In a deputation last Monday (Sept. 12) to city council she stressed was devoid of “ill will, malintent or hidden agenda,” Hilary Vaughan hit one out of the park with her no-nonsense presentation on the complex issues plaguing downtown.
In a six-and-a-half-minute span, the St. Thomas lawyer delivered a tell-it-like-it-is synopsis, warning the core area is at a critical threshold.
Her closing remarks left members momentarily flummoxed. Vaughan made it clear she was not open to questions, instead it is time to “find a real solution, in real-time, for real people.”
That can be done by striking a working group to tackle the increasingly dire situation.
Because the picture she painted of the downtown core’s immediate prospects is bleak.

“The losses are mounting daily with increased crime, incidents of damage, businesses leaving, buildings being abandoned, tenants vacating, residents afraid to walk the streets and tourists choosing not to visit.
“Millions of dollars in losses, and a very bleak outlook for the future of our downtown.
“The future of our tourism, of our community and our reputation.”
Vaughan assured council this presentation was based on a foundation of empathy, caring and concern.
“For those most vulnerable in our community. For those who tirelessly safeguard them and our community.
“For our hard-working business owners, for our residents and community leaders constantly striving for the best for our city.”
Because of mounting issues with homelessness, drug overdoses and mental health issues, Vaughan warned of a pending critical threshold in the core.

“The decisions that were made, although well-intended to be sure, have also left our most vulnerable citizens suffering vandalism, losses and threats, living in conditions that are far less than dignified in an unwelcome and unfriendly environment.”

“The facts are undeniable, there is no need for statistics, there is no need for pictures and there is no need for finger-pointing.
“We are well beyond that point. Because despite those well-intended efforts and decisions, our once-thriving downtown core is at a critical threshold.”
You have to ask, however, was the downtown strip already showing signs of stress due to the big-box stores looming in ever-increasing numbers just a few blocks east on Talbot Street?
The result, either way, is an unwelcome, unfriendly environment.
“The decisions that were made, although well-intended to be sure, have also left our most vulnerable citizens suffering vandalism, losses and threats, living in conditions that are far less than dignified in an unwelcome and unfriendly environment.

“This is a plea for the joining of hearts and minds for a solution that will allow each and every one of us to once again proudly say, I love to work in my community. I love to shop in my community. And I love to live in my community.”

“We have organizations and businesses like The Nameless and The Inn that struggle to do their utmost to help alleviate those conditions.
“But find themselves losing the battle within the existing circumstances.”
And with the municipal election just over a month distant, Vaughan made it clear her presentation was not an invitation for election platforms or political agendas.
“I have no allegiance or affiliation with any particular interest group in this matter.
“This is not a matter for political gain or election campaigns. This is a matter that goes to the roots and heart and soul of our community.”
Vaughan closed off her deputation with the hope we can all see a return to a vibrant community embracing all citizens.
“This is a plea for the joining of hearts and minds for a solution that will allow each and every one of us to once again proudly say, I love to work in my community. I love to shop in my community. And I love to live in my community.”
Later in Monday’s meeting, council voted unanimously to establish a working group with the initial step being to design terms of reference for the group.

You can hear Hilary Vaughan’s deputation to council in its entirety right here.

IT’S OUT OF CONTROL

Two days after Hilary Vaughan’s presentation, this corner had a lengthy conversation with St. Thomas homebuilder Peter Ostojic.
A very perturbed Peter Ostojic, who warned homelessness and drug issues are not restricted to the downtown strip along Talbot Street.
He cited examples of people shooting up inside new homes under construction.
“We’ve had issues over on Locust and Myrtle streets with people leaving their stuff wherever they want.

“It’s out of control. I’m hearing a lot of rumbling that these people are being dropped in our community. There are people from London and there are people from Sarnia.”

“You can find clothing out on the grass. Inside the storage recycling area.
“They leave their bicycles and things like that and as the landlord or owner, you don’t know whose they are. You ask your tenants and if it’s not theirs you usually take it to the Goodwill because I really don’t want it.
“And then they come back two or three days later and they start yelling at you because you got rid of their bike.”
At this point, noted Ostojic, you are subjected to vandalism.
“It’s out of control. I’m hearing a lot of rumbling that these people are being dropped in our community.

“We’re putting all this money into making the downtown a better place visually, but realistically it’s become more unsafe.”

