Hugh Mackenzie
Huntsville Doppler
Maybe he’s right
Mayor Scott Aitchison stuck his foot in the doo doo last week and it touched off a mild storm of controversy. At a meeting of the Economic Development Committee he threw out the possibility of expropriating the vacant Empire Hotel lot which sits in all its ugly splendour at the corner of Main and Centre Streets.
Huntsville Doppler published this story and the response was mixed. One person remarked that expropriation is ugly. It is. Been there, done that. Another suggested that the Mayor was just blowing smoke. I doubt that. I think he knew exactly what he was doing. Someone else suggested that the Town place a time limit on empty land and buildings. Other than the fact that it may be illegal, not a bad idea. Still another reader hit the nail on the head when they asked what the big picture was for downtown renewal. That is the big question.
We have many good merchants on our Main Street and they attract many thousands of visitors to our historic downtown area. However, it has been more than a decade since there have been any real improvements. Vacant properties such as the Empire lot and other locations reduce the amount of funds the B.I.A. has to spruce up the downtown. Frankly, our Main Street is bordering on shoddiness. The downtown area is the heart of any viable community and we cannot allow it to slide into mediocracy or worse. The Empire lot and the adjoining empty buildings can continue to be a terrible blight on our downtown or with foresight, they can become a flagship of our community.
I have never believed that our municipality should be in the landlord business or owning real estate, unless it is for public use, such as the Library, the Civic Centre, the Summit Centre, our Public Works facility or park land. However, there are exceptions and the Empire Lot and even the two empty buildings beside it, may be just that.
The problem is that people get greedy when they believe they are in a position to make a bundle. The Mayor believes the Empire lot is overpriced and given the other hat he wears as a real estate agent, he should know what he is talking about. The Empire lot has sat empty and unkempt for years because no developer is going to pay above market value for land. If the Town were able to expropriate the property at market price and then sell it at the fair price to a qualified developer, then we might see some real action on our Main Street. Imagine what that block would look like, from Hutcheson, Reynolds & Caswell Insurance, to Centre Street, with retail shops, condos and parking. While waiting for that, the property could be turned into green space where people could converge and enjoy downtown activity. It would look a heck of a lot better than it does now,
The bottom line however, is that we really need an effective and active Master Plan for our downtown core, which now pretty well runs from Centre Street to Highway 60. We could start with more efficient use of our green space. Kent Park, at the corner of Brunel and Main, was intended as a nice little oasis on Main Street. It is anything but, with crowded parking and a retail outlet smack dab in the middle of it. One of our readers has quite correctly pointed that out. The Parkette on the other side of the bridge could use some sprucing up as well, so that it becomes a nice place by the river, for folks to sit and visit. As for River Mill Park, I have long argued that we should get the parking out of the middle of it, to provide real green space in our downtown core. Sadly, that will be a long time coming but imaginative planning for the Empire Block might provide enough covered parking to make it possible.
Beer Lake of course, is also an eyesore. With almost every store empty it has become derelict. It is a more difficult problem to solve because of cross ownership of the property. But surely doing nothing is not the answer. I know of at least one of the owners who is anxious to solve the problem. Is it possible that the Town could facilitate a solution?
The time has arrived for Town officials to become involved in ensuring the vitality of our downtown core. The Mayor’s suggestion to consider the expropriation of the Empire property may be the best way to kick start that process. With a proper plan in place, maybe he’s right.
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Sometimes the skewered market needs a push or a shove. How long do we have to look at the inefficiencies & the derelectnesses within a town core? New by-laws with either tax dis-incentive or incentive is essential. The way the system operates today, the market is revealingly not so smart or efficient.
yes please… There is only so much the BIA can do to entice businesses. Let’s hold the downtown building owners accountable.
The town should not be in the real estate business but there needs to be a bi-law that deals with vacant lots in the downtown core. How many years do you allow a major eye-sore in the center of your downtown “while the market deals with it”. The rent, fix, or sell it idea should be explored, a residential property cannot look like a dump without the town dealing with it and charging the cost back in taxes, there should be some way of dealing with commercial properties in a similar fashion, especially in the center of downtown. Maybe use what would be costs of expropriation to reduce some the development charges to encourage investors. While waiting for someone to buy an overpriced lot the owner should be required to lay sod or make it presentable somehow to be in the downtown core, might make the lot more attractive to investors as well.
Amen Jean.
