August 04, 2007
Rob Faulkner
The Hamilton Spectator
(Aug 4, 2007)
Emotions are flowing like draught beer over demolition this week of the Dynes Tavern to make way for a housing plan.
The City of Hamilton says property owner Anthony DePasquale may face $200,000 in fines for demolishing the 160-year-old tavern without a permit.
DePasquale applied in May for a permit to demolish the tavern, but it was delayed by heritage concerns. The tavern came down anyway, leaving heated opinions on both sides of the debate.
"I don't know anybody who's pleased about this coming down," said Fred Briggs, 70, a former Beach resident, historian and a regular at reunions. Beach reunions were held at Dynes for years as other Beach buildings fell.
Well, Briggs may not know Mark-Alan Whittle, who posted comments online to The Spec's Hallmarks blog: "The Dynes was a fire trap that would need millions to restore. ... When will city council stop living in the past, some bygone era that's long gone?"
In an interview, Hamilton Chamber of Commerce chief executive officer John Dolbec was critical of what he sees as a broken process at city hall.
He said delays needlessly pushed DePasquale to his deadline on a deal with Branthaven Homes. "It just shows the system doesn't work," Dolbec said. "Business people like other citizens have to obey the law ... and I'm not encouraging them to flout regulations.
"But having said all that, how long do you have to wait to get a permit when you've got a million-dollar transaction in process, as in this case?"
The case should have been expedited, he said.
"As a city, we are not terribly friendly for business," he said. "A frequent complaint I hear is that nothing is predictable" when it comes to the process for local business deals.
"My read is: This is a call to action that the city has to get its house in order, expediting permits and expediting process so someone who buys a property can do something with it and plan for predictable outcomes."
On the Hallmarks blog, run by Spectator urban affairs reporter Nicole MacIntyre, 25 comments on the Dynes had appeared by mid-afternoon yesterday.
"When is it ever a 'smart move' to flout due process?" asked Helen Highwater. "The sense of entitlement and exceptionalism of builders and developers in this town is sickening."
Howard Wood was glad it was torn down before it became a heritage site: "This city is famous for designating a building as a heritage site and then letting the building sit as an eyesore for 30 years before they do anything."
Others weren't sure where they stand on the issue. "I'm kind of on the fence with this," one wrote. "On the one hand, it is refreshing to see someone make a decision and then do it. ... Heritage-wise, I suppose it is always sad to see a building with such history demolished, especially when cheap, carbon-copy, cardboard boxes will be put up in its place at $300,000-plus per unit."
Others wished DePasquale followed due process. One railed against "wanton lawlessness." One wished city council would act more decisively against "cowboy" behaviour.
Beach resident Scott Howley laments the passing of a Beach Strip landmark: the Dynes Tavern was built in 1846, became a centre of waterfront life, and acted as a community hall for many Beach functions. "It was a meeting spot and, while I didn't go there all the time, I tried to make my rounds," Howley said. "Your buddy was sitting at the bar, the waitresses and the manager were always friendly."
rfaulkner@thespec.com
905-526-2468
See http://hallmarks.thespec.com/
Rob Faulkner
The Hamilton Spectator
(Aug 4, 2007)
Emotions are flowing like draught beer over demolition this week of the Dynes Tavern to make way for a housing plan.
The City of Hamilton says property owner Anthony DePasquale may face $200,000 in fines for demolishing the 160-year-old tavern without a permit.
DePasquale applied in May for a permit to demolish the tavern, but it was delayed by heritage concerns. The tavern came down anyway, leaving heated opinions on both sides of the debate.
"I don't know anybody who's pleased about this coming down," said Fred Briggs, 70, a former Beach resident, historian and a regular at reunions. Beach reunions were held at Dynes for years as other Beach buildings fell.
Well, Briggs may not know Mark-Alan Whittle, who posted comments online to The Spec's Hallmarks blog: "The Dynes was a fire trap that would need millions to restore. ... When will city council stop living in the past, some bygone era that's long gone?"
In an interview, Hamilton Chamber of Commerce chief executive officer John Dolbec was critical of what he sees as a broken process at city hall.
He said delays needlessly pushed DePasquale to his deadline on a deal with Branthaven Homes. "It just shows the system doesn't work," Dolbec said. "Business people like other citizens have to obey the law ... and I'm not encouraging them to flout regulations.
"But having said all that, how long do you have to wait to get a permit when you've got a million-dollar transaction in process, as in this case?"
The case should have been expedited, he said.
"As a city, we are not terribly friendly for business," he said. "A frequent complaint I hear is that nothing is predictable" when it comes to the process for local business deals.
"My read is: This is a call to action that the city has to get its house in order, expediting permits and expediting process so someone who buys a property can do something with it and plan for predictable outcomes."
On the Hallmarks blog, run by Spectator urban affairs reporter Nicole MacIntyre, 25 comments on the Dynes had appeared by mid-afternoon yesterday.
"When is it ever a 'smart move' to flout due process?" asked Helen Highwater. "The sense of entitlement and exceptionalism of builders and developers in this town is sickening."
Howard Wood was glad it was torn down before it became a heritage site: "This city is famous for designating a building as a heritage site and then letting the building sit as an eyesore for 30 years before they do anything."
Others weren't sure where they stand on the issue. "I'm kind of on the fence with this," one wrote. "On the one hand, it is refreshing to see someone make a decision and then do it. ... Heritage-wise, I suppose it is always sad to see a building with such history demolished, especially when cheap, carbon-copy, cardboard boxes will be put up in its place at $300,000-plus per unit."
Others wished DePasquale followed due process. One railed against "wanton lawlessness." One wished city council would act more decisively against "cowboy" behaviour.
Beach resident Scott Howley laments the passing of a Beach Strip landmark: the Dynes Tavern was built in 1846, became a centre of waterfront life, and acted as a community hall for many Beach functions. "It was a meeting spot and, while I didn't go there all the time, I tried to make my rounds," Howley said. "Your buddy was sitting at the bar, the waitresses and the manager were always friendly."
rfaulkner@thespec.com
905-526-2468
See http://hallmarks.thespec.com/