By Pepper Parr
March 7th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
Got another note from another Gazette reader.
“I will tell you an interesting story” he said. “I was on my way into a conference yesterday in the Big Smoke. Went in by GO Train with a colleague who also lives in Burlington. We got into a discussion about the municipal election. This person isn’t particularly political, but what surprised me was how incredibly knowledgeable she was on the election, how well-versed she was about downtown redevelopment, and how passionate she felt about what was happening to the downtown.
The Burlington that people like – at least that is what the Gazette is hearing.
“As we travelled between Mimico and the CNE Station we were both aghast at the proliferation of high rises condos. All had the same look, feel and style as what is proposed for downtown Burlington. What stood out for both of us was when we saw a mid-sized building and how unique these seemed. They also seemed to fit into the character of the neighbourhood much better.
A development idea for the south end of Brant at Lakeshore. Those two towers on the left would be opposite city hall.
“Coming home I picked up my car at a GO station and drove past Speers and Kerr Street area on Oakville. I grew up about a mile away from this location. The new condos across from the mall south of the railway tracks look overwhelming. I was astounded by how they dwarfed everything around them. Then I looked at the lower level of the complex. Two proposed businesses are both hairdressing salons…in the same complex no less. Bizarre. Didn’t see a grocery store, or a mom and pop store, anywhere.”
Our reader didn’t seem too happy with what was being developed. Change is never easy to accept.
FACT: tall buildings at kerr & speers – Town of Oakville fought at OMB and lost FACT: ADI development fought by Burlington at OMB – City lost FACT: UGLY tall buildings in DT Oakville & Bronte fought by Town at OMB – Town lost – pattern? Glen Abbey now at OMB and if FORD wins OMB will stay
It is not about accepting or not accepting change. It is about needs. The need for grocery stores and mom and pop shops. The need for walkability.
I don’t think that people resist change as much as dislike being changed without consultation and some degree of prior consent. They need to see the benefit of the change and believe that they have some control over its pace and application. I, for one, feel almost completely disenfranchised by the current workings of Council. For the record, I support intelligently applied development and intensification.
Change can be really really good. It can also be really really bad if done poorly, with little thought and little planning. And when many citizens keep saying they have concerns about the changes, they expect their elected officials will listen to them and ponder if they can take advantage of their interest and their knowledge, and try to be as innovative and careful as possible, to make the changes the best they can be, since we can’t go back and undo them later.
People don’t like change – that doesn’t mean they are wrong.
Exactly – and the proponents of “change” must provide evidence for the benefits of the change that is being suggested.