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 Intrinsic
      
Location: Collingwood
Gender: Male
 |  | [Media] Heritage treasures or hopeless hovels (Brantford)
< on 2/2/2010 2:40 PM >
|  | | | 
BRANTFORD – When is a building a vital piece of history, and when is it just old? It's an urban debate now touching down in Brantford.
At issue is a three-block stretch of south Colborne St., a short walk south of City Hall, in Brantford's small downtown. Some of the buildings here are over 170 years old, while others have stately brick Victorian facades. Most of them are crumbling.
Six of the 11 members of Brantford's city council want to see the strip demolished this week, in favour of a slick facility for a growing university population. To them, the buildings are just old.
The other 45 per cent of the city's municipal government want the structures incorporated into a new complex. For them, these are Confederation-era pieces of history that belong in Brantford's future.
What to do when the lead politicians on both sides are also in the running for mayor?
Leading the pro-demolition side is Councillor Mark Littell, a BlackBerry-toting modernite. He tours through the Empire Theatre, a 1912 building with a caved-in roof, and empty apartments scattered with syringes and crack spoons.
"We're not going to do a missing-teeth scenario," says Littell, dismissing the possibility of saving some of the more intact facades while still revamping the majority of the site. "We need a fresh start."
The anti-demolition side is led by Councillor John Sless, Littell's main opponent for mayor.
"There's a great big rush to get the demolition done, but we have no budget and no plan for redevelopment," says Sless. He shows off My Thai restaurant, a popular Colborne St. eatery that has been ordered to shut down to make room for the demolition.
Both candidates claim Brantford's 90,000-person "community" is behind them, and both see the same future for the city: students.
Like much of small town North America, Brantford went into serious decline after its main industrial export, farm implements, was no longer a money-maker.
Economic hardship plus poor municipal planning sealed Colborne St.'s fate. In the mid-'80s, the downtown blocks lost their mom-and-pop shops to the Market Street Mall. For decades now, south Colborne St. has been an eyesore, the few businesses outnumbered by drug dealers and prostitutes.
But in the past decade, Wayne Gretzky's hometown has seen a breath of fresh, campus-scented life. Laurier University, Nippissing University and Mohawk College have all opened outposts here, bringing jobs, new residences and classrooms and the need for student-priced restaurants and stores.
So in 2008, after decades of ignoring Colborne's decline, city council spent $11.5 million to expropriate 80 buildings from 42 owners and resettle businesses and residents.
Now that the city owns the strip, the question is what to do with it.
Sless' anti-demolition side doesn't want to see Colborne torn down to become "a pile of gravel," but no money has been forthcoming to preserve the buildings (including Brantford's first telegraph office).
Heritage redevelopments in southern Ontario can be pretty, but whether they are a success or not is up for debate. Both Hamilton's Liuna train station and Toronto's Distillery District, for example, are gorgeous spots, and both are seen mostly by visitors and wedding guests.
Brantford's YMCA has expressed an interest to partner with post-secondary schools in redeveloping part of the south Colborne St. site, whether it's a redevelopment or from scratch. CEO Jim Commerford says whether to demolish or refurbish is "a decision for the city to make." At this point the question is moot, since he has so far been unable to procure funding.
Meanwhile, as of Monday, Littell will be choosing which of 13 tenders will win the job of demolishing Colborne St. The city has received a grant of $1.38 million from the Southern Ontario Development Program to pay for it.
The money has to be used by the end of March. So, the buildings on Colborne St. could soon be razed. Or they could be part of Brantford for another 100 years.
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steponmebbbboom
*NSFW*
| | Re: [Media] Heritage treasures or hopeless hovels (Brantford)
<Reply # 1 on 2/2/2010 10:20 PM >
| | | | there's so many things that irritate me about this. that pompous jackass mark littell has lied and misled the media. he has NO plan for what to do once the buildings are gone, and has done no research on what's going to happen to the steep sloping soil and the street and bank building once the critical support those buildings provide are taken away. the cost overruns for stabilising the street could go into the millions, beyond the six or so already budgeted. the ONLY barrier to development of these buildings has been private ownership. now that it's in public hands, littell is in a rush to demolish them, and make no mistake the ONLY reason for that rush is to prevent any action to stop it. Littell will lead Brantford right into another textbook municipal planning failure to bookend the one right across the street in what will probably be the first case in canada of a city making the same mistake twice less than twenty years apart and right next door to each other, on a massive scale. Maybe they can lure another telemarketing company into the new complex to match the one in harmony square because that's JUST what the downtown really needs.
