David Borenstein's Barnburner Speech in Brantford
neatly summed up in a great presentation
March 10, 2010
We were told that the buildings have to come down because they are dilapidated and structurally unsound, though no one with the city could provide structural reports. Then we found that the city’s appraisals prepared during the expropriation say that 29 of the 41 buildings (More than 70%) are in Fair condition or better! Only one was rated as dilapidated and only three as very poor! We were told that these buildings have no heritage value. Then we found that the City’s own Master Plan prepared in 2008 said that “more than half of the buildings are highly rated as being architecturally or historically significant.” We were told that the buildings could not be historically significant because they were never designated. Then we found that the City of Brantford’s policy is not to designate any property without the owner’s consent, even though the Heritage Act allows the city to designate without the owner’s consent. We were told that no developer would be interested in restoring or repurposing any of these buildings. Then, without any prompting from the city, one of the biggest Heritage developers in Ontario said he was willing to commit the expertise and capital needed to incorporate the buildings into a redevelopment project. We were told that the demolition had to be completed by March 31, 2010 in order to qualify for $1.38 million dollars in government funding. Then the city was given an extension until March 31, 2011 and still refused to delay demolition for even 60 days. We were told that the buildings needed to come down for a joint YMCA/Laurier project Then Kevin Crowley Associate Director at Laurier University said that no decision has been made about where the YMCA building will be located and was quoted in the Record as saying “Laurier is not the one driving demolition here.” We were told that there was a plan. We asked the South Side task force for a copy of the plan. We were finally sent a two-page table dated January 25, 2010 that ended February 2010. This “Plan” prepared by Mark Littell, Chair of the South Side of Colborne Street Task force was basically a sloppy, contradictory and inaccurate history of what had already transpired. When will the South Side Six finally start telling the Citizens of Brantford the Truth? What have they got to hide? We want the truth! We want the truth! We want the truth!
Type of News Item: News
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Location Information:
(f)Toronto
