David Israelson
Special to Niagara Now/The Lake Report
Now that Niagara-on-the-Lake’s town council has a professional survey on what people would like for one of Old Town’s last public properties, it’s time for residents to speak up if they support putting the community first at 176 Wellington St.
The report by NPG Planning Solutions Inc. is clear about one thing — the public wants 176 Wellington to stay in public hands. This should enable council to act decisively to rule out private sector-based ideas that have been floating about, such as condos attached to a “wellness centre” or exclusive luxury seniors’ housing for a privileged few.
That should make it easier for the public and the town to move forward to support the only credible, well-thought-out proposal that has emerged for 176 Wellington so far.
This is the community-focused proposal to turn the site into a “gateway” for education, music, art, Indigenous learning, history and more. It’s an idea that already has a financially viable plan, support from NOTL’s major not-for-profit organizations and a generous benefactor in the James A. Burton & Family Foundation.
Based on what we know already, council should have the confidence to move forward now. It’s not being asked for a final decision, just to issue a request for proposals RFP for the site. An RFP formally invites people and groups to submit ideas that council can then evaluate with fairness, openness, clarity and in a reasonable time.
Issuing an RFP is something council can do right after the holidays, which would make it possible to make a decision about 176 Wellington by summer.
Meanwhile, it’s important now for those who like the not-for-profit community gateway that the Burton Foundation proposes to look more closely at the benefits the idea has to offer. Those who don’t yet know much about the idea can look at the proposal’s website, 176wellington.ca.
The broad outline is already there. The new 176 Wellington would be a keystone site for Niagara-on-the-Lake for residents and visitors alike. Organizations already onboard to be part of the vision include Parks Canada, the Chamber of Commerce, Tourism Niagara, local wineries, Yellow Door Theatre Project, Music Niagara, Bravo Niagara and Niagara Jazz.
The Shaw Festival is also supportive, and keeping the site public would enable Royal Oak Community School to build on its success in keeping elementary education alive in Old Town for more than 10 years.
For everyone, the site is perfect for learning spaces, culinary classes, studios, films and concerts, and the project would protect and preserve the public trees, greenery and pathways.
Most importantly for this history-rich town, the site will be a gateway to our expanding museum and also the headquarters for the Niagara Academy of Indigenous Relations, offering a long-overdue opportunity to broaden understanding of our past and provide insights into building our future together.
Our council will rightly want to know practical details about the foundation-led proposal for 176 Wellington. Is it financially viable? How will traffic be handled? Could it add parking at the edge of Old Town? If it does include parking, who shares the revenues?
The Burton Foundation promises a robust business plan that will make the case that their vision and generosity are only the start, and that 176 Wellington will always be financially sustainable.
For whatever reasons, Niagara-on-the-Lake has a history of delaying important decisions; here’s a chance for council to break that pattern and make Canada’s most beautiful town even better.
It’s time for council to issue its request for proposal for 176 Wellington St. — and for those who want it to be a keystone for the community to make their voices heard.
David Israelson is a writer and non-practising lawyer who lives in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
