Was anyone able to attend? How was it?

Was trying to figure out where 6 wellington st. was....Axis..the old TD building. I had always wondered how that place stayed afloat...now they have a full time triple A tenant.....

Great location for a temporary office for the Uni.... it will be nice to see the activity.

(don't tell spanks...he thinks half of downtown is deserted)

Greenish....I would like to see that as the kick off too....but that would be a VERY fast track for that building....

anyone hear what the timeline is now?

Green wrote:

anyone hear what the timeline is now?

To Mayor Mathieson and Members of Council                                        July 9, 2010

 

 

From: Lawrence Ryan

 

 

Re:  Public Meeting dated July 8, 2010 – Declaration of Surplus Property

–        Block 2 – St Patrick St Parking Lot

 

 

Having participated in the above Public Meeting yesterday, I wish to impress upon each of you to provide the full picture with respect to your intentions for the whole of the Cooper Site prior to making any further decisions. 

 

It became known only during the meeting yesterday that your plans for the University on the Cooper Site lands have been severely scaled back. As confirmed by Mayor Mathieson, Block 2 (1.38 acres) is all the land being transferred to the University to accommodate their new building and parking.  The previously proposed Block 1 is now being retained by the City  ( less the YMCA portion ) and will have a new entrance created to access  existing public parking. Councils decision to shift Block 2 to the east is to allow the City to retain the existing ramped access off St Patrick Street to the remainder of the Cooper Site and the public parking shown on the new site drawing (which I have been promised a copy).  This public parking now surrounds Block 2. 

 

It appears that the City no longer requires the expropriated lands for the University and thus the City must provide opportunity to return the lands.

 

Mayor Mathieson’s refusal to provide explanation and answers to many of my questions raises concerns and confusion.  Mayor’s insistence that the future use of the Cooper Site lands is irrelevant when discussing making surplus a portion of those lands is simply wrong.   At no time was any explanation provided as to why Block 2 should house the new University rather than some other portion of the 17 acre site.  The inability of staff or the Mayor to provide the defined definition of “Surplus” while admitting Block 2 is in full use is clearly a contradiction which must be addressed.  I await your full explanation.

 

Mayor’s refusal to provide explanation as to why the City has abandoned using Block One (which included part of the YMCA) for the University leaves a host of questions unanswered.  Please explain the reasons for Councils decision to not give the University Block 1.

 

Mayor’s refusal to say if it is still the City’s intent to buy the YMCA lands and move the YMCA onto the expropriated lands also raises a host of questions which go the matter at hand.  As I made clear during the meeting, there is still the issue of the claim of ownership of part the YMCA lands by my companies and relocation of the YMCA by the City onto the expropriated lands is not the purpose given by the City for the taking of the land and therefore not permitted.  I want to know if the City is buying the YMCA Lands and if so on what terms as this information is critical in understanding the need to make surplus Block 2.  Please provide this information prior to making any further decisions on this matter.

 

 

It seemed that some of you were unaware that the St Patrick St parking lot which includes Block 2 was  declared surplus in 1995 and remains so to this day  until I asked why Council was now repeating this exercise. I await a written explanation for why you are declaring it surplus again.  Mayor’s explanation yesterday that it is necessary because you are only giving a small portion to the University does not make sense. 

 

Mr.  Bowa stated that the estimated costs of remediation for the new Block 2 is $100,000.00 but thought it might reach $160,000.00. As no information was provided to explain these costs, I ask that this information be provided prior to making any further decisions.  I did not understand Mr. Bowa’s answer to Councillor Henderson’s; when she asked if the University will need to do a Transportation Study in addition to the City doing a Transportation Study. I ask that the minutes set out the full text of this exchange so I might gain a full understanding.

 

Mayor Mathieson confirmed that no new deal was made with the University and that initially a single site of 8 acres to accommodate the initial building and associated parking is to be provided to the University.  His refusal to explain why council is now giving the University only 1.38 acres to accommodate the building and parking is unacceptable.  I want the full  answer / explanation as requested and I want it prior to any further decisions being made by Council on this matter particularly where the other 6.62 acres is located or if needed at all.

 

Mr. Shaw’s costs of another $900,000.00 to make ready Block 2 to give the University is in addition to the financial commitments already given, yet his report does not set out how these costs are being paid.  Staff nor Council has provided  a breakdown of these individual costs or reports to support these costs  for Block 2 verses giving the University some other portion of the Cooper Site (which may costs less) such as the existing buildings.  Please provide this information prior to making any further decisions.

 

 

Mayor Mathieson's refusal to say if the construction of the new University building will be before or after the full plan for the 17 acre Cooper Site will be presented for Public input is unacceptable.  What is being decided today, impacts on tomorrow.  Your piecemeal approach leaves the Public in the dark on the full plan, and takes away the publics right and ability to provide informed comments on the whole of this matter of which Block 2 is a part. 

 

As the University has a temporary location there is no reason why Council cannot present a full plan to the public and once approved, move forward accordingly. 

 

 

As I understand it , the City has been unable to raise 5 million of the 25 million promised so the University is now going to build  the 45,000 square foot building ( originally 70,000 sq/ft ) with one floor shelled  or a smaller , fully built-out structure. I further understand that Block 1 had no groundwater to contend with nor was remediation necessary and that the City intended to lease land to the University for long term parking needs , yet none of this was explained as to why Block 1 cannot be used as it seems to cost less.

 

I understand from the University that a new agreement was recently reached to purchase 2 acres as the initial site for the Campus, which contradicts Mayor Mathieson’ statement to me yesterday that no new agreement was reached.  This still leaves me wanting to know why the land being given to the University is 1.38 acres rather than the 2 acres in the new deal.  I also understand from the University that UW and Stratford are working together to secure an exemption from complying with MOE’s  requirement  to provide a full Environmental Assessment  when building a satellite campus.  Please provide a full explanation and documentation dealing with this as Mr. Shaw’s report sets out a cost for $100,000.00 to fully remediate Block 2.

 

 

I would not like to think that Mayor Mathieson is taking these initial steps without considering the whole of the site’s  future plans and costs so as to make it appear things are moving forward to support his bid to be Mayor for another term. Everyone needs to do what is in the best interest of the taxpayer.   I was taken back when no member of the press was present  at the meeting yesterday and astounded at Mayor Mathieson’s continuous anger towards myself and my questions, all of which were simple, on point ,  and ought to have answered. 

 

There is no doubt in my mind that the requirements for a Public Meeting were not met as a direct result of Mayor Mathieson’s actions during the meeting.  I ask that Council reschedule this Public meeting and come prepared to provide a full picture and answer all questions.

 

Lawrence Ryan   519  847  5647.

start calling his number....ALL THE TIME

Given that Mr. Ryan is no longer a taxpayer or a business owner in this community I wonder why he was even allowed to speak. And he wants City staff to spend money and time answering his out of town inquisition.

Nostalgia I suppose. Hubris mostly.