Some of these buildings are 170 years old. Many of them are in just fine structural shape. there's a facebook page created for this stretch of buildings as well,
http://www.faceboo...p?gid=264835224286
featuring some very industrious research and revelations from some of the citizens involved in the discussion, including a couple council meeting videos that conflict with littell's assertions in the papers, e.g.
http://www.rogerst...7&mid=52&gid=59854
this whole circus smacks of the "urban renewal" fiasco that went down in Hamilton 40 years ago. the Jackson Square/City Centre mall is a giant hunk of crap that alienates pedestrians and features an ugly elevated plaza that no one wants to be in. the first draft of the new mega-block was actually a good one, but they started the project without first securing funding, and had to revise all the important features out of the square (like the green-space-turned-paved elevated plaza) to meet budget. take a look, see for yourself:
http://id.erudit.o...37/n2/029577ar.pdf
the only thing that's going to stop this is citizen involvement, and it needs to stop because it's OUR money and we DESERVE answers.
Mentos... The Freshmaker |
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leafloving4x4gal
   
Location: Durham Region
Gender: Female
Someday is NOT a day of the week !
| | Re: [Media] Heritage treasures or hopeless hovels (Brantford)
<Reply # 2 on 2/2/2010 10:46 PM >
| | | | I believe they are historical and should be preserved for that reason alone....so many beautifully designed historical buildings have been destroyed to make way for cookie cutter shit...it makes my stomach turn....
To quote something I heard and think is so true: "A city with no past has no future"
I, myself would rather see old school buildings then so called "modern" buildings....older ones exude personality and evoke emotions in ways new stuff cannot .... 
"if you are not selfish enough to make yourself happy, you have nothing of value to offer the world." |
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jhuck
Gender: Female
| | Re: [Media] Heritage treasures or hopeless hovels (Brantford)
<Reply # 3 on 2/10/2010 3:04 AM >
| | | | This is just my opinion, and that of someone who has only lived in Southern Ontario a few years and knows nothing about the history of this area:
I love this street. Cleaned up, it could be beautiful. Revitalized it could be amazing. First time I was there I remember thinking how terrible it is that the city seemed to have changed their focus on other areas of the city and left these buildings here to fall apart. Eerily beautiful area.
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phrenzee
Location: Canada
Gender: Male
| | Re: [Media] Heritage treasures or hopeless hovels (Brantford)
<Reply # 4 on 2/20/2010 12:44 PM >
| | | | Brantford’s heritage buildings at centre of debate
Brantford mayor says school sees recreation facility on land now with pre-Confederation architecture
February 20, 2010
BY TERRY PENDER, RECORD STAFF
BRANTFORD — Wilfrid Laurier University plans to redevelop part of the south side of Colborne Street after this city demolishes what is touted as one of the largest collections of pre-Confederation architecture in Canada.
That word from Brantford Mayor Mike Hancock, who sits on the board of governors for Wilfrid Laurier University.
The 41 old buildings along Colborne Street, half of which were built before 1870, have become a national cause célèbre among heritage preservationists and urbanists.
The City of Brantford has expropriated the properties and intends to demolish every one.
The Architectural Conservancy of Ontario, the Heritage Canada Foundation and the head of the University of Waterloo school of architecture have all called for a halt to the bulldozers.
“With the south side of Colborne we've got the YMCA and Laurier both talking about a major recreation facility,” Hancock said.
The Y and Laurier were not successful in obtaining government funds for the project, but Hancock said they are actively seeking other money and plan to go ahead.
