By Louise Hayes
School closures and development top the list of concerns as residents prepare to vote on Nov. 13.
“The closure of Elgin Street Public School will be a disaster,” said regional Coun. Diane Holmes. “It will leave no elementary school south of Gloucester from the canal to Bronson and will discourage families from moving into the area.”
To fight the decision, the Downtown Advisory Council presented a motion to Ottawa city council Sept. 20 objecting to the proposed closure of Elgin Street, Mutchmor and Devonshire schools, and asking that a plan be developed which keeps them open. City council supported the motion which city Coun. Elisabeth Arnold presented to the school board on Sept. 26. Final closure decisions will be made Oct. 23.
Issues, like strengthening residential and business communities, are being addressed by the council’s downtown revitalization action plan.
The plan aims to stimulate construction by waiving application fees, building permit fees, the five-per-cent parkland dedication charge, and the parking requirements in certain downtown areas.
So far, the plan is a success. The number of building permits for the period of May to the end of August increased by 30 per cent over last year.
The Downtown Advisory Council will encourage the new City of Ottawa to continue the revitalization initiatives. They will distribute a questionnaire to all municipal candidates after the Oct. 13 nomination deadline. Its aim is to raise awareness and to gauge support for downtown revitalization.
“There is a need at council to recognize that a healthy downtown is vital to the interests of the new city,” said Archie Campbell, president of the Dalhousie Community Association. Campbell says he hopes to avoid the doughnut effect where schools and development move out of downtown and into the outer regions.
Arnold says there is a need to stress the importance of downtown in the election and on the new city council.
“I think a main issue is how Centretown issues will be maintained in the new system.”
“Uncertainty about the one city will be on people’s minds,” said Campbell. “How will this affect the delivery of services?”
Campbell says that while the community association generally supported amalgamation, he can’t help worrying a little.
“The two-tier system divided the work up nicely,” he said. “We have so many issues downtown that I worry about the work load which will fall on the shoulders of the winner. The job is going to take a lot of talent and a lot of hard work.”