| The Strand What Would Jane Do? |
| WWJD? Although she's gone, it would be wonderful to know what the esteemed Jane Jacobs would have to say about the proposed Molinaro Project for the Bay Beach Properties. Perhaps we can find the answer in her writings and her history. |
| John Papdakis was honoured to receive the endorsement from Jane Jacobs in 2003 when he ran for council in Toronto. He also ran for mayor of Fort Erie in 2006. |
| Frankly, I knew very little about Jane Jacobs, except that she was a well-known advocate in the Toronto area. It wasn't until I had a conversation with an expert in the field of town planning that I realized that her writings could be very important in our present struggle to save the Bay Beach Properties from being given away to a high rise developer. I was directed to her seminal book: The Death and Life of Great American Cities as a way to understand her philosophy of urban panning. She often cited New York's Greenwich Village as an example of a thriving community. And it is. There was a time, not too long ago, where Crystal Beach was headed in the way of Greenwich Village or P-Town. Antique stores and artist's studios were cropping up all over and the Beach was becoming a destination for people who were interested in such things. The bad economy and lack of support by the various levels of government resulted in the mini Renaissance to pretty much die off. Too bad, there wasn't the kind of investment and grants available to fix up the commercial district of Crystal Beach like what is happening on Queen Street in the Falls. Oh well. In the fight to save the Bay Beach Properties, I have often looked to the struggle that was waged in Port Dalhousie to save a heritage district from being torn down to develop a ten story tower. Sadly, the group called PROUD (Port Realizing Our Unique Destination) has ended its long, expensive battle unsuccessfully. The Ontario Municipal Board decision (by one person) was in favour of the developer, despite the large opposition to the destruction of heritage buildings in Port's downtown core. PROUD's struggle provides a template for our own. Realistically, we too may be looking at a similar outcome due to the fact that the idea to sell off/develop the Bay Beach Properties has been on town staff's agenda for a long, long time. And the current mayor and four councillors agree, even though the previous council voted to keep all the Bay Beach Properties in the public realm. So what would Jane Jacobs say about this? I can only go by what she said to PROUD in a letter of endorsement for the group's efforts, which I have reprinted here: January 24, 2005 Dear Kenneth Mackenzie, I can’t say that I was happy to get your letter; I think the proposed vandalism of Port Dalhousie is heartbreaking news, but as long as it is in the wind, I’m glad to know about it. As you surmised from reading my work, this approach to mixing uses is a travesty, it will do no good functionally because of the outrageous violations of Port Dalhousie’s scale and the lack of fine-grained support among the uses. Apparently the proposal is so insensitive to what makes for business sense too, that it does not take into account that the very things that make Port Dalhousie attractive as a residential community – its intimate human scale and its unique legacies from the past – will be lost to the built environment. I have known Jack Diamond for many years, and he well knows my arguments about how mixed uses work functionally, so if he has given a false impression that I would be tolerant of this project, let alone supportive, I must suppose he gave such an impression inadvertently. I think you would do well to have a frank talk with Mr. Diamond. Good architects – and on the whole he is a good one – can often educate clients who are insensitive or ignorant about their plans undermining their own long-term interests. We may be sure that this unfortunate scheme if carried out, will in another decade or so be a laughing-stock, a sample of the most idiotic excesses of the 2000s – literally a haunted house of heedless opportunism run wild. I wish I could meet with you as you ask, or otherwise help you, but that is impossible at present. (Early in the winter I broke my leg so badly that I am in process of re-learning to walk, and until last week was in hospitals for surgery or rehabilitation. You can probably appreciate what a backlog of unfulfilled commitments I have and that I’m in no position to add more!) However, I can offer a few words of advice from experience that might be useful to you and PROUD. These battles aren’t won by invoking experts from away. They can be won by unrelenting local opposition. But you must be tough and determined. There must be a story behind the story of the province caving in on its suddenly worthless heritage designation. Find out what it is: as in a murder mystery, Who benefits? Seek allies throughout St. Catherine’s. They may be smart enough to see that what is threatening Port Dalhousie is a forecast of what will happen to them – as it surely will be if you lose this community battle. You are at liberty to use this letter on your web-site or in any other way that can help you. I realize my prescription takes a lot of effort and time, and possibly money too if you need to enlist legal help, which seems possible. But don’ give up and do be high-hearted and have as good a time as you can doing battle in your good cause. Good luck, and remember, you make your own luck, and you win on the mistakes of your opponents. Don’t let them get away with a thing! Sincerely, Jane Jacobs |
| Jane Jacobs died on April 25, 2006. She was 89 years old. |