“I met with them just to the other day,” he said, “and I asked them directly where they were standing and they said: ‘We need this for our growing student population.'”
When asked if the university and the Y have said they want to build on the site after the buildings are demolished, Hancock said: “Yes sir. They have already done a preliminary design, which they have taken to council to show the visioning of what will go there, yes. I think it's about 100,000 square-feet. It will take about one third of that street.”
The university is trying to distance itself from the controversial move by the City of Brantford.
Leslie Cooper, the vice-president/principal at Laurier Brantford, said the university has “no firm plans.”
“We are not out there pushing the council to demolish south Colborne Street,” Cooper said.
The university is taking no position in the increasingly heated debate.
“They have political processes that they go through in terms of the acquisition of buildings, demolition of buildings, consultation around buildings. They have a democratic process,” Cooper said. “Laurier Brantford respects that process.”
The City of Brantford received a $1.38- million grant from the federal government to help pay for the demolition, but must first complete an environmental assessment.
It paid about $9.2 million for the properties. In total, it is expected to cost about $13.7 million to buy and raze the buildings.
Hancock expects the buildings will be gone, the site graded and planted with grass by July.
Shortly afterward Hancock expects the site will be redeveloped by the university, the Y and Mohawk College.
“I don't think there will be much of a delay, quite frankly,” Hancock said.
Wilfrid Laurier University is, in many ways, the saviour of downtown Brantford, which languished in economic doldrums after the closure of several big factories. The university has about 18 buildings in core, including many old ones that were restored and put to new use.
Rick Haldenby, the director of the University of Waterloo school of architecture, said the old buildings should be carefully assessed and studied to see what they could be used for.
“I was going to send an email to the mayor and council saying, ‘We have a lot of experience in dealing with these kinds of situations here and would be happy to look at it.'
“There needs to be some serious consideration given to this and some serious study done on the options that are available at this point,” Haldenby said. “We should not be demolishing the largest stretch of pre-Confederation architecture in the country.”
Karen Dearlove, who has a PhD in history and works in Brantford at the Canadian Industrial Heritage Centre, said Brantford should put out a request for proposals to see what ideas developers have for the properties.
“I live in Waterloo Region so I have seen some really great examples of what can be done,” said Dearlove, who lives in Cambridge.
The City of Cambridge saved the Royal Hotel and 65 Concession St., Dearlove said.
The Lang Tannery, the Kaufman building and Lofts-on-Mansion in Kitchener are examples of the successful reuse of old, historic buildings. The Distillery District in Toronto — the largest collection of Victorian-era industrial architecture in North America — is a huge success.
“They don't have to look far outside Brantford to see lots of cities that have been able to make their heritage work for them because it can be a real asset,” Dearlove said.
“If they want to keep and attract the creative class to this city, part of that is the attraction of heritage and history,” Dearlove said. “People like that in a community, especially educated and cultured people.”
[email protected]
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steponmebbbboom
*NSFW*
| | Re: [Media] Heritage treasures or hopeless hovels (Brantford)
<Reply # 5 on 2/22/2010 11:44 PM >
| | | | http://www.brantfo...signWorkshops.aspx
Crash this meeting and let Brantford know that we want to talk about KEEPING the buildings and developing them, NOT the empty lot theyll leave behind.
Mentos... The Freshmaker |
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Kairu
Location: Niagara Peninsula, ON, Canada
| | Re: [Media] Heritage treasures or hopeless hovels (Brantford)
<Reply # 6 on 2/23/2010 12:00 AM >
| | | | We should all just crash it as a resistance against the obvious tyranny that's going on here. Obviously this man doesn't have any sentimentality (which is fine), but don't make such global decision based on your indifference of a piece of History.
Système International -- It's blasphem.ous, isn't it? |
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Hi/Po
Location: Earth
Gender: Male
| | Re: [Media] Heritage treasures or hopeless hovels (Brantford)
<Reply # 7 on 2/25/2010 8:35 AM >
| | | | This kind of destructive planning lead to great loses in terms of heritage in the 1950s and 1960s particularly. It has no place today, especially given the presence of Confederation era buildings in the group.
