City on the move

[Joe Blow]

I might have missed it, but there doesn't seem to be much discussion regarding the recent anouncement that the city is closing it's Midland Avenue office, selling off the building, and renting accomodations for staff in the downtown core.

I am interrested if hearing about; concerns about the influx of vehicles in the downtown core, the relocation of current offices and how that affects the public in terms of business operations, the fact that the city still hasn't said which offices will be where and how we will find them, and the exporbitant cost (and likely hood of increased taxes) of renting property when they have any number of municipal properties that could be used to house their staff...

Of course nothing has been mentioned about this anywhere since the orriginal whig articles (one of which said they had already moved) and I confused as to why the city is doing this, and the end cost to citizens.

Is this just a way to line the pockets of big developers? Does it make sence to anyone out there? What about the fact that in order to do any business we might have to spend half an hour looking for a parking spot (that we will have to pay for) only to be told that in order to complete our business we will have to go to another building to get it done, and then come back downtown again, park, pay again etc...

Just want to see what people think of all this as I am baffled by this decision, the cost, and think perhaps the new CAO is causeing alot of turmoil in order to help the rich get richer.

Thanks.

[Exhibitionist]

The move to the downtown core is a rather well planned one.

If you have done any business - such as applications for minor variances, pay parking tickets or the more "high volume visits" to the City.

You can do most of these (on line). You can also call the City for any information, permits etc. that most would ever need.

And when you think about it almost 1/2 the population live downtown which have the option to walk, and or less than the cost of a taxi (if you would even need to - once every 5 years) as opposed to Midland Road.

There would be little need to be downtown for a majority of the common residences needs. Even your taxes can be paid this way, or as most do via post.

The administration of the City of Kingston, i.e required centralisation of resources and staff downtown is a two (2) pronged approach. To add effiencies to the already overwelmed staff and existing location space.

And to invest in the downtown hertitage building with the option to buy the building in 5 years is not a bad thing.

Oh - ya you forgot to mention they will sell the Midland property - and get tax reserve money for it!

Soild agruments: You just need to take the blinders off for a minute or two.

Ok - you can put them back on again!

[milambercan]

************* is right again, dam it,. It doesn't really matter where they stick their business offices. One can pay most everything online. From parking tickets to property taxes. The only thing that I still have to go to city hall for now is garbage bag tags, seems the businesses that normally carry them are out of stock just when I want to buy them, 25 at a time.

[Florence]

where does one go for tranist passes and why can't I buy a yearly one when the students have them?

[Florence]

where does one go for tranisit passes and why can't I buy a yearly one when the students have them?

[Florence]

OK so I tried to correct the spelling error and didn't succeed. Hope you got the message.

[Exhibitionist]

Call the city info line:


http://www.cityofkingston.ca/residents/transportation/transit/

[milambercan]

I think Florence you answered your own question. Students get their passes at school.