The Mayor’s Task Force for the Large Venue Entertainment Centre (LVEC)
sees the publicly owned Memorial Centre as a ready cash source to be seized and spent to provide in excess of 50% of the capital needed to build the proposed Centre. This funding proposal is based on the sale of the existing buildings and grounds and the development
of high density housing on the site as illustrated by the Concept Plan commissioned by the Task Force
.
In its introduction, the Task Force Report remarks that "the replacement of the fifty-four year old arena became a focal point of the [2003] mayoralty election campaign". However, the proposed new centre does not replace the recreational and social amenities provided by the Memorial Centre, nor does the Concept Plan include a "generous allowance for parklands" as claimed by the Task Force.
The LVEC is to be a privately run entertainment centre for such events as Ontario Hockey League games, concerts, trade shows and major sports competitions intended to benefit tourism and private interests. The Memorial Centre is a multi-purpose recreational facility including arena, swimming pool, sports fields and parkland which has benefited all members of the public for over 50 years.
The Kingston Community Memorial Health and Recreation Centre, as it was originally named, was intended as a living, working memorial to commemorate and honour the sons and daughters of Kingstonians who died in the two World Wars and the Korean War, for the health and enjoyment of the entire community, inclusive of all ages and income levels, for generations to come. Building funds began with money raised in the community, a generous grant from the Federal Department of Agriculture, a grant from the provincial government, and a contribution from the Kingston Agricultural Society.
Governor-General Viscount Alexander of Tunis came to Kingston to lay the cornerstone and stated: "In building this living memorial, Kingston not only honours her gallant sons who fell in battle, but ensures for her people a community centre which is made possible by the sacrifice of those who are still living and by those who have gone before." In accordance with the respect it deserves, the facility was rededicated to veterans at a golden anniversary ceremony in 2000 when the stonework above its doors was inscribed "Lest We Forget - They Served Til Death- Why Not We."
The Task Force has recommended that a "new and significant memorial be established for those who sacrificed their lives in the Second World War" but a memorial that does not give back to the community, as our Memorial Centre does, is a hollow symbol in comparison. We have so much to lose if this public asset is sold off to private developers. It will change the character and amenities contributing to the quality of life in our neighbourhoods and our City forever.
Many people see the Memorial Centre Site as unattractive, undeveloped space with an out of date arena and don’t have any problem with it being sold for private development. The building and site have been shamefully neglected by the City. As the home arena of the Kingston Frontenacs, the building is seen as decrepit and embarrassing. It is structurally sound but needs updating and improving.
Because of its neglected condition, people outside the neighbourhood may not even be aware that the site is designated municipal recreational land and parkland.
Nevertheless, it is used extensively as a recreational centre and park by our diverse population. (See Jana Mills' letter to the Wig-Standard, Aug 23, 2004. pg. 5). We make the best use of the open space in the condition it is in, and it is at least as important to the surrounding residents as City Park and the Cricket Field are to the residents in that area. In fact, if it looked like City Park, it is unlikely that the Task Force would be considering it a "strategic asset" to be sold off.
Apart from the Pine Street traffic triangle, the Memorial Centre offers the only public green space in the district of Williamsville north of Princess St. It provides recreational facilities within walking distance of residents from the districts of Kingscourt-Strathcona to the north and Kings Town to the east as well as Williamsville. Its central location on an arterial road make it accessible to a much larger demographic than just the surrounding neighbourhoods.
The Memorial Centre is very well used by many different groups and individuals for a wide variety of activities throughout the year including, but not limited to:
The park proposed in the Concept Plan is less than 1/10th the size of the Memorial Centre, or roughly 1/3rd the size of Victoria Park. It provides only for the needs of the new houses and apartments and nothing for the existing residents and users of the Memorial Centre – no sports fields, no swimming pool, no arena. The closest parks can only be reached by crossing the busy arterial roads – Princess, Concession and Division Streets. McBurney and Victoria Parks are already used to capacity and do not have a pool, outdoor track, arena, or multiple playing fields.
The district of Williamsville already has one of the highest densities and the least amount of park and recreational space per capita. If the Memorial Centre is sold and developed as per the Concept Plan, the district will increase in total density by at least 800 new residents (a conservative estimate) in the 477 proposed dwellings and will lose over half of its already insufficient park and recreational space. See: Mikaela Hughes' letter to the editor of the Whig, Aug 23/04, and Derek Baldwin's Whig article of Aug 6/04.
In comparison, if City Park and the Cricket field were to be sold and developed for 800 new residents, Sydenham would still have as much park space per person as Williamsville has now. Why is the Memorial Centre, which constitutes over half of the park and recreational space of the district with the least amount of park and recreational space, being considered for sale?
As the density of the city increases, there will be need for more park space rather than less. With higher density comes a reduction of personal green space and a need for more public green space.
Kingston’s Official Plan was developed by planners under the Ontario Planning Act and, as described on the City of Kingston website, is "a comprehensive framework containing objectives and policies established by City Council primarily to provide for the physical development of the municipality." "The Official Plan is prepared with consultation and input from the community and helps to ensure that the future planning and development will meet the City’s specific needs."
One of the purposes of the Official Plan is to protect recreational and park space in the City. The Official Plan also provides formulas for determining the amount of space in a development to be conveyed to the City for park or other recreational purposes. 5% is considered a minimum for residential development with larger areas for higher density areas, such as Williamsville.