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Nvr2loud
Man with the golden shoes
Location: Huntsville, Ontario
Gender: Male
| | Re: [Media] Heritage treasures or hopeless hovels (Brantford)
<Reply # 8 on 2/25/2010 3:44 PM >
| | | | Have any of you actually seen these buildings? Most have been decaying for 30 years or more. Perhaps a couple are worth saving, but really... tear them down, people have had many many many years to attempt to save / reuse these buildings. It is a forgotten part of the city, and they should be leveled. There is enough restoration happening around Brantford, let these ones go, not everything is worth saving.
You can't be lost if you don't care where you are!
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steponmebbbboom
*NSFW*
| | Re: [Media] Heritage treasures or hopeless hovels (Brantford)
<Reply # 9 on 2/25/2010 10:36 PM >
| | | | Posted by Nvr2loud
Have any of you actually seen these buildings? Most have been decaying for 30 years or more. Perhaps a couple are worth saving, but really... tear them down, people have had many many many years to attempt to save / reuse these buildings. It is a forgotten part of the city, and they should be leveled. There is enough restoration happening around Brantford, let these ones go, not everything is worth saving.
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Have YOU seen them? Have you got any idea what condition theyre in, how old they are, just WHY theyve been vacant for so long or how much money your city is actually going to spend to destroy them? The fanpage for those buildings has a wall a mile long and EVERYONE who wants them torn down says exactly the same thing in there, never sticks around for the debate, have no clue what theyre criticizing, and couldnt care less that theyre wrong. I can swear Ive seen the exact same message you just posted, on that wall at least a dozen times. It's just as bland and unimaginative as whatever hunk of crap the city ends up building there. Harmony square Phase II with another telemarketer as the anchor tenant. Breathtaking views of the casino. Look out Brantford!
Mentos... The Freshmaker |
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Nvr2loud
Man with the golden shoes
Location: Huntsville, Ontario
Gender: Male
| | Re: [Media] Heritage treasures or hopeless hovels (Brantford)
<Reply # 10 on 2/26/2010 2:35 PM >
| | | | Posted by steponmebbbboom
Have YOU seen them? Have you got any idea what condition theyre in, how old they are, just WHY theyve been vacant for so long or how much money your city is actually going to spend to destroy them? The fanpage for those buildings has a wall a mile long and EVERYONE who wants them torn down says exactly the same thing in there, never sticks around for the debate, have no clue what theyre criticizing, and couldnt care less that theyre wrong. I can swear Ive seen the exact same message you just posted, on that wall at least a dozen times. It's just as bland and unimaginative as whatever hunk of crap the city ends up building there. Harmony square Phase II with another telemarketer as the anchor tenant. Breathtaking views of the casino. Look out Brantford!
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Harmony Square has been wonderful for Brantford, and I would welcome another project like that. What is more useful...
1) Vacant buildings that have been that way (for the most part) for around 30 years and therefore reduce the appeal of that entire section of street, and reducing income for the remaining businesses nearby.
2) A recreation centre, public parking, another park, etc...
I'm all for saving structures that are worth saving, but there are only a few gems in this entire grouping. I would support an attempt to save the few that are historically important, but generally all those buildings are old, unattractive, and in a state of decay not worth repair. There has been ample time for developers to take an interest in restoration... no one wants to fix these buildings. There are larger restoration projects around the city at more important historical sites. Brantford has many old structures that are still used today, we are proud of our heritage... but that section of road is an eyesore with very little potential for improvement.
Sometimes, but not always, it is better to level everything and start over. Harmony Square was proof of that, it brought life back into the core, and the local businesses nearby are taking full advantage of that. We could leave those buildings standing for another 30 years... mostly empty, and Brantford will be completely within the big-box centres North of downtown. We will have no small town community feel, all big-box, and still have an embarrasment of a core that has no real use except to film movies that take place in an abandonned town or warzone.
Brantford Colligiate is being restored, buildings further East on Colborne are currently being restored, many old churches have been very well maintained, Many very old houses are still very well maintained.... these buildings need to go, or someone needs to step-in with loads of cash to fix them up (know anyone?)
