Do you want more development in Spencer Smith Park on Burlington’s downtown waterfront? City councillors voted 4-3 this week to put the old Freeman Train Station in the park. It will go near the foot of Brant and Lakeshore, at street level with lower level washrooms walking out to the park.
Now councillors want your feedback before the issue comes to a final vote at city council March 22, 7 pm, at City Hall.
Proposed Freeman Station at Spencer Smith Park
Speak up for greenspace
I’ll personally be delegating to council against adding more development in Spencer Smith. If you’d like to add your support to my delegation please email me at mariannemeedward@bell.net (Your contact information will be kept confidential and you don’t need to attend or speak at the meeting).
But I’m aware there are different points of view on this issue. I’m interested in soliciting the broadest possible feedback because this concerns our waterfront.
Better alternatives
If we need washrooms in Spencer Smith, there are better locations than a prominent building, blocking views, on our main street. If we are going to preserve Freeman Station, there are more appropriate locations, including Ireland House Museum on Guelph Line, which is one of the options under consideration.
The museum already has an active educational and historical program for visitors and could incorporate the historic train station – maybe even display items related to Burlington’s rail history. This is a more relevant use for a heritage building than turning it into modern washrooms, and my delegation will ask councillors to support that option.
Residents speak
So what do you think? Email me at mariannemeedward@bell.net, or post a comment below.
The general concern I’ve heard so far is that the greenspace and openness of our waterfront park is being chipped away, and Freeman Station is one more example. Resident Doug Waller said it well:
“Not against permanent washrooms at the park, but make them as unobtrusive as you can. We don’t need any more development in this park. The pier when complete and the Discovery building are more than ample.
Parkland with few or no buildings
“Park as defined in my dictionary: ‘A piece of land with few or no buildings within or adjoining a town, maintained for recreational and ornamental purposes.’ There must be several other places in Burlington that this could be put. Spencer Smith Park is a jewel, please don’t destroy it,” said Doug in an email to councilors and the mayor, also copied to me.
Disappearing greenspace
Those sentiments were echoed by long-time resident Joe Vietch in his delegation to city councillors this week. He noted that if you keep building on the park, it’s no longer a park. Over the years, he has seen trees and greenspace disappear from the park as concrete walkways, the Discovery centre, and now the pier have been added.
Joe has attended most of the public meetings regarding development in the park and the downtown, including one last December that I also attended, hosted by the Ward 1 and Ward 2 councillors. Freeman station at that time was being proposed for the West end of Spencer Smith, an idea residents at that meeting opposed because it would take up greenspace and block views.
“Shortly after this meeting it was announced in the local paper that the station was not going in the park,” Joe noted in his delegation. “In my naivety I thought great, case closed. Not so. It is raising its ugly head again with these latest options.”
Speak out
Now it’s your turn to speak. Is there already too much development in Spencer Smith? Are there better places – and uses – for Freeman Station? Or do you support putting it in Spencer Smith Park? Leave a comment below, or send me an email mariannemeedward@bell.net and I’ll bring your views when I come to council March 22.
Marianne Meed Ward is creator/host of A Better Burlington, a online forum to discuss issues in our community and sponsor of the Save Our Waterfront campaign. She is running for Ward 2 city council in the Oct. 25 municipal election.
Read the staff report on options for Freeman Station here:
24 Comments
Not that I’m resistive to change…but….our park is stunning…can we please just leave as is? Public washrooms at the foot of Brant St…sounds weird.
Freeman Station is part of Burlington’s Heritage & should be preserved. However Spencer Smith Park is the wrong location.
The Station is part of transportation & as such the best idea I heard would be as a Ticket/Transit Centre located @ the bus depot across from the existing parking lot. If there are major problems with that location then I agree with the Ireland House location.
We don’t seem to be able to handle, creatively, any solution for Heritage things, however seem to be able remove them & replace them with modern structures which require as much if not more design to put in place.
Perhaps it should worked into future GO plans, such as a ticket/comfort/museum/information station. Burlington is, at some point going to be involved in linking with Metrolinx & as such should be many creative locations for the Station.
I really don’t want a building for washrooms or anything else to mar the view of the lake – I am tired of the encroaching on the lovely view. Not to mention that the washroom situation should have been satisfied when they build Spencers, could it have been lack of foresight. So Freeman station or some other building is not an option for me!!!
I think this is a fabulous location for this
precious piece of the past to find a home.
what better place than where it can be enjoyed by all! I think it will only enhance the park.
However…..the idea of using it as a “washroom” does not sit well with me, this building is a treasure and deserves more respect than a washroom….vandalism and grafitti and generalized filth are not how I want to see this building treated.
thumbs up on the lake location, down on use as a bathroom…..how about vintage ice cream shop as a use??
thanks! for the opportunity to voice, have
been watching and waiting for a long time for the fate of this building, I think it is one of a kind and have hoped that it will find its way into Burlingtons main stage where it belongs…..there is still plenty of lake view at the park.
Too many buildings will destroy the openness of the park.
Locate the Freeman Station in the parking lot of the present bus terminal. It ties in nicely with the architecture of the village square. Place the washrooms for the park under the gazebo.
Thanks for the opportunity to express an opinion.
I think that the Freeman station could contribute charm and character to Spencer Smith park but not at the Brant and Lakeshore location as a washroom facility. I can anticipate line ups of people outside the building during peak events. Usually where are there are line ups of people there are also increased amounts of garbage that don’t quite make it into the garbage bins and this would detract from the appearance of the Lakeshore area across from the sidewalk cafes that are a big draw for people in the summer.
The sidewalk cafes promote tourists and economy into the downtown area and blocking the view of the lake from these businesses could be detrimental.
