29 November 2007
common sense
Ottawa observer James Travers writes about the Schreiber/Mulroney affair:
"When it comes to truth, this town is a tease. Accountability is a slippery thing and the depths of scandal are rarely plumbed. So a country schooled by experience* should be preparing for disappointment today when K. Schreiber makes a circus appearance here.....Common sense Canadians** don't need help judging the character of a former prime minister*** who, for whatever reason, pocketed cash from someone better kept at arm's length....As is its habit, official Ottawa will nosily**** chase the truth without ever quite running it to ground." (1) <=== bolding courtesy Rambling Rose
Notes: * and hence, current voter apathy? a sense of futility as in "what's the point of voting anyhow"?; **common sense? is this the quintessential Canadian character trait that distinguishes Canadians from others?; ***Mulroney won the 1984 leader's debate and the federal election after pointing his finger at John Turner, Liberal Prime Minister at time, and feigning outrage at Turner's approval of patronage appointments; once in office he exulted that he too could feed at the patronage trough. As best she can remember, he confided to reporters, "There's no whore like an old whore." **** nosily (sic) is the word Travers used in his column; does noisily apply? and entire "circus appearance" summed up as "nosily and noisily" chase the truth ....which will never, ever quite surface?
Sources: (1) James Travers, Schreiber will tantalize Ottawa, but reveal very little, The Record 29 November 07. Photo copyright Sandamara Images 2007: Parliament Buildings East Block undergoing facade restoration. Can we restore a measure of civility to the conduct of our elected representatives during the daily question period or is that too much too ask....
Labels: politics
23 November 2007
do [your]civic duty ...
Civic duty? Rambling Rose has been chewing on this phrase for the past few days. Prompted by this winter's first snowfall, 85-year-old Irma, young Phil next door, and Rambling Rose grabbed their snow shovels to clear the front sidewalks. Rest of the folks living on the street where she lives ignored the slippery sidewalks hoping that another warm spell would melt all of the ice and snow. Did her neighbours fail in their "civic duty"? Just musing.The phrase actually appeared in a news report concerning the historic 1830 David Schoerg house captured in this blog's first photo. The issue? a possible demolition of the addition to the house (behind trees in photograph-- security fence and no trespassing signs hampered RR's ability to get a better shot of her subject).
Although the house's owner had not applied for a demolition permit, City of Kitchener Council got caught up in a tempest in the teapot over the past two weeks.
The building's current owner had been busy repairing the roof as required under a recent OMB ruling when the roofing job hit a snag, the structural weaknesses in the annex. Cf. "It's obvious to us that the back part of the building has massive structural problems. It's clear to the city inspector and it's clear to us,'' [the developer] said. "If you take your hand to the main support, the beams fall apart...[ Further], the house, as it stands, doesn't meet Ontario building code. It has single pane windows, no insulation, the heating and plumbing systems aren't functioning and the roof needs to be repaired." The developer indicated to the local media that he would not " formally apply to the city for a demolition permit. Instead, he [would] hire an engineering firm to determine if the addition is safe.(1)
Although no demolition permit was ever applied for, City Council debated the entire issue. Per news report, "council passed a motion to encourage the developer to continue with the repairs to the roof as directed under a judgment passed by the Ontario Municipal Board last month. Council also agreed to have the city's chief administrative officer... speak to ...[the property owner]... about his future plans for the heritage home. Coun. Berry Vrbanovic... said the city's highest administrator should "implore" the developer to do his civic duty and "preserve our local heritage.'' (2)The local rag's two news reports concerning Council's tempest in the teapot prompted one letter to the editor. The writer asked some pertinent questions: "This property has been declared a historical landmark. With this in mind, why is this developer not restoring it? Is Kitchener the only city that destroys its heritage? "...Her conclusion? " Instead of using the wrecking ball, we should have more respect for our heritage." (3)
Good questions and hence today's collection of photographs.Second photo: the wrecker's claws demolishing the City of Kitchener owned and designated Forsyth factory complex in January 2006. Why? Ostensibly as the building had become a threat to public safety; in actual fact, to provide 80 parking spaces for the WLU Faculty of Social Work directly across the street. Third photo: this Council's stewardship of a very valuable heritage resource, an exposed air vent which allowed rain to destroy the 1900 factory portion. Whose civic duty was it to maintain and preserve this heritage building? City Council's. That included the same councillor who urged the city's CAO to "implore" the developer to do his "civic duty" to "preserve our heritage." Political posturing? confident with his re-election that Kitchener taxpayers have forgiven what the national Heritage Foundation singled out as the #1 heritage loss in all of Canada in 2006?
