A Better Burlington » marianne meed ward

City launches $7.5m lawsuit on pier; Progress on waterfront, but it’s not saved yet

Marianne Meed Ward — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 00:32:13 +0000

Much accomplished, but waterfront not saved yet

Much has been accomplished since Save Our Waterfront was launched a year ago, and 2000 of you joined with me to seek a better plan than high-rise development replacing 2-story heritage buildings in the Old Lakeshore Road area of our downtown waterfront.

Some of those achievements are detailed below and you should all take pride in celebrating them. I couldn't have done this without the support of the Save Our Waterfront leadership team and all 2000 of you standing with me, sending donations, putting up lawn signs, and lending your voice for a community-led vision for waterfront development.

But our work isn't done. Our waterfront is far from saved. But you wouldn’t know that reading city information.

City launches $7.5m lawsuit; resumes talks with contractor

Burlington has now formally launched a $7.5m lawsuit against the pier contractor, design engineer and others involved in this project. At the same time, the city has resumed talks with the contractor on a redesign proposal first presented in January.

The pier is coming before city council next Tues. Sept. 7. That's the last opportunity to resolve the pier before the election.

We all hope to see a cost-effective and timely resolution, but these 11th hour developments seem like more of the same reactive decision-making that led to the demise of Freeman Station and the Pan Am games.

A Special Report on our Unfinished Pier

Marianne Meed Ward — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 16:58:50 +0000

When negotiations to complete Burlington’s pier fell apart between the city and the contractor over a design dispute, the city called the contractor’s performance bond last January. In early July, lawyers for the city, the contractor, the bonding company, and the design engineer met to discuss the bonding company’s investigation into the dispute. One of the key points of discussion: whether a design dispute is covered under the terms of the bond. If the bond can’t be used, what are the costs and options to finish the pier?

To get to the heart of the dispute and possible solutions, I sat down for separate on-the-record interviews with Scott Stewart, the city’s general manager of community services; Tom Eichenbaum, the city’s director of engineering; Henry Schilthuis, president of Harm Schilthuis & Sons (pier contractor); and Doug Corby of Masters Insurance (an agent of Zurich, the contractor's bonding company).

Click below to read my report.

The pier contractor isn’t bankrupt, and other rumours dispelled

Marianne Meed Ward — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 03:07:00 +0000

We may never know whether poor design or poor construction techniques caused the delays in building Burlington's pier. Even professional engineers disagree on that point. But maligning the contractor’s reputation and spreading false rumours does nothing to advance dialogue and understanding of the situation, nor find a productive solution. Below, some of the rumours I've heard (including from city officials!), and the reality.

Towers on lake one step closer, but city prefers to shoot the messenger

Marianne Meed Ward — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:53:56 +0000

We’re one step closer to getting 10-storey buildings right along our shoreline, but instead of transparently presenting the facts about recent events and their own role in them, our elected representatives would prefer to shoot the messenger. You’re being “misled”, our downtown councilor, Peter Thoem, recently told one of our supporters, when she contacted him [...]

City Council quietly removes shoreline protection

Marianne Meed Ward — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 03:52:44 +0000

Most of us have assumed that the heritage buildings along Burlington's waterfront on the south side of Old Lakeshore Road are protected from destruction and development, because of shoreline setbacks, inside of which no development can take place. But we’re wrong - city council quietly removed the shoreline protection. Even worse, the owner of the empty lot beside Emma’s Back Porch - Tim Hortons (TDL) - is appealing just about all the limits on development in this area.

City’s waterfront info leaves you in the dark

Marianne Meed Ward — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 13:22:26 +0000

Because you've made Burlington's waterfront plan an issue, the campaign is starting to influence City Hall. The city issued a "Vision for Old Lakeshore Road" and a press release in which the downtown councillor calls highrise buildings that destroy heritage in the area - in exchange for a one-block waterfront path - "reasonable and careful" development. But until they are more transparent about the plan's details and implications, we have much to do.

“Extensive” waterfront consultation consists of 2 meetings + 62 people

Marianne Meed Ward — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 20:23:17 +0000

Those of us raising concerns about development on Old Lakeshore Road on our waterfront that would add highrises and take out heritage buildings, have been told the public was already “extensively consulted” – and that no consensus emerged. Consultation went “above and beyond” what the Planning Act requires, we have been told, although the Act [...]

Council made waterfront mess – and must fix it

Marianne Meed Ward — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 03:17:02 +0000

Those of us protesting towers up to 15 storeys on our waterfront have been led to believe our city council’s hands are tied – those heights are already allowed in the Official Plan. We’re also told provincial Places to Grow legislation mandates “intensification” in urban growth centres, which includes the downtown. So imagine my surprise [...]

Towers are your fault

Marianne Meed Ward — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 16:47:38 +0000

Apparently, the potential towers on the waterfront are your fault. That was the message coming through at last night's city council meeting, where Burlington councillors unanimously voted to pass urban design guidelines for the Old Lakeshore Road precinct. The guidelines are the final step in a long process that started years ago with the Official Plan and zoning bylaws which permit 6-15 storey towers along Old Lakeshore Road. Weren't around then? Didn't know this was happening? Your bad. Councillors blamed the official plan, the zoning bylaws, previous councils, residents for not knowing more, and even the media for not covering this better - essentially everyone but themselves for the situation we now find ourselves in. Read More

Save our waterfront

Marianne Meed Ward — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 03:39:42 +0000

Do you want Burlington’s waterfront turned into tower alley? If no, join the campaign to Save our Waterfront. Click herel The city’s official plan allows for two development options in the Old Lakeshore Road precinct, between Pearl and Torrance: those options are for 6-10 storey towers, or even worse, 8-15 storey towers. The area currently [...]