THUNDER BAY – Nathan Hewitson and several of his neighbours feel unsettled by the city’s new plan to turn parkettes and greenspace into homes.
The identity of this neighbourhood is trees, greenspace and parks, Hewitson said.
"Kids play here. It just doesn’t make sense to infill it with housing,” he added.
“It seems odd to be developing green space in some areas of town and then trying to ruin it in others.”
The city has a plan to turn several Thunder Bay parkettes over to developers in hopes to meet the city's housing target.
Thunder Bay was assigned a target of 2,200 homes to be built by the end of 2031.
The City of Thunder Bay’s director of development services, Joel DePeuter, and his staff compiled a list of about 40 potential candidates. The first batch was unveiled earlier this year.
The second batch includes, 628 Thistle Cres., 724 Holly Cres., 740 Grey Cres., 661 Thornloe Dr., 125 Birchwood Cres., 172 and part of 168 Woodside St., the untraveled portion of Bruce Street located on the south side of Minot Avenue and 837 Hodder Ave., plus a portion of untravelled Corona Street.
Some residents in these areas are confused and frustrated with these plans.
The neighbourhood is 50 years old. The people who have been living on the street for half a century developed a reasonable expectation to enjoy the space, Hewitson said.
He has not found anybody in his area who thinks turning over the parkettes is a good idea.
“I’ve got unanimous opposition to this proposal,” he said.
Residents from the Thornloe area have reached out to their city councillor, who has been supportive and communicative, he said.
Barb Crowe, a long time resident of Holly Cresent said in 2017, the city put up signs in a similar manner to the way they were posted earlier this month.
This year's signs say, NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC: POTENTIAL SURPLUS OF CITY-OWNED LANDS.
The signs also includes contact information for feedback on the plans.
“Pretty much all of the crescent got together and decided we wanted to fight it.”
According to Crowe, in Oct. 2017 two ladies from the area presented a deputation before the city announced they were going to keep the parkette.
They wrote letters and a petition went around. The neighbourhood was 100 per cent against getting rid of the parkettes, she said.
Crowe said on National Tree Day in Sept. 2018 the city came and planted all new trees.
All of the neighbourhood residents now tend to the trees by cutting off the bad branches, she said.
The area is used by virtually everybody, young and old.
“Why take away the parkettes when they add so much to the city and the health of the residents," Crowe said.
Residents can submit feedback to the City of Thunder Bay’s senior property agent, Lisa Zawadzki, at Lisa.Zawadzki@thunderbay.ca
Comments and inquiries regarding these properties must be submitted by 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 28.
