Home
> News & Views > Car
Barns > Yes Vote
CITY
COUNCIL'S ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE
VOTES
YES TO MOVE AHEAD WITH
THE
WYCHWOOD BARNS RENOVATION
By
Vid Ingelevics
Friday
September 5, 2003
On Sept. 4 the City's Administrative Committee voted 4-3
in favour of continuing the process to renovate and re-use
the Wychwood Carbarns, located just south of St. Clair West
on Christie St., for community use with an arts/environmental
focus. It was a long session that began at 10am and didn't
end until 4:30pm, with a number of deputants from the community
speaking to the subject at hand.
The
recommendation by this committee now goes to full council
for approval. If it goes through, Artscape, the respondant
to the city's Request for Proposal, will be authorized to
begin to explore funding sources for their proposed work.
For the record councillors voting for the project were:
Councillor Brian Ashton, Councillor David Miller, Councillor
Anne Johnson, and Councillor David Soknacki who all gave
thoughtful rationales for continuing to supporth the project.
Voting against the project were: Councillor Frances Nunziata,
Councillor Doug Holyday and Councillor Paul Sutherland.
The
point was made by some of the councillors voting against
that all funding sources were not yet clear. However it
was made clear this was the exact point of the vote - to
allow Artscape to enter into a relationship with the city
that would allow it to seek and verify such sources. There
are no financial implications for the city springing from
this vote as a report on Artscape's findings will eventually
be brought to council for approval.
This writer also wishes to note that Councillor Nunziata
voted last fall at city council to proceed with this project.
In now voting against it she cited an alleged lack of support
in the immediate area of the Barns.
In
contrast, there were a number of deputants from the area
who got up and stated explicitly that they lived near the
site and supported the project. The Councillor has also
received a list of the names and addresses of almost 400
people who live in the area who have signed on to the website
of local resident's group, Friends of a New Park as supporters.
For those who are interested, there will also be public
consultations regarding the green space surrounding the
buildings to be carried out by the city's Parks and Recreation
Department. The concept of the park, though, is that the
building renovation will architecturally integrate the buildings
with the green space in a unique blend that also brings
together culture, environmental concerns and recreational
activities on one site.
For more information call Councillor Mihevc's office (416-392-7460)
and/or go to Friends of a New Park's website: www.anewpark.ca
Editor's
note: The facts and opinions expressed in the above
article are those of the author and do not represent the
views of MyStClair.com. Our interest remains to act as a
conduit for information regarding matters relating to neighbourhoods
along St Clair Ave W and the Ridge. Anyone wishing to comment
is encouraged to do so.
editor@mystclair.com
