In 1994, there was a plan to put a
road through Alexandra Park from
Simcoe Street North opposite
Aberdeen. This would have sectioned
off the south treed area of the
park.
This idea was abandoned
when area residents strongly objected.
Later, after an Ontario Municipal
Board Hearing, the Ministry of
Health refused to allow the hospital
to build the cancer centre in
Alexandra Park.
As a result, we now
have a larger, more efficient cancer
centre, which is located on hospital
lands exactly where the hospital
claimed it could not be built.
Also, as a result of the 1996
OMB decision, an Oshawa Official
Plan Amendment protects
Alexandra Park from any future
development or encroachment.
Alexandra Park is irreplaceable
green space.
It functions as both a
neighbourhood and a community
park. It is located in one of the oldest
residential areas in Oshawa. If
this green space were lost, it would
be lost forever. Alexandra Park is
the oldest public park in Oshawa. It
also has heritage value. It is well
used. For example, O'Neill (OCVI)
students use the park for their recreational
needs.
The Hospital Foundation is
claiming they have been unable to
acquire an alternative site for the
cancer lodge. What they have not
disclosed is that they refuse to pay
fair market value for real estate
close to the hospital and they refuse
to consider renovating a building
one block away that already has the
zoning required for the cancer
lodge.
It appears they only want to
build new! This is their choice. It is
a free marketplace. However, this does not warrant the destruction of
Rundle House or giving away public
parkland. This would be shortsighted.
Rundle House zoning is protected
on the south lot line by a strip of
land that is owned by the City of
Oshawa. This strip of land was
intentionally placed there by city
council as a barrier to protect
Rundle House and the properties
running north on Simcoe Street
from redevelopment/rezoning
attempts.
Demolishing Rundle
House will not change this fact. Everyone would like to see a cancer
lodge up and operating as soon as
possible, however, the Oshawa
Hospital Foundation would be wise
to reconsider their plans.
Options
are available but they must be more
flexible. Rundle House and
Alexandra Park must not be sacrificed
because the OHF is being
unreasonable in their search for
another site.
It is time to stop destroying our
heritage. Heritage buildings are part
of the fabric of our communities.
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