm delighted with that level of interest.
When I started ,I had no idea whether anyone at all would tune in to see what I had to say.
I could expand the issues. I won't as long as I'm a member of Council. I think there's a specific job to be done
I don't seek advertising revenue. I've no idea what that might entail. But I write about what I know about as a result of being a member of Council. It's not mine to sell.
I tell you about Councillors and positions they take. But they've taken them in Council. They're not secret .They are yours to know about.
I try to convey the pressures.Sometimes Councillors do well .Other times not so good. It's not different to most people. Which is what we are .
Code of Conduct preamble says we are privileged and a higher standard is expected .
Getting elected is not a privilege. It's a trust and a responsibility.People do not aspire to politics.
We're not better than anyone else. Winning an election does not change us Why is a higher standard expected of us?
Why is a normal standard not good enough?
Why is criticism the norm rather than encouragement? Because we are politicians and people need to vent.
Every parent knows about that.
Councillors need to know what people think and people need to tell them. It might be polite,it might not.
The heritage park fantasy gained traction and resources were expended because proponents in the Historical Society and the Heritage Advisory Committee collected names to influence Council.
It lost traction because those who thought it was a crazy scheme pushed back and told Councillors
exactly that. The staff repot was a face saver.
Heritage district designation got started , a contract awarded and $34,000 spent before Council understood how much opposition and evidence there was against the project.
That only happened because property -owners organized , gathered research and blew that boat right out of the water.
It's the way things ought to work.
I think the blog has contributed to the process.
Having Council reverse course is a mark of success.
It would be better if the decisions were not made in the first place and no resources wasted.
That calls for faster, more determined reaction from the community at large. It's unorganized so it takes longer.
But we are getting there.
A third spend almost five minutes reading , Two thirds spend half that time.
Stephanie tells me the shorter time is average time span of reading .
Considering the blog concentrates mostly on Aurora's political affairs, I'm delighted with that level of interest.
When I started ,I had no idea whether anyone at all would tune in to see what I had to say.
I could expand the issues. I won't as long as I'm a member of Council. I think there's a specific job to be done
I don't seek advertising revenue. I've no idea what that might entail. But I write about what I know about as a result of being a member of Council. It's not mine to sell.
I tell you about Councillors and positions they take. But they've taken them in Council. They're not secret .They are yours to know about.
I try to convey the pressures.Sometimes Councillors do well .Other times not so good. It's not different to most people. Which is what we are .
Code of Conduct preamble says we are privileged and a higher standard is expected .
Getting elected is not a privilege. It's a trust and a responsibility.People do not aspire to politics.
We're not better than anyone else. Winning an election does not change us Why is a higher standard expected of us?
Why is a normal standard not good enough?
Why is criticism the norm rather than encouragement? Because we are politicians and people need to vent.
Every parent knows about that.
Councillors need to know what people think and people need to tell them. It might be polite,it might not.
The heritage park fantasy gained traction and resources were expended because proponents in the Historical Society and the Heritage Advisory Committee collected names to influence Council.
It lost traction because those who thought it was a crazy scheme pushed back and told Councillors
exactly that. The staff repot was a face saver.
Heritage district designation got started , a contract awarded and $34,000 spent before Council understood how much opposition and evidence there was against the project.
That only happened because property -owners organized , gathered research and blew that boat right out of the water.
It's the way things ought to work.
I think the blog has contributed to the process.
Having Council reverse course is a mark of success.
It would be better if the decisions were not made in the first place and no resources wasted.
That calls for faster, more determined reaction from the community at large. It's unorganized so it takes longer.
But we are getting there.
Chicken.......Egg????
My grandson's wedding was at an Ottawa Hotel. The wedding party stayed the night before
The ladies took advantage of the spa and haad hait and make-up done on the spot.
The wedding was outdoors in a gazebo set up for the purpose. The wedding procession was
on an aisle between two banks of seating. The landscaped space was huge .
Not a single Johnny-on-the-spot to be seen.
The reception was held in a huge canvas shelter open completely on one side. It was a warm summer eve.
It's where Adam amazed everyone with his fantastic display of hip-hop. Younger cousins soon joined him. Uncles got on their feet ti trip the light fantastic.
Aunt Theresa said to nephew Mark; "I didn't know you could dance like that Mark"
He answered "I didn't know either Aunt Theresa. "
A little later Aunt Theresa won the competition for removing her without disturbing another item of clothing.
When she thrust it at a neice to collect the prize, sixteen year old excessively modest Robyn blushed to the roots of her dark auburn curls turned away and said ' Get that away from me"
Family gatherings are always merry affairs but weddings are special.
Not least pleasure is the opportunity for artistic and creative flair..
The little Petch House, hundreds of years old, steeped in a family's history , much like everyone else's and community heritage , as it is, in the ravine on Lambert Wilson's farm, is perfect for a wedding with all its hopes and dreams for the future.
It's real not fabricated. A symbol of permanence. We have artifacts to bring the past to life. There could be Spring, Summer, Autumn and Christmas weddings.
A surrey with a fringe on top.... Bells jingling on a horse drawing a cutter in the snow.
There's nothing, no good reason whatsoever, why romance should not come alive. We can make it happen.
If it doesn't I will look for reasons other than practicality.
Ontario television presented a program on Shakespeare last night. He wrote thirty seven plays and died when he was forty three. Words from his plays are quoted still in countries around the globe. He wrote on every facet of human comedy . Love and jealousy being cited first on the list.
We have the Petch House. Replacement floor boards await installation. Electrical outlets need to be located and wiring installed to accommodate them before floor boards are replaced.
The building is insulated in the best way. Heating can easily be installed and inexpensively maintained. Prefabricated toilets could be provided but they're not needed.
