Of vinyl siding and city council

Originally posted 10/23/06 on PersonPlaceorThing.blogspot.com

In this morning's Telegraph Journal, Saint John city councilor Stephen Chase talks of his goal to help gentrify the city by banning vinyl siding in a number of mixed income neighbourhoods. While I agree plastic siding is not the most attractive building covering, I find it fool hearty to ban it in an attempt to keep these neighbourhoods looking good. Many old buildings in the north and south ends would be improved greatly by vinyl siding. It is snobbish and heavy handed to further limit the ability of developers who are willing to work in these areas.

The “boom” Steve fears will make our neighbourhoods tacky is not seemingly putting vinyl siding in these neighbourhoods, so council ought to move cautiously and progressively on this one.