June 17th, 2008: Public Meeting regarding the sale of St. Mark’s Church site.

 

Mr. Chair and members of the Planning and Economic Development Committee;

 

Thank you for your time and attention today. I am Sarah Matthews, President of the Durand Neighbourhood Association, which represents residents of the Durand Neighbourhood where St. Mark’s is located. There are approximately 12,000 Hamiltonians living in our neighbourhood that is made up of a great diversity of residents. We are home to seniors, children and everyone in between; to families who have lived in Hamilton for many generations to those who have recently immigrated to our great city. We are home to those from many different income levels who have chosen to live in apartments, condominiums and private homes.

 

The DNA represents the interests of this diverse community and as our vision states, our membership constitutes “ an active, resident based voice that successfully addressed priority issues affecting our neighbourhood to nurture a vibrant downtown community”.

 

One of the first issues tackled by the DNA 36 years ago was the creation of the Durand Park in our community, our only public municipal park, until 1994 when St. Mark’s was purchased by the City and the space has been well utilised by our neighbourhood since that time. To sell this space would be overlooking the much-needed and much-used urban green space in the core.

 

You will find at Appendix E to the relevant report the DNA’s written position with respect to the disposition of this property.

 

To briefly reiterate, it is the position of the DNA that there are many compelling reasons for the City to fulfil its original purpose in purchasing St. Marks:

 

1.      The St. Mark’s property received heritage designation in 1995. This includes the building AND the landscaped grounds.

 

2.      The Durand neighbourhood is the most densely populated neighbourhood in the City. The residents have one public municipal park which is undeniably insufficient.

 

The City’s own report at pages 8 and 15 states that “there is an existing parkland deficiency of 7.22 ha in the Durand neighbourhood”. It goes on to state that “The Planning and Economic Development Department should continue to investigate potential sites for acquisition and conversion to parkland to reduce this deficit, and furthermore, they should rank the priority of the Durand needs relative to other neighbourhood needs in the City.”

 

Why would you therefore recommend selling this property which the City:

(a)   already owns

(b)   is already zoned as “A” – Conservation, Open Space, Park and Recreation

(c)   it was bought with the purpose of expanding the Durand’s parkland and is currently and actively used as a park, and I ask,

(d)   where does the City expect to find any other property to purchase for our neighbourhood as green space when it has the highest density and no more available space? Or is the message that the City wants to send to the Durand that they, like all Hamiltonians, cannot have any faith or trust in the City’s stated purpose for taking a course of action?

 

I ask you not to accept the recommendations contained in the report without some scrutiny. Even the most passive critical eye will conclude that the report’s recommendations cannot be supported by its content.

 

3. Finally, I will address the property standards issue.

 

The City is holding an Open House tonight concerning proposed amendments to the City’s existing Property Standards By-Law to address specific built-heritage conservation standards, known commonly as the “Demolition by Neglect By-Law”.

 

How can the City host such an event when it is unable to lead by example?

 

The City has owned the beautiful St. Mark’s Church since 1994, and over those 14 years, has let it sit to rot, providing the bare minimum of maintenance so that it doesn’t collapse. In doing so, the City failed to protect its own investment and drained taxpayers money. Conversely, the City seems perfectly willing to spend millions of dollars to occupy the Lister which is privately owned.

 

This is your chance to show some leadership.

 

It is therefore the recommendation of the DNA that approval NOT be given to

(a)   amend the Official Plan to permit additional commercial uses within the “Residential” designation, or

(b)   to change the zoning.

 

Instead, the DNA suggests other alternatives for St. Mark’s:

 

1.      The City could do nothing and carry on as it has and keep the heritage building and green space for the benefit of the neighbourhood. This would be a situation of “a little too late” as the empty building is one day closer to fire or collapse. This is not a viable option in my submission.

 

2.      The City could create a secret garden and folly which would necessitate the selective demolition of the Sunday School, currently being supported by rented braces, to make an inviting and attractive destination for the current and prospective Durand residents and businesses of downtown Hamilton.

 

3.      If the City were to secure a buyer, which is remote at best, rather than allow that buyer to tear up the green space to create a parking lot, the City could designate a dozen parking spots at the south-west corner of City Hall for the use of the tenants or customers at the St. Mark’s site and place a condition on that buyer and any subsequent buyer to maintain the open space in front of the building for public use. This would preserve the park space for the use of the current and prospective Durand residents and businesses of downtown Hamilton.

 

 

Again, thank you for your time and attention.