You can't be lost if you don't care where you are!
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Hi/Po
Location: Earth
Gender: Male
| | Re: [Media] Heritage treasures or hopeless hovels (Brantford)
<Reply # 11 on 2/27/2010 5:49 AM >
| | | | The glaring issue is that nothing will be saved. Architects are quite competent these days at reusing older buildings and integrating them into new developments. If Brantford is going to invest money in this part of town, then it gives the buildings a chance at revitalization because the new amenity will presumably attract people. It won't happen if the buildings disappear.
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Nvr2loud
Man with the golden shoes
Location: Huntsville, Ontario
Gender: Male
| | Re: [Media] Heritage treasures or hopeless hovels (Brantford)
<Reply # 12 on 2/27/2010 4:21 PM >
| | | | Posted by Hi/Po
The glaring issue is that nothing will be saved. Architects are quite competent these days at reusing older buildings and integrating them into new developments. If Brantford is going to invest money in this part of town, then it gives the buildings a chance at revitalization because the new amenity will presumably attract people. It won't happen if the buildings disappear.
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Unfortunetly part of this site would be extemely difficult to single-out individual buildings for restoration. There is a very steep grade behind the buildings and everything is butted-up against each other. It would take either a developer who wants to restore the entire section, or a co-ordinated effort of many developers to treat the buildings as seperate. Hopefully someone steps forward to claim the bunch, or the city should swiftly level them all and start from scratch. These buildings have been in limbo for way too long, something needs to happen NOW.
You can't be lost if you don't care where you are!
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steponmebbbboom
*NSFW*
| | Re: [Media] Heritage treasures or hopeless hovels (Brantford)
<Reply # 13 on 2/28/2010 11:36 PM >
| | | | Posted by Nvr2loud
Harmony Square has been wonderful for Brantford, and I would welcome another---
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Harmony Square has been EMPTY. What kind of multi-million dollar supermall can claim success with a fricking TELEMARKETER as an anchor tenant.
| There has been ample time for developers to take an interest in restoration... |
These buildings have been privately owned by property speculators for DECADES. How do you develop a building that isn't for sale?
The city just expropriated these buildings, this year. They are planning to tear them all down, including the My Thai restaurant and the private home of a man who just received an award for his work on the property a couple years ago. The dragged him kicking and screaming right out of his own house. They have NO firm plans for re-development, they are not allowing ANY developers to submit development proposals for the buildings that are already there, have you even read the information i already posted right in this thread?
You don't know a damn thing about these buildings.
Mentos... The Freshmaker |
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Nvr2loud
Man with the golden shoes
Location: Huntsville, Ontario
Gender: Male
| | Re: [Media] Heritage treasures or hopeless hovels (Brantford)
<Reply # 14 on 3/1/2010 2:29 PM >
| | | | Posted by steponmebbbboom
Harmony Square has been EMPTY. What kind of multi-million dollar supermall can claim success with a fricking TELEMARKETER as an anchor tenant.
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Harmony Square has nothing to do with the empty mall right beside it. Harmony Square does not have the telemarketer, that is the old mall down the street. Harmony Square consists of the public square, a restaurant, a cafe, a hotel, a couple of retail stores, and a private apartment complex. Harmony Square is used throughout the year for community eventa and has free ice skating all winter.
The mall you speak of was the cause of many current downtown problems. It is an eyesore, but we're stuck with it right now. If someone would like to tear that down, great.
I did state there are a few gems in the block worth keeping, now how do you propose we do that? It takes money, but no one is stepping forward. Since the city decided to spend the money to move businesses and purchase properties, they are now in charge... like it or not, there have been years and years gone by with no positive change to the majority of the buildings.
Tearing them all down is a major gamble. Perhaps the site will become just barren land, history lost for nothing. If that happens then we can show our disappointment at the polls. If nothing else, we should be consulting the planners who SUCCESSFULLY transformed part of the downtown by building Harmony Square.
We need to do something... Rot isn't good enough.
