Upside down triangle
RE Selling out Queen West (NOW, August 23-29). It's easy to blame the land use planning system when a neighbourhood evolves contrary to some people's liking.
But let's be clear: the core issue with the Queen West triangle development is the preservation of a particular lifestyle of a small group of people.
If the city's arts scene were to fall to pieces with the displacement of a handful of artists in 48 Abell, it'd be a symptom of a much larger issue and shouldn't be linked to a condo development.
Not all residents at 48 Abell are artists. Further, the structure itself has only marginal significance as a heritage property.
Finally, the portrayal of local artists as downtrodden martyrs does nothing but take the focus away from the heftier issues on Queen West: addiction, crime and poverty, to name a few.
RE Selling out Queen West. Just what Toronto needs: another selfish cause.
Displaced artists? C'mon. People lose homes to sadder, less predictable circumstances.
Do developers stand to make money? Yes, of course. Money is not evil.
Refurbishing the core to appeal to folks who might choose midtown or Pickering instead is good for Toronto.
Increased density means better delivery of more affordable services. Development creates jobs and small business opportunities that spill into neighbouring communities, and so on. The benefits outweigh the inconveniences.
Roll with the punches.
Gonna miss that rundown vibe? Pack your shit and head east to Bathurst. Locals don't stray far from home at night.
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