‘There are people from London and there are people from Sarnia.
“I’m hearing our community offers better services than theirs.”
Ostojic cited another example at a property he owns on Manitoba Street.
“I can’t tell you how many times one of the tenants will get up in the morning and find someone sleeping in the corridor.
“You have to leave the door open so people can access the intercom system. They get up and leave all their crap there and you have to clean up after them.”
He points to the rehabilitation of Talbot Street progressing east toward city hall.
“We’re putting all this money into making the downtown a better place visually, but realistically it’s become more unsafe.
“I call that Block 500 where city hall is. That was a thriving business community even when the downtown was at its lowest.
“Those stores in those areas were doing unbelievably well. Now, look at it.”
Frustrated, you bet.
He promised to contact city manager Sandra Datars Bere to see how he can become involved with the proposed working group to offer a homebuilder’s perspective, remote from the downtown core.

HIGH STAKES IN HOUSING

A high-stakes game of give and take will play out at Monday’s (Sept. 19) council meeting.
Back in March of this year, Fast Forward Ventures of London received conditional approval for their 14-storey, 162-unit apartment tower to be developed on the south end of the former Timken Canada property near the intersection of First Avenue and Talbot Street.
At the time, we talked with Jeff House of Fast Forward Ventures who advised all 162 units will be market-rate rentals because “to make housing more affordable, we need to add more supply to the market of all housing types.”

One of their partner companies is Canadian Commercial Development and they have approached the city seeking an amendment to the Community Improvement Plan to be included in the primary Community Improvement Plan Area (CIPA).
The apartment site is presently in the secondary CIPA and is not eligible for tax incentives. The existing primary CIPA ends at First Avenue.
The city has the option of including the apartment property in the primary CIPA and that is what is up for discussion Monday.
According to the report to council, the Key Community Improvement Needs of the Community Improvement Plan can be summarized as follows:
– projects that include the conservation, restoration, and maintenance of heritage buildings.
– the promotion of affordable housing across the city; and,
– promotion of development and redevelopment (including brownfield redevelopment) in employment areas.
Canadian Commercial Development is seeking to participate in the Community Improvement Plan Tax Increment Grant Program which encourages and supports rehabilitation, redevelopment, infill, and intensification projects by providing a financial incentive that reduces the property tax increase that can result from these various types of development.”
There are several options for council to consider on Monday and Lou Pompilii, director of planning and building services for the city outlines them in his report.
He recommends approving the request from Canadian Commercial Development provided a minimum of five apartment units are deemed affordable units as defined within the Community Improvement Plan.
There are several other financial considerations the city wishes to apply but the above rider adds further credibility to the steps forward taken by council to address the housing needs in St. Thomas.
There is a wrinkle in all of this, however.
Canadian Commercial Development advises if the city does not approve its application to be included in the primary CIPA it will reduce the scope of its development to a six-storey apartment building with no underground parking (which is a feature of the current proposal).
Thus reducing the amount of much-needed rental inventory in the city.
What we have here appears to be a high-stakes game of corporate chicken. Who will blink first?
Will council hold firm on the minimum of five affordable units?
And if it does and the amendment is approved, this condition should be applied to all future apartment projects.
Or will Canadian Commercial Development play its card and reduce the scope of the project if it doesn’t get its way?

Related post:

Back-to-back announcements this week an example of ‘attacking housing from each end in St. Thomas’

COMMUNITY GRANT REQUEST

Only one community grant request for council to deal with on Monday. St. Thomas Minor Hockey Association is asking the city to waive the gym rental fee at the Joe Thornton Community Centre for three weekend hockey tournaments over the fall and winter.
The nine days of rental fees would come to approximately $5,700. The gym would be used as a team rest/waiting area before and after games.
The maximum community grant amount is $3,500 and staff recommends council approve that amount.

NOTHING TRIVIAL ABOUT THIS

The St. Thomas Summer Harvest Festival is this Friday through Sunday in Pinafore Park.
It’s an end-of-summer celebration with live entertainment, a car show, market, food trucks and more for an all-ages event that is committed to a clean and green experience.
One of the events will be a trivia contest running all three evenings with yours truly serving as MC.
It begins at 7 p.m. on Friday with the competition that evening and Saturday evening being knock-out rounds based on team scores and Sunday being the championship round with one team walking away with a cash prize and year-long bragging rights as St. Thomas’ most knowledgable trivia masters.
Here is the nitty-gritty.

◉ Team registration fee is $40 and a maximum of 4 members per team age 18 or over.
◉ Trivia questions will span a multitude of categories so pick your team members carefully!
◉ The $40 registration fee from each team will be put into a pot with the winning team receiving half of the total pot in play.
◉ The person registering their team will be the team captain and main contact.
◉ Teams will be assigned a team colour in advance of the competition and we encourage participants to dress for battle.

To register your team, visit https://bit.ly/3JAq7ZO

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And a reminder, I can be heard weekday afternoons as news anchor and reporter on 94.1 myFM in St. Thomas. As always, your comments and input are appreciated.