So, the question is - how much do we want to pay?
The Fullertons, the family that has owned the property at 100 Bagot St, since 1916, have a solution to the problem of beach access. They have offered to sell a part of their undevelopable land to the Town for $345,000. They justify the price as less than market value of the land, if an upzoned value was applied, because they also want a solution. But as with all good negotiators, Mr Morand, back in the picture as the spokesman, says that there will be no termination of a considered lawsuit if the Town does not give a speedy response.
So the question is this - is $345,000 a good price for the Town to pay? As the local editorialist from the NToday.com opined on Friday, it may be high but worth it and called for the Council to stop being petty and negotiate a resolution. The BurdReport's position is simple, the Northern boundary must be in line with the boundary of the High School's property, which is also the same as the Legion Village's property all the way to the beach. Pay the money and let sleeping dogs lie. There must also be a public subscription campaign the way the Victoria Park extension was funded. If Cobourgers want the beach they cannot have it handed to them by a benevolent Council, they must pay for some it themselves!
There is a burning rage amongst old Toronto Sun staffers to recreate themselves and whenever Sun Media lays another person off, consolidates offices and services or just shuts local newspapers down the writers of this website (the TorontoSunFamily) go nuts and encourage the affected personnel to recreate the "miracle of the TO Sun". Well today's post on the TSF site announces that in Hinton Alberta, four ex-staffers have done just that. An online version and a print edition are going out weekly, here is the online version and investigation reveals of the stafff on board two are in sales so the emphasis is on ad revenue. It will be interesting to see if the traditional model of "one news and two ad people" can cut it in the world of fast diminishing ad revenue and a weak online presence can be a commercial success that will support four sets of wages. Good luck to them for trying.
So the question is this - is $345,000 a good price for the Town to pay? As the local editorialist from the NToday.com opined on Friday, it may be high but worth it and called for the Council to stop being petty and negotiate a resolution. The BurdReport's position is simple, the Northern boundary must be in line with the boundary of the High School's property, which is also the same as the Legion Village's property all the way to the beach. Pay the money and let sleeping dogs lie. There must also be a public subscription campaign the way the Victoria Park extension was funded. If Cobourgers want the beach they cannot have it handed to them by a benevolent Council, they must pay for some it themselves!
There is a burning rage amongst old Toronto Sun staffers to recreate themselves and whenever Sun Media lays another person off, consolidates offices and services or just shuts local newspapers down the writers of this website (the TorontoSunFamily) go nuts and encourage the affected personnel to recreate the "miracle of the TO Sun". Well today's post on the TSF site announces that in Hinton Alberta, four ex-staffers have done just that. An online version and a print edition are going out weekly, here is the online version and investigation reveals of the stafff on board two are in sales so the emphasis is on ad revenue. It will be interesting to see if the traditional model of "one news and two ad people" can cut it in the world of fast diminishing ad revenue and a weak online presence can be a commercial success that will support four sets of wages. Good luck to them for trying.
9 comments:
I agree that the town should get its act together and make a deal with the Fullerton’s, but I do not agree that there should be fundraising “to avoid being given the land by a benevolent council” ! The council has not been benevolent since Ben left it.
It was the council that made the problem in the first place. There was always public access to the west beach before the council decided to build a boardwalk without consulting the landowners whose land the boardwalk crosses.
The councils under the current Mayor have shown an ability to do what they want and to find money for it, but never do what the population wants. Hence the council finds money to widen William Street to accommodate Tim Horton’s, to build the Frink, to build Kerr Street extension, and to build a $30 million skating palace. But the council did not see any point in completing Victoria Park which ended up doubling in cost while the council fiddled ( in the Nero sense).
The council always seems to favour projects which involve spending money for paving and construction, but never ones that directly benefit citizens. The council has discovered ways of paying for the “Community Centre” by committing future years revenues from the Industrial Park. If it commits a few more years revenue it can also pay for the west beach.
It is essential to remember that when the council spends money it is already “our” money. The only difference with the west beach it will spent for be something that we want.
Please explain why you think Cobourg residents should have to raise funds to buy the waterfront strip on the west beach.
Compared to the cost of the community centre, this is small change, and the benefit of owning the land will likely last much longer than the building will.
Don't we pay enough taxes for the Town to just pay for it without further contributions from us?
You don't get nuttin' fer nuttin'. I agree that a Beach will attract people and more people will use it than just the usual freeloaders, but if the population want something that is not favoured by all you should have to contribute some cash. Just a fiscal conservative opinion, but we have to get the money from somewhere. I realise that some of Council's spending has been deemed "benficial" but that doesn't justify everything for nuttin'. If the Vic Park expansionists had to pay to get Council's attention then the beach bums should pay too. If the hockey rinkrats have to pay then the beachbums should too. Simple; ownership means putting something in!
I was a Victoria Park expansionist and I paid, twice. Once my own donation and then as a taxpayer. This time I want the council to do it properly the first time.
What really gets my goat is the jackass' lawyer wants us to name the boardwalk after him. Not just satisfied that they will get big $$$$$........ On second thought maybe its not a bad idea. Remind us of the name of the one who brought our Town Council to their knees and extorted our tax money.
Never mind folks, this was a done deal the day they built the boardwalk up to the 'target property'. These "guys" in the executive suite at town hall will do anything, including intimidation, to have their way and don't give a fig about sending you the bill to boot!
Another tax-payer funded 'accomplishment' to point to in their re-election pamphlets.
Hang on to your hats because I figure the "trailer park' is next on their hit-list, even though it's a proven money-maker. Bets, anyone?
When the issue was brought to Town Council, they sided with the sentiment then duly sent the issue to the lawyers and town staff to advise them.
Once that was done, the lawyer for the family most concerned made an offer to the town, including the proviso that the town make a decision BEFORE the Town Council receives advice from its staff and lawyers.
Hmmmm. Why the haste on the part of the property owners? Are they worried about something?
For what it's worth, the poll in Northumberland News stands at 69% in favour of the Town buying the land. I think there were 35 votes at that time and I swear I only voted in favour once!
A looney for this piece of sand. That's about the worth of the dubious claim of ownership, to say nothing of the undevelopable nature of the site itself. Call it , good will on the part of a " benevolent council ".
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