Fourth photo is of the Forsyth building (L) prior to demolition and the city-owned Mayfair Hotel (R) adjacent -- listed on the City's Heritage Register as having heritage significance. Following the outcry over the Forsyth demolition, Council allocated funds to repair roofs on two city-owned buildings: a) the Bell/Canadian Legion building on Ontario Street; and 2) the Mayfair Hotel. When Rambling Rose last checked, the tender to repair the Bell/Canadian Legion building had been issued. However, no steps were being taken to repair the roof of the Mayfair building. A valuable heritage resource continues at risk pending roof repairs by the building's legal owner: the City of Kitchener. Perhaps gentle readers of this blog could request a status report re the Mayfair roof repairs of their Councillor? and implore him/her to do their civic duty as elected councillors to preserve our heritage?Fifth photo: closeup of the Mayfair Hotel's Art Deco window detailing; 1 of 3 Art Deco buildings in Kitchener's downtown core.
Turning the Mayfair Hotel into a boutique hotel is a key component of the Andrin Centre Block redevelopment proposal. However, the actual redevelopment is stalled as the developer and City negotiate 250 parking spaces and land transfer/financial issues. If that is settled favourably, there will be more delays as per this report: "[Andrin] warned that even if a deal is reached with the city, Andrin has to pre-sell up to 80 per cent of its 12-storey tower to launch a first phase. "I can't build unless I can sell units," he said." (4) Note: the Mayfair Hotel will be the last building to be redeveloped as proceeds from sales of the condo units will be required to fund the hotel's preservation/restoration. How many years will this building sit empty with a leaking roof? Will it be ready for the wrecker's ball in five years' time... thanks to this Council's doing its civic duty????
Update: as of yesterday morning, Rambling Rose learned that the Schoerg house roof repairs were completed by the developer. In all likelihood, the developer chose to comply with the OMB ruling because fulfilling that requirement gives the green light to the subdivision he is developing in the course of completing his civic duties as best he can: putting new homes on the market & in due course, finding the right buyer for this heritage landmark building. -- Not every home owner in Kitchener specializes in heritage restorations at their own expense to preserve our heritage. Businesses, of necessity, must be able to pass on their costs in order to make a profit in order to stay in business.
Sources: (1) LIZ MONTEIRO, "Demolition request nixed," The Record November 13, 2007; (2)LIZ MONTEIRO, " Schoerg descendants fear for future of homestead, " November 14, 2007; (3) Rose Farrough, " Why does Kitchener destroy its heritage?," letter to the editor The Record 22 Nov 07; (4) JEFF OUTHIT, "Centre Block deal delayed, " November 23, 2007.
Labels: built heritage
10 November 2007
valuing heritage?
"The Ontario Heritage Policy Review (1990) defines heritage as “All that society values and that survives as the living context – both natural and human – from which we derive our sustenance, coherence and meaning in our individual and collective lives.” (1)A seminal event, a first residence of its kind in a geographic location has Large Meaning for all people who, thereafter, choose to take up residence in the aftermath of that even or in geographic proximity to that residence. it is Ours, in a real sense of the term: both Ours in our pride of collective custodial ownership and Ours in those duties and obligations which devolve up us as the collective proprietors." (3)
"Heritage includes a broad range of building types, structures, uses and time periods, and includes interiors and exteriors, landscapes, streetscapes, neighbourhoods and urban areas. One of the key qualities of Toronto’s history is the depth and diversity of its heritage resources. Heritage value emerges not from any single type, but from the significance we ascribe to the different structures, features, sites and landscapes that give Toronto shape, character and identity." (1)
Taken from Kitchener Planning & development Report dated 10 June 1997:
"Priority #3... in the event that marketing efforts to sell the property proved unsuccessful, the farmhouse and barn would be retained on separate lots and that the barn and related lands would be acquired by the City (or other institutions) to be held in public ownership and retained as Open Space.
