I am going to follow in your courageous footsteps, Kim, and tell my story too. I think there is a lot we can learn about how these illegal real estate changes happen and what the impacts are on our neighbourhood by sharing these stories. A couple of weeks ago the house across the street from us sold. Yes, that’s the one in the picture. The notice taped on the front storm door is a City of Hamilton issued Order to Comply. More on that later in the story. Anyhow, we heard it was sold to a real estate person and that there might be plans for a multi unit conversion. Within a few days a bin dropped. I saw the new owner and ambled over to chat. (David would be proud of me. I started with a friendly chat. ;) ) She was charming and friendly and as we chatted I asked her if she would mind if I inquired about her intention for the home. Well, she didn’t mind at all! :) She thought she might move into it herself, do another unit on the second floor and also make the basement into a nice little apartment for a “quiet girl” student. (Golly! That just sounds delightful! .. Owner occupied. Quiet student. Charming!) And she quickly changed the topic to inquire about my opinion of the right colours for the house. But I kept bringing the topic back to the number of units. I told her that she would not be able to have more than two units. (I understand that’s the zoning here.) Nonetheless, she invited me into the house to describe her plans. An aside here: I do believe we need to increase density in the lower city. The thing is I think we need to do it in a way that brings life to the neighbourhood not in a way that drains the lifeblood from the neighbourhood. I think the way it has been done – “investors” converting homes into illegal units - has been draining the lifeblood from our neighbourhood. These “investors” are avoiding property tax and the profits from their “investment properties” are spent outside our neighbourhood. I suppose I’m just tired of seeing our neighbourhood fund the good life in Oakville, etc. Colour me silly, but I want the good life here for us too and one key way that happens is when money generated here is spent here. In our stores and restaurants. And people send their kids to schools in our neighbourhoods and become ** TRULY INVESTED ** in the neighbourhood! But back to the story .. Well, I slept on it and came to the conclusion that the missing piece was a proper consultation with the other neighbours and so I decided to do my best to ensure that happens. (My neighbours are welcome to support whatever they want to support – a single, a duplex, a triplex, whatever – I just want to know that everyone has REALLY has an opportunity to have their say.) So I called the City. I spoke to Councillor Morrow who was very helpful. I also spoke to city employees in Bylaw and the Building Department. A Building Inspector visited and issued an Order to Comply. I am hoping that now the process will ensure that my neighbours will have the opportunity to be fully informed regarding the plans and that if they so choose, they will have an opportunity to voice their concerns. p.s. At this time, I won’t go into the details regarding two subsequent visits I’ve had from the new owner but “displeasure” would be a mild description. I told her that this isn’t the Hamilton of old where this stuff continues to be ignored. This is the New Hamilton. Residents are getting engaged and we have New Plans for our neighbourhoods.
Posted on: Wed, 10 Sep 2014 19:27:54 +0000