Anybody remember “Beer Lake” lake when it was a swamp? Why anyone chose to build on it, is beyond me.
Ellen Duncan
Mike, I was not suggesting the expropriation of the property known locally as Beer Lake. I did say it was an eye sore in its present state in the heart of our community. My suggestion was that the Town use its good offices to get the several owners together and attempt to facilitate a solution.
I agree with most of what you’ve said. I don’t know anything about expropriation, however, a condo or apartment with underground parking and retail on the main floor of the building sounds like a good fit for the area. It would bring people to the downtown and if the units were affordable, would be ideal for seniors who are the largest demographic. I think that the height restrictions could be relaxed a bit to allow a somewhat higher building than is currently allowed so that the investment is profitable for those investing in the endeavor. I would rather see the population concentrated within the town proper, than sprawling into outlying regions. Since tourism is such a major basis of our economy, we need to preserve the natural environment as much as possible.
Hugh, by plugging “Beer Lake”, as you put it, into your editorial which condones the mayor’s idea to “expropriate” the Empire lot, it would appear that were it not for the fact that the former L.C.B.O. plaza property is complicated by “cross ownership”, you are also of the misguided opinion that expropriation of this site, too, should be considered. In as much as you voice your opinion that you know of at least one of the owners who is anxious to solve the problem, I would conclude that that owner would not be so anxious to do so if he thought that the Town had any intent whatsoever in making use of “expropriation” as a sledge hammer alternative to an Agreement of Sale based upon a mutually agreed upon price. Any allusion to the expropriation of “Beer Lake”, as you call it, does nothing to facilitate a solution nor would it ever be in the best interests of the Town financially, as doing so would only prove to be the proverbial “can of worms” of which “cross ownership” would be the very least of the Town’s concerns.
I’m with you David. We taxpayers already have enough properties to look after. Let the market do it’s job.
There are far too many roads, bridges, water a sewer projects on which we need to spend our money.
I think the idea of a parking garage has a lot of merit. One level below ground and two above would take care of a lot of parking problems. When visitors arrive in the summer, parking spots are hard to find. The top floor could be grassed with adult type exercise equipment and a space for flower gardens and some picnic tables could work too. There also could be a small tower to hold some bee hives.
Peterborough town council is discussing enacting a rule (sorry, I don’t know the formal name for it) for property owners on their “Main Street” – rent it, sell it, or fix it…and the owners have 90 days to do so. I’m not sure what the penalty is but they are trying to get rid of empty and unkempt properties on their main street. What most people don’t know is that those property owners actually get a tax break by leaving them empty. The town of Peterborough is sick of it and is looking for ways to take back their main street. I would encourage Huntsville to look into the same idea.
What about a massive garden and beautiful greenhouse to help out the table soup kitchen and to be used and maintained by all on Ontario work recipients and those without a current income to help fill the food bank with clean food and to teach those who are in need the great gift of growing and knowing food? It could be visually beautiful and speak to the way our community loves to give back. I see so many different organizations being able to volunteer and help in such a project…HHS, Community living…and much more.
Also, it would be great to have the lyrics of the Joni Mitchell song in which the Empire Hotel is mentioned in brass inlaid lettering on the sidewalk around the perimeter of the Empire Hotel lot!!! Another iconic connection to Huntsville’s history. With Hunters Bay Radio and all of the musicians it attracts, as well as so many local musicians, it would be great to acknowledge this legacy.
It would make a wonderful Town Square-a fountain surrounded with seating and gardens.
Well said.
I think that everyone agrees that the Empire block needs to be revitalized in some way. I wonder whether the town, while still attempting to sell the property, might consider allowing that large sunny space to become a garden. With some investment in soil and compost as well as a source of water, vegetables could be grown. Our community could work together to enjoy locally grown, healthy food for our citizens and restaurants. I envision local children walking from schools to tend the garden. Local volunteers could assist with planning and working the garden. It would take a vision and lots of planning…but anything is better than what is there now.
Mary Spring
I am a property owner with a vested interest in the main street. However the municipality has no business in the real estate business. You have seen how successful they have been with the MTO. Property , the Waterloo property to name a few. If the land is over priced the market will deal with it. Let the town deal with the property it already control’s ie, the roads, maybe fix them, look after the parks.
Do not aquire more properties .
How about a huge Costco were beer lake used to be?
What about a much needed building for seniors. Huntsville has very little affordable dwelling for seniors.