CollingwoodToday welcomes letters to the editor at [email protected] or via the website. Please include your full name, daytime phone number and address (for verification of authorship, not publication).The following letters were sent in response to the proposed development of the Collingwood Terminals site.
Rino Stradiotto's letter regarding the incomprehensible choice of the Collingwood council to approve a 24-storey condo building beside the iconic terminals on our waterfront spit has got it right!
Surely council must reconsider this decision and make use of this public land for the Collingwood public.
This community is in dire need of affordable housing, recreation and cultural space for its citizens. Where are any of these pressing needs addressed in this developer-driven plan?
This project is just wrong on so many levels that it should be stopped.
Bonnie Lindsay
Collingwood, Ont.
*****
Hey folks, calm down!
It wasn’t that long ago that John Wiggins (think Creemore beer) had moved into a Shipyard Condo and started a push to tear the elevators down.
Thankfully strong opposition thwarted John’s push.
Yes, our little harbour is going to be a busy place, but such is life.
I am sure the current council have done due diligence and that’s what we elected them to do.
Ron Emo
Former Collingwood mayor 1980-88
*****
I totally agree with Rino Stradiotto's letter. I do not want the proposed structure on top of the grain elevators.
It is ugly and inappropriate!
Please don't fall into a financial trap to approve this construction.
Richard Orviss
Collingwood, Ont.
*****
I totally agree with the letter about the Terminals project.
I do remember some discussion about the project but it seemed like “here it is” and nothing about if we liked it or not.
What’s wrong with us?
Collingwood is known for its small-town qualities and proximity to water. Also, importantly, for its shipbuilding history.
Why are we becoming a modern condominium destination for people from urban centres to reside here?
Isn’t the main reason for them coming here to get away from the city and reside in a small town?
Why are we becoming what they are moving away from? Think about it Collingwood ... we can do better.
Sherry Matthews
Collingwood, Ont.
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I agree with Rino! We should remodel the elevator, but not build the tower.
It would make a lot of sense to build a 400-seat performing arts centre nearby.
I did the business plan for the Winspear Centre in Edmonton. It is 800 seats at 400 in the balcony, but it is needed to house the symphony. There is no way Collingwood needs anything more than 400 seats and we should not disrupt the downtown area
Chuck Austin
Collingwood, Ont.
*****
Bravo to the considerate letter from Rino Stradiotto.
The key argument for keeping the Terminals has been to honour the history and tradition of Collingwood's shipping industry. The Terminals are viewed by supporters as a beloved Collingwood landmark.
And now we plan on defacing that landmark with a towering condominium.
Would there not be outrage for a similar proposal for other great city landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower? The Coliseum in Rome? Big Ben? Who would dare to entertain such a proposal?
Kindly back off!
Reet McGovern Shearer
Collingwood, Ont.
*****
I would like to voice my opinion from a few years ago. The terminals are a construction disaster.
I'm not sure where the 24 storeys came from, but it's wrong. The restaurant drawn in on the look of the new building is hideous.
Here is the logic: tear down those elevators, move the new structure off the water. Build new condos that look exactly like the present look, but make them larger.
In all my years in construction, I have found that sometimes, because of age, and practicality, build new, and they will last as long as the elevators as they stand now.
Ten stories maybe too high, but put a nice restaurant on the top, and the taxes collected from these units, would help to pay for more waterfront development. It just seems to make more sense.
Don Thompson
Collingwood, Ont.
