posting
10-21-2009, 09:57 PM
Jason here. Unfortunately I am without access to tonight’s council meeting so must rely on the agenda on the web-site.
A few comments on the applicability of the Barriefield site for subsidized housing. First, there is no subsidized housing to the east of the ‘singing bridge’. There should be!
Second, it is close to the established transit routes. Third- the land is available.
Let us not make the mistakes that have been made in the past. Subsidized housing can house the ‘hard to house’ and sometimes that makes them bad neighbours. Failure to abide by the arcane recycling guidelines may be a problem for those of us who worry about such things.
Size however, not garbage, is ‘the’ thing. I have heard Councillor Hutchison on the subject of housing – that projects have to be a certain size (big, I think) to allow for proper management. This is quite at odds with the desires of neighbours. Fortunately the pieces of land we are talking about together with the Heritage restrictions make BIG out of the question. We have a great opportunity here to marry architectural and social sensitivities. The Heritage Area of Barriefield is not the workingman’s area it was thought to be originally. It is certainly beautiful and insular and VERY high end.
The other great opportunity highlighted by the agenda is the proposed demolition of the old police building at the corner of Queen and Ontario Streets. I remember when Mayor Swain lauded Mills the architect on this wonderful building. It WAS wonderful at the time. Thank goodness we have progressed. TEAR IT DOWN!
City Bits
Urban myth destroyed: according to the Social Planning Council’s Kingston Community Profile, 15% of Kingstonians are over 65 (Ontario is 13%) but Belleville is at 30%.
A few comments on the applicability of the Barriefield site for subsidized housing. First, there is no subsidized housing to the east of the ‘singing bridge’. There should be!
Second, it is close to the established transit routes. Third- the land is available.
Let us not make the mistakes that have been made in the past. Subsidized housing can house the ‘hard to house’ and sometimes that makes them bad neighbours. Failure to abide by the arcane recycling guidelines may be a problem for those of us who worry about such things.
Size however, not garbage, is ‘the’ thing. I have heard Councillor Hutchison on the subject of housing – that projects have to be a certain size (big, I think) to allow for proper management. This is quite at odds with the desires of neighbours. Fortunately the pieces of land we are talking about together with the Heritage restrictions make BIG out of the question. We have a great opportunity here to marry architectural and social sensitivities. The Heritage Area of Barriefield is not the workingman’s area it was thought to be originally. It is certainly beautiful and insular and VERY high end.
The other great opportunity highlighted by the agenda is the proposed demolition of the old police building at the corner of Queen and Ontario Streets. I remember when Mayor Swain lauded Mills the architect on this wonderful building. It WAS wonderful at the time. Thank goodness we have progressed. TEAR IT DOWN!
City Bits
Urban myth destroyed: according to the Social Planning Council’s Kingston Community Profile, 15% of Kingstonians are over 65 (Ontario is 13%) but Belleville is at 30%.