Dear editor:
My husband and I are 12-year residents of Old Town, NOTL and we consider this our forever home.
With us settling here, we have been lucky enough for our adult children to follow us, our daughter in 2019 and now our son 2026.
We were made aware of the 176 Wellington project with our granddaughter’s enrollment into the Royal Oak Community School, which now resides at that site.
Having spent some time around the site of the hospital, we have really noticed what a truly wonderful area it is, rich in history and attachment to NOTL.
The children are so enriched in the community with outdoor walks, lunch at local restaurants, fundraisers and really enjoying the area for all its spender.
Our daughter would love to consider relocating closer to the school, but is waiting for the outcome of the 176 Wellington site as many young families are.
The Burton Foundation is offering this city an incredible gift at no cost to the taxpayers and a sustainable long-term lease model supported by philanthropic investment and diversified revenue streams.
50,000 square feet of versatile space including Royal Oak, junior kindergarten to Grade 8, daycare, performance and rehearsal areas, exhibition spaces, various arts, heritage and space for cultural groups.
They even have approx. 250 parking spots as part of a balanced approach to accommodate both resident and visitor.
On March 24, this incredible opportunity was snubbed and a new design from who, not sure, took the front stage in chambers.
$200,000 will be spent to further refine this new design, which is primarily a parking garage two to three storeys with 150 parking spots and 13,000 square feet of community space. The price tag for us taxpayers: up to $19 million with a potential revenue stream of $1.1 million per year.
Why would council put $200,000 into this when the Burton Foundation has been knocking on the door, yelling from the roof top for over four years just for the opportunity to participate in a request for proposal?
I’m worried the refinement of this design will make it impossible for the Burton Foundation to submit a request for proposal because the perimeters and direction will be so different.
This doesn’t seem logical, so what information are we missing or not being told?
Thank you for your attention to this most important matter to NOTL.
Heather Campagnola
NOTL