You can't be lost if you don't care where you are!
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steponmebbbboom
*NSFW*
| | Re: [Media] Heritage treasures or hopeless hovels (Brantford)
<Reply # 15 on 3/2/2010 11:37 PM >
| | | | Posted by Nvr2loud
Harmony Square has nothing to do with the empty mall right beside it. |
Harmony Square and Market Square are both owned and developed by gkyork, the SAME developer who can't get market square rented out at $10-12 net wants $14-16 net for harmony square storefronts and $130K+ for a one-bedroom condo. (13 of which are still vacant three years after being built!)
http://gkyork.ca/c...ting%20Package.pdf
You call that a success? The Y and Laurier "proposals" will only take up a third of the south side (if they ever get built), what do you think's going to happen to the rest of it? Because I can see developers just creaming themselves over the chance to put even more ridiculously expensive office and condo space in a core that's already got more vacant prestige space than it can stand. Good plan...
| I did state there are a few gems in the block worth keeping, now how do you propose we do that? |
Take the millions (and further millions in cost overruns due to the soil destabilising) the city has for demo and GIVE the buildings away to developers who submit responsible proposals for redevelopment, THIS way we can end up with repurposed buildings WORTH CARING ABOUT, that developers can afford to offer to residents and small business owners at a rate that reflects Brantford's actual economic conditions.
| It takes money, but no one is stepping forward. |
No one is being ALLOWED to step forward because the city is pushing for demolition WITHOUT accepting Requests for Proposals. They evicted 60+ citizens and seven businesses out of these "abandoned and run-down" buildings which were ALL confirmed structurally sound in a 2005 fire marshal's report---which thanks to a suspicious update of brantford's website, is no longer viewable online, nor is any other official city document (which i spent last night finding out...) but it doesnt stop there, This is how the bullies in city council treat transparency, by locking horns with our own Minister of Culture!
http://www.brantne...pagenumber=1#Convo
...Maybe you see no need to learn how in the early 1800s people figured out how to build an 8 story high building against that "steep grade" when we cant seem to build a parking garage against it without it sinking and cracking, and is going to require $400,000 in repairs in 2010 (it is in the budget) but Oh That doesn't count, the vacant Market Square doesn't count even stucco-covered Harmony Square and it's nonexistent parking garage that was another promise broken when gkyork hit water during excavation.... well That doesn't count either because This one Will Be Different.
| Since the city decided to spend the money to move businesses and purchase properties, they are now in charge... |
Are you kidding me? it is OUR town and surprise, OUR tax money... therefore OUR buildings, do you really think you have no say in what "they" do with it? Is Brantford "their" city, or YOURS?
| Tearing them all down is a major gamble. Perhaps the site will become just barren land, history lost for nothing. If that happens then we can show our disappointment at the polls. |
LOL, you mean like you all did when Eaton's booked it from Market Square? No, to use your own words, you're "stuck with it right now. if someone would like to tear it down..." this after spending all your own tax money to tear down the buildings some people actually CARED about...
If nothing else, we should be consulting the planners who SUCCESSFULLY transformed part of the downtown by building Harmony Square.
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Have fun playing in the RYEGRASS that's going to be growing on your new parking lot for the next ten years.
Mentos... The Freshmaker |
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Nvr2loud
Man with the golden shoes
Location: Huntsville, Ontario
Gender: Male
| | Re: [Media] Heritage treasures or hopeless hovels (Brantford)
<Reply # 16 on 3/3/2010 1:52 AM >
| | | | Posted by steponmebbbboom
Harmony Square and Market Square are both owned and developed by gkyork, the SAME developer who can't get market square rented out at $10-12 net wants $14-16 net for harmony square storefronts and $130K+ for a one-bedroom condo. (13 of which are still vacant three years after being built!)
http://gkyork.ca/c...ting%20Package.pdf
You call that a success? The Y and Laurier "proposals" will only take up a third of the south side (if they ever get built), what do you think's going to happen to the rest of it? Because I can see developers just creaming themselves over the chance to put even more ridiculously expensive office and condo space in a core that's already got more vacant prestige space than it can stand. Good plan...
