Not just on Santa's Naughty List, in my opinion, what has been going on here is inexcusable and offensive to the City of Oshawa and its residents.
How can a developer on the one hand honestly paint a picture about a 'master planned community' and being responsible to its buyers when it defies the City's property standards and allows what appears to be a textbook case of DEMOLITION BY NEGLECT to happen to an Oshawa heritage asset, just a 10 minute drive away.
How can a developer on the one hand honestly paint a picture about a 'master planned community' and being responsible to its buyers when it defies the City's property standards and allows what appears to be a textbook case of DEMOLITION BY NEGLECT to happen to an Oshawa heritage asset, just a 10 minute drive away.
For the record Council approved 3860 Simcoe St. to be DESIGNATED HERITAGE. It is in an area that is still zoned agricultural but in 2019 the Region of Durham/City of Oshawa and the Land Planning Tribunal, when pushed by Sorbara and other developers, removed this area on the west side of Simcoe St. N. including the Columbus Golf Course to Howden Rd. from 'DEFERRED' to URBAN, so it will be developed.
My Question: At what point does the public become concerned with the lack of pride in the City and developers being allowed a pass on complying with by-law enforcement? It is not like the property owner here couldn't improve the building it owns...imo it becomes a slippery slope when allowing one to leave a house abandoned, open to vandalism, and something objectionable, when on a main gateway from the north into Oshawa it gives those passing by consternation and the impression something is amiss.
My Question: At what point does the public become concerned with the lack of pride in the City and developers being allowed a pass on complying with by-law enforcement? It is not like the property owner here couldn't improve the building it owns...imo it becomes a slippery slope when allowing one to leave a house abandoned, open to vandalism, and something objectionable, when on a main gateway from the north into Oshawa it gives those passing by consternation and the impression something is amiss.
I posted the above pictures and statements on a couple Oshawa Facebook group pages.
Below is what I commented to those who wrote "Why does it matter? You don’t own the house.. it is their house to do what they want with it" and "Ms. McConkey, what do you wish the owner to do with it?"
Both of the Sorbara properties at 3860 Simcoe St. and 1040 Conlin Rd. E are in the Ward that I was elected to represent as an Oshawa Councillor. Many have written me and the City concerned about the Demolition by Neglect of this property.
I certainly believe in people's property rights. But I also believe in the City's Property Standards By-law being upheld and not flaunted. There is more context to what is going on here that some are not aware.
(I don't normally bother to respond to commenters who seem to be as unidentifiable as the two who asked the questions -as I tend to wonder how genuine they are) But I would like to raise more awareness of this situation. To be clear, it is not like a poor property owner has hit hard times and can't maintain their property. The Sorbara Group obviously has the resources to repair 3860 Simcoe St. N.
The Sorbara family has regularly been listed in media reports of the 100 wealthiest families in Canada...the Sorbara Phase One Homeward Hills mega development at Conlin and Harmony is sold out, although no model houses and not one dwelling have been constructed yet.
The new home buyers in the upcoming Sorbara Conlin Rd. E. Harmony Rd. N. mega Oshawa project would be believing in this corporation, that it will honor its agreement and commitment to them.
However, a short distance away, the City of Oshawa has issued Orders to have Sorbara comply with the City by-laws and it has not.
To the question asked: 'what do I wish...I expect them to comply and not have the City looking like it doesn't care about its image. I and others care enough to speak up.
Below is what I commented to those who wrote "Why does it matter? You don’t own the house.. it is their house to do what they want with it" and "Ms. McConkey, what do you wish the owner to do with it?"
Both of the Sorbara properties at 3860 Simcoe St. and 1040 Conlin Rd. E are in the Ward that I was elected to represent as an Oshawa Councillor. Many have written me and the City concerned about the Demolition by Neglect of this property.
I certainly believe in people's property rights. But I also believe in the City's Property Standards By-law being upheld and not flaunted. There is more context to what is going on here that some are not aware.
(I don't normally bother to respond to commenters who seem to be as unidentifiable as the two who asked the questions -as I tend to wonder how genuine they are) But I would like to raise more awareness of this situation. To be clear, it is not like a poor property owner has hit hard times and can't maintain their property. The Sorbara Group obviously has the resources to repair 3860 Simcoe St. N.
The Sorbara family has regularly been listed in media reports of the 100 wealthiest families in Canada...the Sorbara Phase One Homeward Hills mega development at Conlin and Harmony is sold out, although no model houses and not one dwelling have been constructed yet.
The new home buyers in the upcoming Sorbara Conlin Rd. E. Harmony Rd. N. mega Oshawa project would be believing in this corporation, that it will honor its agreement and commitment to them.
However, a short distance away, the City of Oshawa has issued Orders to have Sorbara comply with the City by-laws and it has not.
To the question asked: 'what do I wish...I expect them to comply and not have the City looking like it doesn't care about its image. I and others care enough to speak up.
Naturally, not every old house can be preserved. But new development in Oshawa has been happening at a breakneck speed. Building permits issued continue to surpass all records. Oshawans should take a drive along Conlin Rd. East and north on Harmony to see what is coming. 11 massive plans of subdivision, and next will be another huge secondary plan north of Hwy 407.
It may be fine with some that there is no record of the City's past, but the pictures above might help make it more clear how preservation helps a City.
The former Genosha Hotel and the Regent Theatre are places that enhance Oshawa's downtown. (see pictures above)
MANY called for their demolition just a few short years ago, but they were restored, redeveloped and reimagined. It took people with vision and a Council saying no to those calls for demolition.
These are special landmarks that distinguish a city from the next and give a sense of place, to stand out among cities with all the same box store malls and subdivisions with the same developer streetscapes that propagate
monotonous urban design.
It may be fine with some that there is no record of the City's past, but the pictures above might help make it more clear how preservation helps a City.
The former Genosha Hotel and the Regent Theatre are places that enhance Oshawa's downtown. (see pictures above)
MANY called for their demolition just a few short years ago, but they were restored, redeveloped and reimagined. It took people with vision and a Council saying no to those calls for demolition.
These are special landmarks that distinguish a city from the next and give a sense of place, to stand out among cities with all the same box store malls and subdivisions with the same developer streetscapes that propagate
monotonous urban design.