Stanley Park Fieldhouse, New Edinburgh - Grant application

[Fred Wallace]

Of interest to people in the neighbourhood.

FW

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Santiago Reyes <srb...@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, Feb 12, 2016 at 8:59 PM
Subject: Stanley Park Fieldhouse, New Edinburgh - Grant application
To: <Tobi.N...@ottawa.ca>, <tim...@gmail.com>, <sfl...@pobox.com>, <dco...@sympatico.ca>
Cc: <newe...@hotmail.com>, Jan Goth <jgo...@gmail.com>, Eileen Olexiuk <ole...@gmail.com>, <Susan.Ro...@canadacouncil.ca>, Paul McConnell <pau...@magma.ca>, <julian...@gmail.com>, <joecho...@aol.com>, Jeffrey Smith <jsm...@dcml.co>, Carol Gusen <carol...@sympatico.ca>, <arlaje...@gmail.com>, <ric...@marcommetrics.com> <ric...@marcommetrics.com>, karen <ka...@marcommetrics.com>, <ada...@ucalgary.ca>, David Sacks <dsack...@aol.com>, Rosemarie Tovell <rto...@rogers.com>, <diev2...@gmail.com>, <Nicholas...@gmail.com>, <janin...@hotmail.com>, <suzann...@gmail.com>, <John.D...@international.gc.ca>, <Chrysti...@international.gc.ca>, <janet...@wordimage.ca>, <Phi...@macadamlaw.ca>, <barbara...@gmail.com>, <nmc...@rogers.com>, <sjab...@rogers.com>, <tanya...@vac-acc.gc.ca>, <floral...@hotmail.com>, <kmba...@sympatico.ca>, <jw.t...@gmail.com>, <ebethmc...@gmail.com>, <pete...@gmail.com>, <rache...@yahoo.com>, <glob...@gmail.com>, <janicemc...@sympatico.ca>, <spax...@gmail.com>, <marti...@yahoo.ca>, <taraly...@yahoo.ca>, <serge...@ottawa.ca>

Dear Councillor Nussbaum, Tim Plumptre, Debra Conner and Sean Flynn,

 

We are concerned residents of New Edinburgh who are vigilant in supporting and protecting our community and our green space.  Indeed, over the years, many of us have contributed significant time and money towards various community initiatives, programs and campaigns.  It is in this spirit that we wish formally to register our objection to the current development proposal for Stanley Park, i.e. to expand and replace the Fieldhouse with another community centre and/or related commercial ventures.

 

Our primary concerns are as follows:

• The process for proceeding with this proposal is flawed; it lacks transparency and inclusiveness, proper public consultation for a project of this magnitude is needed, and the project proposal is proceeding in haste based on questionable assumptions.
• The proposal would have significant adverse impacts on New Edinburgh’s only park as well as on the immediate neighbourhood, located in the New Edinburgh Heritage Conservation District.
• The proposal would place an unnecessary and unwanted burden on Ottawa taxpayers, including local residents facing a special tax levy. 
• Without due consideration and exploration of other practical and affordable alternatives, the possibility of continued community programming currently overseen by NECTAR appears to be presented as being conditional upon the relocation of its operation to Stanley Park and its Fieldhouse.

 

A project with such broad potential impact requires careful analysis and consideration within the community.  Indeed, articles and letters in the New Edinburgh News provide a catalogue of unanswered questions.  There is wide recognition of the need for an objective analysis of current problems, needs, alternative options, costs, benefits, and impacts (including implications for 255 MacKay and Memorial Hall).  These studies have still to be undertaken.

 

Of particular concern to us are questionable assumptions that underpin the proposal to expand the Fieldhouse at the deprivation of existing green space.  For example, we read that additional new square footage must be created at Stanley Park’s Fieldhouse in order to accommodate community programming when it is clearly evident that existing facilities, including the Fieldhouse, Memorial Hall and 255 MacKay, are far from being fully utilized at present.  Another fundamental assumption that must be tested is the rationale that there is a substantial demand from the community for additional programming that cannot be accommodated within existing spaces.  We also object to the basic rationale that the only way of preventing programs currently provided via NECTAR from disappearing is to build over New Edinburgh’s Park and introduce as yet other unknown environmental and heritage impacts.

 

These are important questions and concerns that require careful examination.  Indeed, examining them may lead to new and imaginative possibilities for New Edinburgh. Certainly, we suspect residents would be pleased to endorse sustainable measures aimed at simplifying governance of the various organizations and their activities.

 

We are interested in actively engaging in this discussion in a constructive manner. In pursuit of transparency, we emphasize the importance of the Junction Committee holding open meetings and publishing summaries of its deliberations promptly on community websites, blogs and mailing lists.  These practical measures would go some way towards informing and engaging the broader community about this proposal.

 

Despite all the major unanswered questions concerning Stanley Park and the Fieldhouse project proposal, we understand the Junction Committee intends submitting a grant application to the City by 1^st March 2016, i.e. before full and open discussion within the broader community.  We note the application is required to include a sustainable business plan.  Consequently, we would request that a draft of the Junction’s grant application be shared with the community now, in advance of submission.

