Since I am Vice-Chair of Oshawa Development Services Committee, the City's corporate communications department occasionally asks me to provide quotes for media releases or public bulletins when there is a new project or newsworthy item to report on. My quote is placed at the of the end, after the Mayor's and the Committee Chair's quotes.
Before I was elected to Council, when reading in the local newspaper about record-breaking construction value and building permit records, I was curious how much of revenue from the permits w into the City coffers.
Especially during the phenomenal construction boom between 2014 and April 2018 when the City made numerous record breaking announcements (even though regrettably there were no property tax reductions for Oshawa taxpayers) it was never made clear how much revenue the construction projects brought in.
Since being on Oshawa Council in the past year, I've asked and learned that the revenues collected by Building Services do not go into general revenues, but pursuant to the requirements of the Building Code Act they are reserved solely to fund the City's Building Services Department, for building inspections, review of development plans, etc.
With the March 2020 records, Building Services department staff obliged me when I asked some questions. They indicated that in the first Q of 2020 (Jan 1 - Mar 31) Oshawa Building Services collected $800,000 in revenue. (As you'll see from the Media Release, copied below, the number one reason for the month's records being smashed has to do with the building permit for 2550 Simcoe St. N. being Tribute's 505 unit apartment building project.
Yes, of course, the March 2020 construction value and building permit record breaking is absolutely a good news storey! As I wrote in my quote, the new construction jobs, and new accommodation premises will be very beneficial for Oshawa.
Also, no argument from me, new construction and renovation industries are vital to building and invigorating communities!
However, the reason I am writing this post is because of what I didn't include in my quote.
I didn't leave something out because I am reluctant to state a point of view at odds with others. Diverging points of view are the bedrock of our democratic system of government.
For example, when I wrote a quote for the Media Release about the City possibly changing the name of Athol St. to Memorial Cup Dr. I stated I was not in support of it, contrary to the desire of the Mayor and others on Council.
In fact, I have been the lone member of Council not supportive of the plan for a 'downtown' station at the former Knob Hill location for the GO extension to Bowmanville, and voiced my preference for the extension continuing on the CN line and not switching to the CP track in Oshawa as the CP track involves a longer timeline and is more costly.
Even though a couple on Council blasted me for not agreeing with them, I respect their opinion as I know they see benefits which I don't deny have potential. So many are ecstatic now that the CP line is Metrolinx's 'chosen plan'...but I continue to have reservations, seeing negatives that may outweigh benefits, the traffic congestion, diesel fuel and noise, knowing so many Oshawa residents, especially those backing onto the CP line, aren't fully apprised of impacts to their established neighbourhoods as well as stated above, the additional costs and delay.
Yes, new development is something to celebrate. I am thrilled by new projects and look forward to big changes, but have seen botched projects that make me wary of those pitching that certain plans are above criticism. I think of the number of downtown communities that actually have taken out railway tracks. I am not convinced embedding old rail tracks and old technology deeper into the fabric of the city helps 'modernize' Oshawa (as Metrolinx has stated the extension is not going to be electrified)
All that said, what I'm wanting to add about the March 2020 good news report, is my extreme dismay about the location of the 505 unit Tribute apartment building at 2550 Simcoe St. N.
It was a done deal before I came on Council, so there is little point in stating much. However, honestly I would be guilty of pretending to be a cheerleader for something when I feel that:
-the Simcoe St. N. corridor, west side, north of the heritage stone house on the former Windfields farm, could/should have been developed so much better. The maze of hundreds of stacked townhouse crammed adjacent to the 25 storey 480 unit condo building now under construction (which backs onto Simcoe, with front entrance at 2535 Thoroughbred St) is depressing enough.
Now, just north of that, another 25 storey apartment building to be constructed along that west side of Simcoe St. and south of the Riocan box stores (coming soon just south of Winchester on both the west and east sides of Simcoe, south of the 407) in my opinion does not constitute optimal urban design planning.
Before I was elected to Council, when reading in the local newspaper about record-breaking construction value and building permit records, I was curious how much of revenue from the permits w into the City coffers.
Especially during the phenomenal construction boom between 2014 and April 2018 when the City made numerous record breaking announcements (even though regrettably there were no property tax reductions for Oshawa taxpayers) it was never made clear how much revenue the construction projects brought in.
Since being on Oshawa Council in the past year, I've asked and learned that the revenues collected by Building Services do not go into general revenues, but pursuant to the requirements of the Building Code Act they are reserved solely to fund the City's Building Services Department, for building inspections, review of development plans, etc.
With the March 2020 records, Building Services department staff obliged me when I asked some questions. They indicated that in the first Q of 2020 (Jan 1 - Mar 31) Oshawa Building Services collected $800,000 in revenue. (As you'll see from the Media Release, copied below, the number one reason for the month's records being smashed has to do with the building permit for 2550 Simcoe St. N. being Tribute's 505 unit apartment building project.
Yes, of course, the March 2020 construction value and building permit record breaking is absolutely a good news storey! As I wrote in my quote, the new construction jobs, and new accommodation premises will be very beneficial for Oshawa.
Also, no argument from me, new construction and renovation industries are vital to building and invigorating communities!
However, the reason I am writing this post is because of what I didn't include in my quote.
I didn't leave something out because I am reluctant to state a point of view at odds with others. Diverging points of view are the bedrock of our democratic system of government.
For example, when I wrote a quote for the Media Release about the City possibly changing the name of Athol St. to Memorial Cup Dr. I stated I was not in support of it, contrary to the desire of the Mayor and others on Council.
In fact, I have been the lone member of Council not supportive of the plan for a 'downtown' station at the former Knob Hill location for the GO extension to Bowmanville, and voiced my preference for the extension continuing on the CN line and not switching to the CP track in Oshawa as the CP track involves a longer timeline and is more costly.
Even though a couple on Council blasted me for not agreeing with them, I respect their opinion as I know they see benefits which I don't deny have potential. So many are ecstatic now that the CP line is Metrolinx's 'chosen plan'...but I continue to have reservations, seeing negatives that may outweigh benefits, the traffic congestion, diesel fuel and noise, knowing so many Oshawa residents, especially those backing onto the CP line, aren't fully apprised of impacts to their established neighbourhoods as well as stated above, the additional costs and delay.
Yes, new development is something to celebrate. I am thrilled by new projects and look forward to big changes, but have seen botched projects that make me wary of those pitching that certain plans are above criticism. I think of the number of downtown communities that actually have taken out railway tracks. I am not convinced embedding old rail tracks and old technology deeper into the fabric of the city helps 'modernize' Oshawa (as Metrolinx has stated the extension is not going to be electrified)
All that said, what I'm wanting to add about the March 2020 good news report, is my extreme dismay about the location of the 505 unit Tribute apartment building at 2550 Simcoe St. N.
It was a done deal before I came on Council, so there is little point in stating much. However, honestly I would be guilty of pretending to be a cheerleader for something when I feel that:
-the Simcoe St. N. corridor, west side, north of the heritage stone house on the former Windfields farm, could/should have been developed so much better. The maze of hundreds of stacked townhouse crammed adjacent to the 25 storey 480 unit condo building now under construction (which backs onto Simcoe, with front entrance at 2535 Thoroughbred St) is depressing enough.
Now, just north of that, another 25 storey apartment building to be constructed along that west side of Simcoe St. and south of the Riocan box stores (coming soon just south of Winchester on both the west and east sides of Simcoe, south of the 407) in my opinion does not constitute optimal urban design planning.