The Concept Plan reduces the recreational and park space in the whole district of Williamsville to 3.39% and the area bounded by Concession, Division and Princess St. to only 1.5%! This is simply unacceptable and it is amazing that it would be considered an option.
If this precedent is set, will any City parks be safe?
In the Official Plan, Kingston Memorial Centre is described as both "Open Space" on schedule B and "Municipal Recreation Lands" on schedule D, as is Douglas H. Fluhrer Park, part of the proposed site of the new LVEC . (See Copies of relevant extracts from Waterfront and Official Plans, Zoning By-laws.) In addition, the Memorial Centre is recognized as a "significant element in the municipal recreation lands system" and has its own Special Open Space Policies which recognize it as a "strategic site by virtue of its location on the Concession St. artery, its relationship to the surrounding residential community, and its proximity to the Central Business Core and the Upper Princess Street Commercial District."
It is identified as "a community park although its historic use as a minor league hockey arena, cultural and entertainment centre, and site for a county fair have conveyed attributes of a regional park." "The Memorial Centre also functions as a neighbourhood and community focus, and provides extensive open space amenity in the residential area bounded by Concession, Division and Princess Streets."
Regarding the disposal of public open space in general and the Memorial Centre in particular the Official Plan states (our emphasis):
Clearly the proposal to sell the Memorial Centre for a private residential development is contrary to the Official Plan. Any amendments to the Official Plan require public input so it is crucial that we speak out to protect our City’s public recreational and green space.
The Mayor's Task Force concluded that the profits from the sale and development of the Memorial Centre Site plus the existing Memorial Centre Deficit account for $14.4 million, or over 50%, of the funding for the Large Venue Entertainment Centre. As Councillor Rick Downes said in a letter to the Whig Standard (May 29, 2004), this money is taxpayer's money.
Tax Increment Financing is a method suggested by the Mayor's Task Force to divert the property taxes from the proposed development of the Memorial Centre Site to the capital expenditure on the LVEC. Tax increment financing applies the amount by which taxes on property, once developed, exceed the cost of services. As there is no evidence in the report as to how the Task Force arrived at its figures, it is not clear whether the $7-8 million figure takes into account the cost of immediate services to the development (garbage, sewer, streets etc). In any event, tax increment financing does not take into account the cost of City services the new residents will be using (i.e. library, fire, police, parks and recreational facilities). Further, no examples have been provided where this method of financing has been used in the context of a residential development.
At a time when we are facing an increase of at least 4 per cent in property taxes, we are currently paying tax increases in 2004 ranging from 4 to 5 percent, and we are so cash-strapped that we must reduce police protection for our community, can we afford to add the servicing of a large number of residences to our tax bill?
has a list of councillors and links to their email addresses and phone numbers. Send us a copy of your emails at our e-mail address below.For more information, or if you would like to add your name to the petition, Williamsville Residents’ Association and Friends of the Memorial Centre can be contacted at Williamsville2005@yahoo.ca
or at telephone 549-2005.
We are a non-profit group comprised not only of residents of Williamsville but other Kingstonians from across the City joined together in a significant struggle to preserve the quality of life and the recreational and open space amenities of the City. Financial contributions to the Williamsville Resients' Association and Friends of the Memorial Centre would be gratefully accepted.
Mayor Rosen is quoted in a Whig editorial as saying on May 31: "There's going to be a vocal group who oppose any site put forward. You could call them BANANAS - Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anybody."
Apart from the wonder we might have at a Mayor calling members of his community names, citizens of all points of view play a significant role in the development process. A recent article in the Whig Standard ("Kingston’s Downtown Lauded by Urban Planners" July 21, 2004) recognizes the role that concerned citizens, who rallied against threats to historic structures, had in the success of Kingston’s downtown. We should be thankful to those citizens of Kingston who had the farsighted vision in the 60’s and 70’s to understand the value and potential of Kingston’s historic architecture and urban amenities and spoke out against their destruction. Their continued diligence has helped keep Kingston a city worth living in.
We see the ongoing citizens' efforts more properly described as CHERRIES - Citizens Have Expressed Right to Refuse Irresponsible Economic Spending. We might be considered PLUMS - Please Leave Us Memorial Site. Both cherries and plums are native to Kingston - bananas are not.
Besides, BANANAS also stands for Blundering along Negligently Angers Nearly Anyone Sensible.
The Memorial Centre is a publicly owned facility and park that is, even in its shamefully neglected state, an irreplaceable asset – our asset. If the site is sold, the City has lost control of it and has abandoned its responsibility to the community.
The Task Force has said they view "the LVEC as one part of a multi-stage program to enhance the attractiveness of the City as a place to live, work, conduct business and visit." Surely disposing of a major recreational complex and park in the heart of the City will make it a less, not more, attractive place to live. Not only is our quality of life being undermined but we will have the cost of servicing the new residences added to our already overloaded municipal budget, along with the corresponding tax increases or service decreases.
The proposed sale of the Memorial Centre constitutes a tremendous threat to this facility and green space, which are at the heart of this community and city. Public input is an integral process in amending the Official Plan and the public needs to speak out to save this crucial community asset for ourselves, our children and future generations of Kingstonians.
Last updated 16.10.2004