 

At this point, based on the available information, we are compelled to state the proposal does not enjoy the unanimous support of the affected community let alone strong support at a wider community level.

 

We thank you for your attention, and for your ongoing efforts on behalf of New Edinburgh.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Santiago Reyes-Borda; Janice Goth; Sue Abbot; Stephen Anderson; Richard Aubry; Karen Squires; Kathryn Barber; Barbara & Paul Benoit; Madeleine Butcher; Joe Chouinard; Ann Davis; John Davison; Chrystiane Roy; Bill Driver; Diana Evans; Tanya Guay; Carol & Peter Gusen; Janine Hunt; Nicholas Malone; Suzanne Labbé; Flora Liebich; Alain-Rémi Lajeunesse; Meghan Andrews; David Andrews; Peter MacDougall; Rachel Aslan; Eric Laporte; Alexia Harrison; Martine Land; Julian Malone; Philip MacAdam; Tara MacKenzie; Paul McConnell; Nancy McNeil; Elizabeth McFarlane; Janice McGuinness; Eileen Olexiuk; Shiroe Paxton; Susan Rodocanachi; David Sacks; Jeffrey Smith; Rosemarie Tovell; James Turpie; Michal Crawley; Janet Uren; and other concerned residents of New Edinburgh.

 

*Kindly respond to all those concerned residents copied on this email.  We hope to receive a copy of the draft grant application by Feb. 20^th.

[Steve Grabner]

Since the email group is "New Edinburgh discussion" and all the posts so far have been simply announcements, I would like to start the discussion about this possible project. 

First of all it a "possible" project, they are years away from a shovel hitting the ground. The reality is that the NECTAR in the New Edinburgh House is not viable.  If you look at the CRA fillings see link below or do your search.

They operate at a loss every year. The house at 255 McKay is a money pit. They have been trying for years to get city funding and have failed. That is very unlikely to change. So the reality is that 255 McKay will be sold either by NECTAR now or when they go bankrupt.

The real question is "Do we want the programming that the NECTAR offers in this community, and if yes then how do we proceed". The junction group was selected from the current active groups within the community. I would suggest that people get involved in those groups to get your voice heard. 

Let the discussion begin.

Steve Grabner (an active hoser and user of Stanley park)

the link to CRA info

http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/ebci/haip/srch/t3010form23sched6-eng.action?b=897190617RR0001&fpe=2014-12-31&n=New+Edinburgh+Community+%26+Arts+Centre+%2F+Centre+communautaire+et+des+arts+de+New+Edinburgh&r=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cra-arc.gc.ca%3A80%2Febci%2Fhaip%2Fsrch%2Ft3010form23-eng.action%3Fb%3D897190617RR0001%26amp%3Bfpe%3D2014-12-31%26amp%3Bn%3DNew%2BEdinburgh%2BCommunity%2B%2526%2BArts%2BCentre%2B%252F%2BCentre%2Bcommunautaire%2Bet%2Bdes%2Barts%2Bde%2BNew%2BEdinburgh%26amp%3Br%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.cra-arc.gc.ca%253A80%252Febci%252Fhaip%252Fsrch%252Fadvancedsearchresult-eng.action%253Fn%253Dnew%252Bedinburg%2526amp%253Bb%253D%2526amp%253Bq%253D%2526amp%253Bs%253Dregistered%2526amp%253Bd%253D%2526amp%253Be%253D%252B%2526amp%253Bc%253D%2526amp%253Bv%253D%252B%2526amp%253Bo%253D%2526amp%253Bz%253D%2526amp%253Bg%253D%252B%2526amp%253Bt%253D%252B%2526amp%253By%253D%252B%2526amp%253Bp%253D1

On Saturday, February 13, 2016 at 7:24:52 AM UTC-5, Fred Wallace wrote:

Of interest to people in the neighbourhood.

FW---------- Forwarded message ---------

[Jeffrey Smith]

Hi We will post.   Thanks

Sent from my iPhone

On Feb 22, 2016, at 11:55 AM, John Bogue <bo...@on.aibn.com> wrote:

To all: this is the most unheard of application of which I have ever heard! Don't forget that less is more.  Please keep me informed. John Bogue

 

From: Jeffrey Smith [mailto:jsm...@dcml.co]
Sent: February 22, 2016 10:34 AM
To: bo...@on.aibn.com
Subject: FW: Stanley Park Fieldhouse, New Edinburgh - Grant application

 

Hi John,   reply to all would be good and if you wish you could also include new-e...@googlegroups.com as most are circulating their comments via this list for maximum impact.  Your comments will be most appreciated.

 

 

Hi John, This is the  letter which has gone to Tobi and the charirs of the 3 local groups  as we discussed.  if you wish to support this position please confirm by return emial with a copy to Sanitago srb...@gmail.com and Natasha natashacappon@gmail.com  They will add you to the circulation list via which you will be undated on the status of this situation.

 

Many Thanks