With development comes change. Finally, tongue in cheek, things are looking up.
The recent passage of proposals that would see four-storey structures in Centre Wellington and multi-storey buildings in Wellington North are good news. Good in the sense that footprints with numerous residences above will make better use of underground infrastructure and delay the bursting of sensible urban boundaries which currently protect farmland.
The affordability factor is a very real thing. Recent polling suggests roughly half of Canadians are $200 away from not being able to pay their bills each month. A third of those respondents indicate they aren’t making it now. As this economic cycle continues to unfold, there will be tough times for people often through no fault of their own. Bankers and big business will ride the wave, much like the “house” in gambling terms. The house never loses. How we wish politicians and privileged folk would understand access to housing is at the root of most social issues.
We are also feeling some sorrow for small business too, as development brings with it further change in the commercial landscape. Many moons ago we were accosted by a restauranteur who seemed to believe development was the solution to his woes. Council at that time was trying to get development agreements perfected, before letting home construction commence. With more people (double in fact) he figured, he would make more profit, never for a moment stopping to figure out with more people would come more restaurants. Growth does not guarantee success.
Flipping through social media comments this past week we noted Elora’s small-town grocer getting a bit of heat for not supporting a chain store proposed on the edge of town. Knowing a little about business ourselves, and the investment associated with keeping it running, such self-interest should be taken at face value. Deb Kropf, from our perspective, is a good corporate citizen and fills a niche in the village of Elora. The resultant cat calls for standing up for her business were unwarranted. Anyone with an ounce of sense would understand pricing typically reflects volume and traffic.
The answer in a free-market system is to go elsewhere, but understand when too little business shows up, businesses can’t stay open. We suspect many local proprietors suffer in silence, happy to run their business and serve awesome customers. In the end, however, their longevity depends on patrons supporting them.
Support locals when you can.
Mr. Wood
We may have mentioned previously a meeting with Mr. Wood.
He was a businessman, innovator, developer and deep thinker. We were summoned to his office to discuss a new development.
The reason we had to see him, rather than him attend our office, was he had a model representation of the lands under consideration. It was made to scale and we recall it being quite detailed. People generally have a hard time picturing draft plans and how they translate into reality. His three-dimensional recreation was mesmerizing.
Chatter recently about a new proposal in Elora brought that little story to mind. To be fair, similar chatter erupts any time a CAD illustration accompanies planning reports. They are typically ugly and flat. We have also seen artist renderings from time to time that capture an enhanced view of how structures will nestle into a neighbourhood.
It is easy to spend other people’s money, but we strongly suggest development applicants take a page from Mr. Wood.
People care about their community and it seems to us a little extra effort in crafting a good presentation would allay many fears people have with development.