Priority #4: In the event that the barn and related lands are not acquired...then Priority #4 is that the barn be inventoried for disassembly and rebuilt in another location and that the lands be subdivided for residential purposes."*(3)
"Priority #3... in the event that marketing efforts to sell the property proved unsuccessful, the farmhouse and barn would be retained on separate lots and that the barn and related lands would be acquired by the City (or other institutions) to be held in public ownership and retained as Open Space.
Priority #4: In the event that the barn and related lands are not acquired...then Priority #4 is that the barn be inventoried for disassembly and rebuilt in another location and that the lands be subdivided for residential purposes."*(3)
"History has context in time and place. It is within its context that each piece acquires meaning and cohesion. Recognizing our heritage requires us to pay attention to the overlapping layers of history, to the diversity of stories, symbolisms, cultural references, events, and interpretations that weave together each structure or landscape with the place where it is situated, and with the people who use it." (1)
"He [the developer & property owner] added that the request for expansion of the designation** to include the floodplain lands is an indication that the City places greater significance on the lands...[He] added that staff have no plan for the barn and stated that, even if acquired, he believed the City would demolish the structure given it intends to take similar action with respect to a barn on an adjacent subdivision." (2)
"The City has an obligation and an opportunity to show leadership in setting a high standard for heritage management and conservation, by focussing on the stewardship of City owned properties. These should become beacons for proper conservation, and function as catalysts, inspiring private sector involvement." (1)
"I felt it was necessary to inform Council that, in our efforts to acquire the ownership of the barn site, if we were to succeed at that, it was very possible that we would not find an appropriate use for the barn and might conclude that we would choose to remove the superstructure and retain the foundation for an interpretative feature like a lookout***, comparable to what has been proposed with the Betzner barn on the adjoining property."
--City of Kitchener's Director of Planning (3)
Notes: * the same report cited as source (3) below indicates that the developer proposed four residential building lots in that location; ** City published notice of intent to designate the barn and related lands on the same day demolition of the barn had begun; *** the current state of affairs has two remnant fieldstone foundations atop the historic ridge ====> conclusion? city slickers don't value barns. Nor do they understand how intimately a barn and house are connected in a farmer's life. Photos above selected to show what this community values: top left, the Betzner barn which under City of Kitchener ownership has been demolished; Deer Ridge mansions set high on the ridge above the Deer Ridge Golf Course located in the Grand River floodplain below; and The Schoerg barn fieldstone foundations post-demolition by the developer. Ruins and relics provide romantic outlooks and evoke a romantic nostalgia? Elsewhere barns have found adaptive re-uses as community information centres, local museums, or even theatres.
--City of Kitchener's Director of Planning (3)
Notes: * the same report cited as source (3) below indicates that the developer proposed four residential building lots in that location; ** City published notice of intent to designate the barn and related lands on the same day demolition of the barn had begun; *** the current state of affairs has two remnant fieldstone foundations atop the historic ridge ====> conclusion? city slickers don't value barns. Nor do they understand how intimately a barn and house are connected in a farmer's life. Photos above selected to show what this community values: top left, the Betzner barn which under City of Kitchener ownership has been demolished; Deer Ridge mansions set high on the ridge above the Deer Ridge Golf Course located in the Grand River floodplain below; and The Schoerg barn fieldstone foundations post-demolition by the developer. Ruins and relics provide romantic outlooks and evoke a romantic nostalgia? Elsewhere barns have found adaptive re-uses as community information centres, local museums, or even theatres.
Sources: (1) City of Toronto Heritage Preservation Services, Heritage Management Plan Phase I, July 2007; (2) City of Kitchener Council Minutes 13 December 2004; (3) Dave Sim, Taking down the Schoerg Barn, Xenmagazine.com 11 Feb 2005.
Labels: built heritage, land use
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