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Niagara Falls
Tuesday, February 11, 2025
Letter: Anywhere else, history would be protected
Letter to the editor. FILE

Dear editor:

In travelling around the world, I am amazed at the number of people who are familiar with Niagara-on-the-Lake and how beautiful it is. 

I find it difficult to comprehend the 180-degree reversal of four of our councillors’ and lord mayor’s election platforms. At the time, they sounded so sincere and convincing.

Did that much change in our historic town since the election to warrant this rush of approvals for inappropriate development? What am I missing? 

We realize there will be further development, however, there is a vast difference as to whether it’s appropriate.

Harbour House, for example, is a perfect gem with an excellent reputation, having earned accolades far and wide, and yet its architecture blends in with the surrounding area.

Compare this to the thoroughly modern architecture of the approved hotel to be built beside the historic Phillips Estate, now both owned by Rainer Hummel.

We have the newly built welcoming wall on Queen Street but when people turn the corner they will be confronted with the modern hotel adjacent to the beautiful architecture of the Phillips home. Please explain.

Any justification for approving the size of the hotel (which belongs in a much larger city) on the Parliament Oak property would be lost on me.

It’s not only inappropriate but also in the middle of an established residential area, introducing delivery trucks, noisy outdoor events, extensive street parking, traffic and more.

Since staff accommodation will be difficult to find, parking for all employees and the extra traffic generated will be a problem that will exacerbate problems the town is now dealing with. 

These are only two of the approvals so far.

Did staff or council consider the impact these will have on a small town the size of Old Town? Was all this lost in the rush of approvals?

It’s important to remember that thanks to Premier Doug Ford’s government, which made the decision that developers will no longer have to pay for their infrastructure, these charges will now be passed on to the municipalities — meaning you and me, the taxpayers of Niagara-on-the-Lake.

And these are the tip of the iceberg. There is still the Rand Estate, with close to 200 homes and hotel, and the Mori property, which I’m sure is waiting to be developed. 

I can’t begin to imagine how Coun. Gary Burroughs must feel now that his former historical home property is being carved up. 

In another province or country, our historical town, a gem of history, would have been protected for decades. 

Luba Fraser
NOTL

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