Leslieville case will set example
Re:Is retail best for this area?
Comment, May 30
We in Mount Dennis and Weston are glad the City of Toronto is trying to preserve "employment lands" for well-paying, non-retail jobs in Leslieville's development.
I have witnessed the flight of many large and small businesses from our community. The lands were converted to housing or retail and can never be employment lands again. After 30 years of deindustrialization, our community is now the poorest in Toronto, and the dearth of good jobs is a large part of the reason. We're glad the city and the Leslieville community are taking such a principled stand, because whatever happens with the Ontario Municipal Board decision will affect other industrial lands.
Our neighbourhood is home to the former Kodak site, which includes 22 hectares that are waiting to be developed. The owners consulted us last year with the prospect of yet another retail mall. It is in a designated employment area in the official plan. The city is working very hard with us to keep this site industrial and renew the local employment base with a range of good jobs.
Our vision is to move toward the green economy, and we want to see our employment area become a place where innovation in manufacturing and technology can happen. We have heard that the Kodak site's owners are willing to consider industrial development. But if the OMB overrules the city and decides retail is a good use of employment lands in Leslieville, we fear they may go with their original plans.
Are we losing control of our neighbourhoods to the OMB, a small group of political appointees?
Marabelle McTavish, Co-Chair, Mount Dennis Weston Network, Toronto
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