A better location for the Freeman building might be at the foot of Lakeshore and Maple and not at street level, but closer to the circle area on the North grassy area. A small tourist business (such as bike rentals) could be housed there.
There are so many families and children that enjoy Spencer Smith park and the childrens’ play area, I’m sure a business promoting more activities in the park would attract more people to enjoy its beauty.
I would love to see this Station preserved but please do not put it in Spencer Smith Park. I love the openess of the Park and we do not need anymore buildings on the lakefront. There are plenty of other places for the Station to be located.
Freeman station at spencer NO
unobstrusive washrooms YES
open space YES
I believe that keeping it simple is the right solution. The Freeman station is a part of Burlington’s past, but the waterfront is no place for it. While it is a “cute” structure, it would be out of context in a park centrally located on Burlington’s waterfront.
I am concerned about the increased loss of “space” at Spencer Smith. As far as the need for washrooms in the park goes, why wasn’t this taken care of when the Discovery Landing was built?? Or are those washrooms only for the elite who can afford to eat at Spencers??
Yet again, another example of a lack of forethought and planning by the city.
I agree that washrooms are needed at the park, but it can and should be done discretely. To use the historic old train staion seems sacriligeous. It is far more appropriate to place it at Ireland House.
I DO NOT THINK WE NEED ANOTHER BUILDING ON OUR TINY LITTLE PARK WE CALL SPENCERS!!! HERE’S AN IDEA, WHY DON’T WE FINISH THE PIER FIRST?
BOB CARRUTHERS
Save the building but not at Spencer Smith and not as a washroom facility. The decision regarding the train station has been put off for too long. Let’s get it settled. I’ve noticed washrooms at Discovery Landing. Are they available when this facility is open? Washrooms at the east end of the park would likely be welcomed but they would have to be monitored regularly to avoid certain unwanted activities, graffitti, dirtiness.
No No No. Not in our beautiful park! I’m sure there are many appropriate places in Burlington for this station. Many have been previously mentioned. I think the station should be preserved but not at Spencer Smith Park!
I thought the photo at the first of your letter made the historic train station look very comfortable in that location. Do any of you people ever go to Spencer Smith Park…why it is full of events most every weekend in the summer. And when not being used for Rib Fest, Art Shows and the Sound of Music it is full of families enjoying the waterfront. Maybe it could be used for more than one function, ie when the pier is finished it could be where folks come to pay for the use of a daily slip, ice cream shop upstairs gets my vote. If you have small children or kids of all ages for that matter a bathroom can never be too handy for a Mom with one child that has to go “Quick”. My concern is that the city does not take so long to make a decision about relocating the train station that we loose out on the promised Government money that expires in 2011 if I read that correctly.
Save the building, but NOT at Spencer Smith and NOT as washroom! Tacky, tacky!!
I’m very much in favour of retaining green space but I’m also concerned that we’re turning into an opposition to anything city management suggests. Consensus is almost impossible and it can become too easy just to oppose any decision. In fact some will always oppose any proposal. The old station is not a high rise. It could be made an attractive and useful piece of the park.
Like the approval of towers at Old Lakeshore Road, City Hall is making a decision on the waterfront without proper public consultation – despite their recent talk of ‘improving’ community engagement.
The City reveals their lack of vision for the waterfront and the downtown area. What seems to guide City Council is their desperate need to plunk the train platform somewhere, which supersedes any commitment to protect Spencer Smith’s green space and public views.
The strong reaction against the Freeman Station in Spencer Smith Park reflects unfinished business. Many citizens remain unhappy about the City adding the hulking Discovery building in the Park and reduced parking access.
I am not in favour of locating the old train station in Spencer Smith park for any reason. Let us try amd maitain as much open space as possible.
John Pegg
We enjoy our glimpse of the lake. Look at Toronto’s waterfront. (where is the lake?) Huh !!
I love to walk my little dog and have my grandson race back and forth along the embankment.
Please do not add more buildings to our waterfront.
I am still not happy about the restarant being built, taking up more green space, so badly needed in our built-up communities. I am not against progress but let it be the right kind of advancement in our community.
Maggie Pentecost
Cavendish Drive
Burlington
In principal, agree, the Freeman Station must be ’saved’, but Spencer Smith Park is not the right place. Wouldn’t it make MORE sense to link it into one of the ‘GO station’ locations, maybe Aldershot or Guelph Line? That would a)give people coming/going something to historically consider relative to the area, b)there’s ample parking, so that wouldn’t be an issue for ‘tourism’ c)it would generate revenue for both transit, and the municipality, d)it would ‘link’ the whole notion of ‘transport’ in the minds of transient citizenry …
If ‘washroom facilities’ are needed for the park – and I wonder are they REALLY needed – (How have we MANAGED for so long without????) – I suggest the VERY basic minimum closely aligned with the Pier. Leave the park, as such, alone. There’s no other place like it on the lake at the moment.
I also tend to agree that the PIER should be FINISHED first, before taking on additional costly replacement/refurbishing ventures. At present, the much heralded pier is turning into an overpriced and embarrassing boon-doggle …
I agree we should retain the greenspace in spencer smith park, an option for the station could be to place it on the beachstrip in place of the present snackshack. and put in washrooms, showers, and a snackbar along with a historical display also. perhaps lease out some of the floor space to one of the local eateries for the summer. This could really draw in the boaters and sun worshippers on the weekends.
Please leave our park as it is. It is such a beautiful place as is.
Spencer Smith Park and it’s greenspace should be preserved.
It is not the appropriate location to relocate Freeman Station and I also believe that Freeman Station whereever else it could be located is deserving to be better than a washroom.
Washrooms are already available in the Discovery Center at Spencer Smith Park.