A view of the river, for a select group
They paved paradise, and put up a parking lot. A phrase that held great musical meaning for my generation, even if I didn’t realize exactly what it meant. That part came as I got older. When I lived in the country, the city seemed so wonderful. Now that I live in the city…
Actually, I’m spoiled. The city wants to densify. My lifestyle aggravates the mayor and his team of city planners. A single family house with a lawn and several trees (all duly taxed) is so old school. Time to move people closer to the city centre, and to place people in overpriced blocks of housing commonly referred to as condos. All duly taxed, and at a higher rate per unit of area. Densify, and the city will prosper.
There’s a hitch. There is still an area that is predominately green. Historically green. With an outstanding view of the river. Eminently suited for those condos, and where there’s a dollar to be made, there’s a promoter with a plan. Right now, the battle lines are being drawn (in the grass) to turn part of the collective green into hundreds of expensive apartments. The field of dreams (for if you build, they will come) is just in front of my workplace, on the sprawling grounds of a reputed private school. The land has already been subdivided and sold; all that awaits is that precious permit from the city.
The promoter wants to add 40% more ‘real estate’ to a particular sector served by slow, winding, streets with lots of trees. His claim that there will be no increase in traffic or decrease in character strike me as ringing a little false. The sound of many, many coins (dollars, not pennies) dropping into a private piggy-bank.
