Markham VIP
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Right, I wasn't arguing a casino wouldn't be good for Markham at all (though I think you're brushing off the scoia-economic impacts, there are negatives here ...) ! I was just saying you too preternaturally thinking Toronto does not want it downtown. You mentioned this, because it is Toronto, everything makes the media. That's not the case in Markham, I can all but guarantee you at least one councilor in Markham will not approve of a casino, now it probably won't make a difference.
That stat you quoted about renting is the case for every city in North America and means very little. While Toronto residents don't own as much property downtown, the city and many other organizations do, so if a casino were to increase values in Markham the same would take place in Toronto, which directly effects the citizens as it effects how much the city can take in.
Lastly, a casino in Markham can potentially help the property values, its not going to help the values in the rest of Markham (which is large), so a blanket statement that it benefits everyone is a bit silly just because many own.
Maybe Toronto wants a casino or maybe they don't....Maybe Toronto wants it at OP, maybe Woodbine, maybe CNE, maybe somewhere else downtown....maybe they have to do studies to determine which location and social costs vs. financial benefits...then maybe they have to figure out what the hell they are going to do about their transporation infrastructure to enable it to support a casino...then maybe they will have to convince all the upset local businesses who feel that a casino will take business away from them...then maybe they have to convince all the people who feel a casino will lead to the social downfall of the city....then maybe they have to figure out how to get council to work together...then maybe the have a referendum....then maybe they put together a business plan to present to OLG......By the time all that happens it'll be 2017 and the casino will already be built.
MY POINT, is that Toronto's got too many issues it has to figure out first. In my opinon, they are not ready for a casino right now. However Markham is ready and able now!
If Toronto wants to go through the necessary motions, then they can figure out if they want the next casino that the OLG decides to build in the GTA, after they build this one.
In regards to your response to my housing tenure argument.......sure the property value in Toronto will increase as well, but by how much? You are mistaken my friend in assuming that the marginal increase in property value will be the same in Toronto as the marginal increase will be in Markham. Toronto's housing prices are currently way higher than they are in Markham. There is way more room for a huge increase in Markham.
The people of Markham are not concerned with the social-collapes of the Town, they are concerned about property value. You made the point that the City and organizations own the property in Toronto, well that's not the same as having individual families who can vote own the property. Corporations cannot vote.
Here is another little stat for you from 2006 census.....
"The vast majority of social housing units in the GTA are in Toronto. York Region has just more than 6,000 of the GTA’s 119,141 units"
In regards to your last point....sure, the casino in Downtown Markham will not have an impact on property values everywhere in Markham. However Markham residents will know that having a healthy, lively downtown area in their town will be beneficial for the entire Markham economy and property values as a whole.
We in Markham know a good bet when we see one.......
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