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Well, the general public, myself included would not realize that Market Square (which we both agree is a major problem) and Harmony Square is owned and developed by the same company.
Speaking of Harmony Square only, we will likely always disagree on the success of failure of that project. My opinion is that it is a success because my family, my friends and their families, and my neighbours all attend multiple events at Harmony Square each year and often enjoy the free skating. Since Colborne is abandonned along that stretch, parking has always been easy, so I didn't even know a parking lot was ever planned and failed. If Harmony Square is not a financial success (evident by the fiqures you state that I can not or would not dispute) it is unknown to the people who regularly attend events outside in the Square.
I can only hope that the YMCA recreation centre is a reality and that the University also wants a piece of the property.
You can't be lost if you don't care where you are!
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Nvr2loud
Man with the golden shoes
Location: Huntsville, Ontario
Gender: Male
| | Re: [Media] Heritage treasures or hopeless hovels (Brantford)
<Reply # 17 on 3/3/2010 1:58 AM >
| | | | Posted by steponmebbbboom
Take the millions (and further millions in cost overruns due to the soil destabilising) the city has for demo and GIVE the buildings away to developers who submit responsible proposals for redevelopment, THIS way we can end up with repurposed buildings WORTH CARING ABOUT, that developers can afford to offer to residents and small business owners at a rate that reflects Brantford's actual economic conditions.
No one is being ALLOWED to step forward because the city is pushing for demolition WITHOUT accepting Requests for Proposals. They evicted 60+ citizens and seven businesses out of these "abandoned and run-down" buildings which were ALL confirmed structurally sound in a 2005 fire marshal's report---which thanks to a suspicious update of brantford's website, is no longer viewable online, nor is any other official city document (which i spent last night finding out...) but it doesnt stop there, This is how the bullies in city council treat transparency, by locking horns with our own Minister of Culture!
http://www.brantne...pagenumber=1#Convo
...Maybe you see no need to learn how in the early 1800s people figured out how to build an 8 story high building against that "steep grade" when we cant seem to build a parking garage against it without it sinking and cracking, and is going to require $400,000 in repairs in 2010 (it is in the budget) but Oh That doesn't count, the vacant Market Square doesn't count even stucco-covered Harmony Square and it's nonexistent parking garage that was another promise broken when gkyork hit water during excavation.... well That doesn't count either because This one Will Be Different.
Are you kidding me? it is OUR town and surprise, OUR tax money... therefore OUR buildings, do you really think you have no say in what "they" do with it? Is Brantford "their" city, or YOURS?
LOL, you mean like you all did when Eaton's booked it from Market Square? No, to use your own words, you're "stuck with it right now. if someone would like to tear it down..." this after spending all your own tax money to tear down the buildings some people actually CARED about...
Have fun playing in the RYEGRASS that's going to be growing on your new parking lot for the next ten years.
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I really hope you are not just HERE complaining about city council and developers. Like you have stated before about Lister Block, if you want it saved, demand it.
Some of those buildings seem to be worth saving, but what can we do about it?
Most have been empty for so long, we just need a change.... fix it or flatten it, but do something.
Where do you live, you seem very knowlegable about this city. I am only arguing from an emotional position and you come back with facts and fiqures that make me want to chain myself to a post on-site.
You can't be lost if you don't care where you are!
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steponmebbbboom
*NSFW*
| | Re: [Media] Heritage treasures or hopeless hovels (Brantford)
<Reply # 18 on 3/3/2010 3:25 AM >
| | | | Posted by Nvr2loud
I really hope you are not just HERE complaining about city council and developers... |
Who are you to be pointing the finger at ME when all you want to do is watch these buildings get knocked down; Brantford has council meetings happening every day this week, why dont you try attending some of them and get informed. Maybe when you see council at work in brantford you wont be so blindly trusting of this "grand vision" they have of YOUR downtown.
| I am only arguing from an emotional position |
Yeah no kidding, You and every other mouth-breather in the "tear-it-down" camp...
Mentos... The Freshmaker |
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