TJ Letters – Co-op should study the neighbourhood
A letter to the editor from the pastor at Germain Street Baptist Church was published yesterday. Rev. Dryer is a neighbour concerned about Tannery Court, and the process that has led to its development.
Here’s the letter as printed:
Co-op should study the neighbourhood
There is heavy equipment at the corner of Queen and Carmarthen Streets, the site of Tannery Court Co-operative's newest development.
It has been one year this week since the poorly publicized meeting of the Planning Advisory Committee approved the necessary variances that made such a development possible.
Given its resistance to the strong, articulate and prolonged opposition to the project, it is surprising that the corporation which is developing the site has as one of its core principles "concern for community."
Tannery Court falls under the umbrella of Co-op Atlantic. Its seventh principle states that co-operatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies approved by their members.
If Co-op Atlantic were following its policy relating to concern for community, one would think it would have taken some time to study the character of the neighbourhood in which it planned to develop before presenting its project as a done deal.
One would think it would advertise its intentions to the community, looking for community member input.
One would think it would pay attention to the opinion of experts, such as the Saint John Housing Working Group of BCAPI/Vibrant Communities which supports neither this location nor concept.
Tannery Court Co-operative's inability to see beyond the 50 non-elderly singles it proposes to help should be a concern to anyone who believes in the principles of the co-op movement.
Rev. WAYNE DRYER
Saint John
1 comment:
(Here is my response to Rev Dryers' letter.)
"Principles" of the Co-Op Movement:
"Independence"
Tannery Court (TC) has been set up by AVIDE, and the TC Board of Directors consist of AVIDE employees.
"Democratic Control"
Unlike other Housing Co-Ops, the tenants of TC have no real voting power/control of their home. They are tenants, NOT MEMBERS.
"Concern for Community"
Virtually no consultation with the residents of the South End. They only added 8 tubs to the 50 unit building.
To be clear on our objectives:
1. For a healthy community, we support "mixed-income" development - neighbourhoods that are not diverse are unhealthy;
2. A development that is 100% for people, who have complicated struggles in life, in an area that has a 56% poverty rate is not healthy for the neighbourhood, OUTSIDE AND INSIDE THE BUILDING - this neighborhood needs to see more hope and less dispair;
3.Developments need to involve a true consultation, that allows neighbors to come up with solutions for their neighbourhoods;
Thank you Rev. Dryer
Howard LaBillois, Hampton
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