Go-kart track told to go jump
Lakeland Go-Karts has been a part of beach-strip family fun for 50 years. But that could end soon.
By Peter Van Harten
The Hamilton Spectator
(Jul 4, 2005)
For 50 years, Lakeland Go-Karts has drawn families and their children to the beach strip's Confederation Park for a fast spin around the track.
Now Rose Firmi, the 64-year-old owner-operator of the go-kart track, says she is being driven out by the Hamilton Conservation Authority.
"They say, 'No way can you stay.' They won't consider it," she said.
Firmi says the authority won't grant her a long-term lease for the waterfront property.
Officials tell her the operation doesn't make enough money, but she claims they've rejected her "fantastic" $80,000 to $100,000 plans to spruce up and put up a new building.
She's endured the "lean years," when the beach strip was scorned, and she sent out her children and employees to help keep conservation land clean. Now she wants to benefit from the area's recent popularity.
Tony Horvat, director of land management for the authority, confirms a go-kart track with its noise and pollution no longer fits into the authority's long-term vision.
That area is going to be converted to green space some day. No long-term leases will be granted, and there is no chance of relocating to other parts of the park, he said.
That narrow strip of lake frontage is a "high-value piece of real-estate," and Horvat said any park businesses helping fund the authority has to produce.
"It's a business that moves along at a steady pace but doesn't generate a lot of money for the owners or ourselves," he said.
It's a seasonal business that takes up space year-round, unlike Hutch's restaurant, which is open every day except Christmas and brings in a steady stream of money from sunrise to sundown, Horvat said.
"It (the track) makes money, but it's not going gangbusters," he said.
Firmi said Lakeland Go-Karts, which is usually open from about April to October, pays taxes and $500 monthly rent on a year-round basis. It also pays 10 per cent of the take to the authority when it reaches a certain level.
"I'm all for making improvements to generate more money, but you need a long-term lease to do that," she said.
Her current two-year lease extension expires at the end of 2006.
The track was there even before the conservation authority took over the land and lease from the city. Her husband rebuilt the go-kart track without compensation after Lake Ontario flood waters wiped out the track in the early 1970s, she said.
Horvat says the authority will give Firmi notice when it is time to go. He noted that there are no plans to convert the area to green space in the near future.
Hamilton councillor and waterfront champion Chad Collins says the track has been attracting thousands to the beach over the years. It's mostly families and young people, and the track complements Wild Waterworks pool and Adventure Village with its miniature golf, batting cages and climbing wall.
"It's a good fit with everything already there," he said.
Collins said Firmi is being kept "in limbo" without the medium and long-term leases to allow improvements.
"She is willing to go above and beyond what most people expect of her from a business point of view," Collins said.
pvanharten@thespec.com
905-526-3328
Photo
Cathie Coward, the Hamilton Spectator
Rose Firmi, 64, who owns Lakeland Go-Karts on the beach strip, feels the Hamilton Conservation Authority is driving her out by not giving her a long-term lease.
Lakeland Go-Karts has been a part of beach-strip family fun for 50 years. But that could end soon.
By Peter Van Harten
The Hamilton Spectator
(Jul 4, 2005)
For 50 years, Lakeland Go-Karts has drawn families and their children to the beach strip's Confederation Park for a fast spin around the track.
Now Rose Firmi, the 64-year-old owner-operator of the go-kart track, says she is being driven out by the Hamilton Conservation Authority.
"They say, 'No way can you stay.' They won't consider it," she said.
Firmi says the authority won't grant her a long-term lease for the waterfront property.
Officials tell her the operation doesn't make enough money, but she claims they've rejected her "fantastic" $80,000 to $100,000 plans to spruce up and put up a new building.
She's endured the "lean years," when the beach strip was scorned, and she sent out her children and employees to help keep conservation land clean. Now she wants to benefit from the area's recent popularity.
Tony Horvat, director of land management for the authority, confirms a go-kart track with its noise and pollution no longer fits into the authority's long-term vision.
That area is going to be converted to green space some day. No long-term leases will be granted, and there is no chance of relocating to other parts of the park, he said.
That narrow strip of lake frontage is a "high-value piece of real-estate," and Horvat said any park businesses helping fund the authority has to produce.
"It's a business that moves along at a steady pace but doesn't generate a lot of money for the owners or ourselves," he said.
It's a seasonal business that takes up space year-round, unlike Hutch's restaurant, which is open every day except Christmas and brings in a steady stream of money from sunrise to sundown, Horvat said.
"It (the track) makes money, but it's not going gangbusters," he said.
Firmi said Lakeland Go-Karts, which is usually open from about April to October, pays taxes and $500 monthly rent on a year-round basis. It also pays 10 per cent of the take to the authority when it reaches a certain level.
"I'm all for making improvements to generate more money, but you need a long-term lease to do that," she said.
Her current two-year lease extension expires at the end of 2006.
The track was there even before the conservation authority took over the land and lease from the city. Her husband rebuilt the go-kart track without compensation after Lake Ontario flood waters wiped out the track in the early 1970s, she said.
Horvat says the authority will give Firmi notice when it is time to go. He noted that there are no plans to convert the area to green space in the near future.
Hamilton councillor and waterfront champion Chad Collins says the track has been attracting thousands to the beach over the years. It's mostly families and young people, and the track complements Wild Waterworks pool and Adventure Village with its miniature golf, batting cages and climbing wall.
"It's a good fit with everything already there," he said.
Collins said Firmi is being kept "in limbo" without the medium and long-term leases to allow improvements.
"She is willing to go above and beyond what most people expect of her from a business point of view," Collins said.
pvanharten@thespec.com
905-526-3328
Photo
Cathie Coward, the Hamilton Spectator
Rose Firmi, 64, who owns Lakeland Go-Karts on the beach strip, feels the Hamilton Conservation Authority is driving her out by not giving her a long-term lease.