According to my sources, my thoughts on allowing the building to go ahead — originally published on the blog on Friday — were offbase; based on the heritage district plan, you can’t build anything taller than three stories. The town can’t even issue a building permit for what Steve Assaff is proposing.
So we’re between a rock and a hard place. Leave the land in, and Assaff can’t build what he’s proposing (keeping in mind he’s already said he can’t do the same type of project as a three-storey, and make any money). Take it out, and it’s a big chunk out of the heritage district (and it is completely encircled by the district, by the way).
A solution could be to pull the property out, allow Assaff to build, and once the project is done put it back into the district — when it would then become ‘pre-existing, non-conforming’. The kicker would be that Assaff agrees to the idea (a bit of a shell game, I grant you), and that other landowners don’t suddenly line up demanding the same treatment.
But regardless… we need some out-of-box thinking on this one. On the one hand, we need the property developed, and what Assaff is proposing is a quality, impressive project that will be an outstanding gateway to the downtown. But we also need to protect the integrity of the heritage district.
Decisions, decisions…
On another note: Tonight’s council meeting — which includes a public meeting on Admiral Collingwood Place — should be a real barnburner; it starts at 4 p.m., and it’s at the Leisure Time Club in order to accommodate the anticipated crowd showing up for Admiral.
Here’s the thing: if there’s booing, or any attempt to shout down someone who’s making a legitimate presentation to council on the pros and cons of this project, I will take names. And you will be asked how booing or heckling adds to the democratic discourse, and why you felt the need to be boorish…