We could sign a lease tomorrow.
If it doesn't happen, the question will not be why did we restore the building when there was obviously no use for it?
The question will be, why and who is it who wants it to sit unused and forlorn, as it was for ten years in its ruined state at the side of Leslie Street ?
Whose nose is out of joint because the project happened?
What perverted corrupted process is at play?
Whose Town is this anyway?
The ladies took advantage of the spa and haad hait and make-up done on the spot.
The wedding was outdoors in a gazebo set up for the purpose. The wedding procession was
on an aisle between two banks of seating. The landscaped space was huge .
Not a single Johnny-on-the-spot to be seen.
The reception was held in a huge canvas shelter open completely on one side. It was a warm summer eve.
It's where Adam amazed everyone with his fantastic display of hip-hop. Younger cousins soon joined him. Uncles got on their feet ti trip the light fantastic.
Aunt Theresa said to nephew Mark; "I didn't know you could dance like that Mark"
He answered "I didn't know either Aunt Theresa. "
A little later Aunt Theresa won the competition for removing her without disturbing another item of clothing.
When she thrust it at a neice to collect the prize, sixteen year old excessively modest Robyn blushed to the roots of her dark auburn curls turned away and said ' Get that away from me"
Family gatherings are always merry affairs but weddings are special.
Not least pleasure is the opportunity for artistic and creative flair..
The little Petch House, hundreds of years old, steeped in a family's history , much like everyone else's and community heritage , as it is, in the ravine on Lambert Wilson's farm, is perfect for a wedding with all its hopes and dreams for the future.
It's real not fabricated. A symbol of permanence. We have artifacts to bring the past to life. There could be Spring, Summer, Autumn and Christmas weddings.
A surrey with a fringe on top.... Bells jingling on a horse drawing a cutter in the snow.
There's nothing, no good reason whatsoever, why romance should not come alive. We can make it happen.
If it doesn't I will look for reasons other than practicality.
Ontario television presented a program on Shakespeare last night. He wrote thirty seven plays and died when he was forty three. Words from his plays are quoted still in countries around the globe. He wrote on every facet of human comedy . Love and jealousy being cited first on the list.
We have the Petch House. Replacement floor boards await installation. Electrical outlets need to be located and wiring installed to accommodate them before floor boards are replaced.
The building is insulated in the best way. Heating can easily be installed and inexpensively maintained. Prefabricated toilets could be provided but they're not needed.
We could sign a lease tomorrow.
If it doesn't happen, the question will not be why did we restore the building when there was obviously no use for it?
The question will be, why and who is it who wants it to sit unused and forlorn, as it was for ten years in its ruined state at the side of Leslie Street ?
Whose nose is out of joint because the project happened?
What perverted corrupted process is at play?
Whose Town is this anyway?
Saturday, 7 June 2014
Not so ....Not so
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Number Three e-mail":
Any building catering to the public requires washrooms
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 7 June 2014 11:15
That is not exactly so ......Photographs take longer
At a council meeting , Chief Building Official explained use of a facility determines requirements. Length of time in use determines need for washrooms.
We are not talking public use at the moment. We are talking lease to private enterprise. For the building to be used as a wedding chapel.
A Wedding ceremony can be as short as fifteen minutes. Photographs take longer, Imagine how spectacular they could be, Pure magic.
Think about it. The booking could be for a combination of wedding and reception.
The bride arrives at the entrance to the Seniors Building. It has a covered pathway frpm
car to entrance. . If it happened to be raining,,,there's shelter .
Gardens and pretty benches line the path.
The entrance lobby is lovely and welcoming. Washrooms are better than adequate.
The Seniors love their place. It's as spic and span as it was the day it was opened.
Tables , chairs , dishes and cutlery were all carefully chosen. .
The kitchen is magnificent.
It has already been used for wedding reception.
The wedding chapel would be the icing on the carrot cake.
We have no such amenity in Aurora,
But we do. Right under our noses. As if some invisible hand was guiding us all along.
Maybe even a horse-drawn carriage on the trail system.
Come on guys.... let's get with the program.
On a Saturday, neighbours could meander on down and be part of a beautiful happy celebration .
It would belong to all of us.
Part of Aurora's exceptional quality of living.
And it would earn revenue instead of draining resources.
Any building catering to the public requires washrooms
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 7 June 2014 11:15
That is not exactly so ......Photographs take longer
At a council meeting , Chief Building Official explained use of a facility determines requirements. Length of time in use determines need for washrooms.
We are not talking public use at the moment. We are talking lease to private enterprise. For the building to be used as a wedding chapel.
A Wedding ceremony can be as short as fifteen minutes. Photographs take longer, Imagine how spectacular they could be, Pure magic.
Think about it. The booking could be for a combination of wedding and reception.
The bride arrives at the entrance to the Seniors Building. It has a covered pathway frpm
car to entrance. . If it happened to be raining,,,there's shelter .
Gardens and pretty benches line the path.
The entrance lobby is lovely and welcoming. Washrooms are better than adequate.
The Seniors love their place. It's as spic and span as it was the day it was opened.
Tables , chairs , dishes and cutlery were all carefully chosen. .
The kitchen is magnificent.
It has already been used for wedding reception.
The wedding chapel would be the icing on the carrot cake.
We have no such amenity in Aurora,
But we do. Right under our noses. As if some invisible hand was guiding us all along.
Maybe even a horse-drawn carriage on the trail system.
Come on guys.... let's get with the program.
On a Saturday, neighbours could meander on down and be part of a beautiful happy celebration .
It would belong to all of us.
Part of Aurora's exceptional quality of living.
And it would earn revenue instead of draining resources.
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