There was an audible little gasp from the clutch of onlookers as the beast arose.
Lifted off a flatbed rig by an enormous mobile crane, the control cab began its ascent to the top of the tall, white latticed steel structure. Minutes later, the tower crane was taking shape. Minutes more and the cement counterweights and boom arm were attached.
And then it was, well, overbearing. Looking down Queen Street above the low heritage buildings, this structure dominates. As our magnificent trees shed their leaves, the heart of the little town by the lake is now bookended by two of these industrial creatures.
One is building a massive hotel in the heart of a residential ‘hood. The other will construct a 53,000-square-foot, six-storey-high commercial complex where four antique structures once stood.
This is the legacy of the political leadership that will be renewed, renovated or trashed come Monday. So, what happens then?
The Royal George rebuild is a monumental mistake that will become apparent as the steel skeleton is hoisted into place by the beast. The finished complex will be three times the mass of the courthouse down the street — currently the largest edifice in town.
There will be almost 40,000 square feet above grade and another 15,000 below. Seventy per cent of the space once occupied by a theatre, a heritage barber shop and two homes on Victoria Street will be occupied by the complex. There’ll be loading docks adjacent to residential homes, and a rear erection on Victoria more than 64 feet in height.
Yes, taller than a six-storey building. The main four-storey box will connect that tower to a fake façade facing Queen that’s 30 feet high. A rehearsal hall around the corner, on Victoria, will also be three stories in height.
In Mississauga or downtown St. Catharines, you’d hardly notice a big, new, boxy structure like this or be struck by a soaring “fly tower.” But this is NOTL. We’re supposed to be quaint and, above all, authentic. It’s why visitors flock here in such numbers.
Interesting is the fact no modelling of this complex was done. In fact, our elected people were never given detailed architectural drawings. Staffers got them. The public was blind.
It’s like that detailed construction mitigation report outlining how this monster will be built in the middle of our precious heritage area — with a dump truck every minute. That report was supposed to be public but was never posted. If you want a peak, you must be supervised and in a closed room at town hall. (Trust me, I know — “The Turner Report: Hey NOTL, hope you like trucks,” Jan. 21, The Lake Report.)
By the way, what’s the plan for all those trucks to get in and out of town once Mississagua Street is closed for reconstruction? Will they rumble through another residential ‘hood?
I think we all get that the mouldy 110-year-old George needed to be rebuilt or replaced. But few expected Shaw Inc — the real-estate development company that used to just put on plays — would propose something of this magnitude. Or that it would be so speedily approved. Or be six storeys high. Or eat up half a residential street. Or cost $90 million.
By the way, most of that money — more than $60 million — is coming from you. Tax revenues. The rest is ponied up by donors, like Tim and Frances Price ($10 million). Of course, because the Shaw is a charity, donors can write off their largesse against taxes payable. So we all have a stake in that, too.
Well, can anything be done to coral this thing? Is there any option to prevent an oversized, warehouse-sized box with a fussy false fake front from disfiguring the crown jewel of NOTL?
Nope. But you might wish to remember that when you vote on Monday.
Garth Turner is a NOTL resident, journalist, author, wealth manager and former federal MP and minister. garth@garth.ca
