Would it not be possible to put it down by the Burlington Canal on the old railway bed.I am sure there is more than enough room.

It could be used for a railway and shipping museum and also have washrooms.

Don Kirby

Please don’t put the old train station in our park. We think the statue of the sailor and the monument to Canadians who fought in wars on our behalf should not have as a backdrop this building with its proposed washroom area when looking at the statue from the lakeside of the park. We do not believe the building will look good even if the artist’s drawing makes it appear so, we think it will look out of place and having inspected the actual building we know that it is larger than the artist’s drawings make it appear and we don’t think it is an aesthetically pleasing structure for our park especially if it becomes a commercial enterprise with the attendant signs and lights. It has no historical connection to the Brant St. end of the park. We find the argument that the view is already obstructed by willow trees incomprehensible as those trees are part of the nature of the park and beautiful to look at themselves and do not totally obstruct any further view especially for the months when the leaves are down. We believe that the building would disrupt the panoramic view now visible. We do not believe that the park lacks a point of interest, it has that already in and of itself and when you are able to see beyond the perimeter of the parkland to the lake you have a complete and satisfying point of interest that is unobstructed. Please don’t destroy a portion of our beautiful park.

Paul and Ruth Wilson

In speaking with the Ward 2 Councillor this morning, he admits that the financial “tail is wagging the dog” and that to realize provincial funding for this project, it must be completed by March 31, 2011, so if we want to “save this thing” we basically had better get moving on the project.

The reasons that he shared with me for supporting the placement at Spencer Smith are that:
i) it (the building) “looks good”
(in the artist’s drawing, I’m assuming);
ii) the willow trees obstruct the view anyway
(they certainly don’t today);
iii) the value of the current view, as he sees it, is that it’s a panoramic one, and the station would not obscure the panoramic view
(this is a matter of opinion);
iv) the park lacks a point of interest, and the train station could be it
(also, a matter of opinion. I’d argue that the lake itself is quite a point of interest).

As a downtown resident, who knows the park and its surroundings well, I find this simplistic thinking very challenging, especially when I’m privileged to view the lake, from this vantage point, during every season of the year…when the willows don’t obstruct the view…and anyway, what’s wrong with looking at willow trees? I won’t go on with my retorts to the councillor’s points, but I believe it’s very clear that all could be easily countered with rational and clear thinking. You be the judge.

Shame on our politicians for even thinking of encroaching upon the limited green space that we have in our downtown core.

I would encourage all who are concerned about this project to contact the councillors who voted in the affirmative on this issues. They are Councillors Thoem, D’Melio, Craven and Dennison.
Janice Hambrock

It is regrettable that you feel my comments and point of view are inappropriate. Have I not a right also to opine?

True, I dismiss your your concerns about the linking of the train station to washroom facilities for factual reasons. The Ward 2 Councillor has epressed the following publicly – “The new proposal is to build ample washroom facilities in the dell area, backing against the retaining wall, and then place the station structure on top, facing Lakeshore Road. The station itself will not be a washroom.”

Again I take issue with the blind NIMBYism as there are facts that back up my assertions (I trust the professional opinion of the architect).

The washroom structure is proposed to occupy an area where at present there are some shrubs, a small to medium sized Norway Maple and some decorative rocks. By any measure the specific site is uninteresting and in need of help. The visual impact on the willow dell would be minimal.

Further, the size and style of the structure are appropriate for the scale of the site.

The proposed station site fits nicely against an existing lookout point and beside the Centennial Steps. The view of the lake at this point is limited by the trees in the dell, particularly when they are in full leaf.

The City’s architect made two very interesting points about our view of the lake: 1) The view along the Spencer Smith Park stretch of Lakeshore Road is a wide-angle and panoramic. 2) The view somehow still lacks a point of interest – something the station would provide.

If I were not interested in educated civic debate I might not have logged onto this site. It portends to be one that permits informed dialogue.

The tone of many comments throughout this site is often dismissive of the efforts of our public officials as backward, regressive and yes even “stupid”. So if I observe that there is unwarranted bellyaching at play I’d like the chance to call a spade a spade.

Ian Braden

Paul Wilson

In ten years time
After years of neglect
Because there wasn’t enough tax money
For upkeep and security
When the old train station
Has become a dirty, peeling, view-blocking eyesore
And a hangout
For unsavoury and dangerous activities
Who on council
Will be proposing
To pay more tax money to remove it
So that we can regain
The lovely, green and open and safe
Space
We have now.

Paul and Ruth Wilson

I’d expect the Station would similarly struggle for viability over the same months if limited to community uses. And it’d become an ongoing cost to the taxpayers.

It will be a building searching for a purpose. So why again did the councillor vote for this?