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No shortage of suggestions for future use of observatory
Richmond Hill
Jun 03, 2008 01:05 PM
By: David Fleischer, Staff Writer
The future of the David Dunlap Observatory still hangs in the balance, but there is no lack of ambition for the potential of the 190-acres of land.
Two plans are in the works, one having been presented to council already and another soon to be unveiled.
View our David Dunlap Observatory Section for more on the story.
First out of the gate was the 74-page Observatory Park report prepared by Lord Cultural Services for the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada’s Toronto Centre chapter. It is a concept plan and business case for keeping the observatory alive as a public outreach facility.
Under the society’s plan, the centre would partner with organizations to create interactive educational programs and ensure the conservation and stewardship of the property.
Curriculum-based programs would be suitable for school groups with observing programs held day and night.
Concerned about shortcomings of the society’s plan, the DDO Defenders, an ad hoc group of local residents including the Richmond Hill Naturalists, are creating a Richmond Hill Plan for the observatory.
“The Richmond Hill Plan will be more inclusive and considers many aspects of the property,†Naturalists president Marianne Yake said.
“To facilitate continued research on the property, you have to protect the environment,†she said.
The DDO Defenders have expressed concerns about the society’s coming late to the game and dividing efforts to save the site, rather than working with them for a single, local solution.
Their consternation is noted in the Lord report’s conclusions, asking the astronomical society to determine what role they wish to play.
“I think our plans are very similar,†Denis Grey said, Observatory Park Working Group co-chairperson.
He agreed having land surrounding the observatory is crucial to its continued viability, but the society report is not as concerned with protecting specific boundaries as the Defenders’ plan.
With the report done, there is little more for the society to do right now, but that could change when the future becomes clearer.
“We’ll certainly make ourselves available if there is an astronomical future for the site,†Mr. Grey said.
Their plan is based upon the assumption that either the town will own the land or the owner will lease it to them for a nominal fee.
The society did its best to quickly complete a report that could have used more time, said co-chairperson Randy Attwood.
“The timing of this whole event has been a challenge for everyone,†he said.
The uncertainty of the land’s ownership was cited as the greatest challenge by Mr. Grey and Mr. Attwood.
In the meantime, Mr. Grey was pleased their consultants agreed there is still a future for the observatory.
“The potential is clearly there,†he said.
As for the Richmond Hill Plan, Ms Yake could not go into details, but said it will be released in the coming weeks.
“For me, it’s not just about the plan,†she said. “It’s about (University of Toronto’s) obligation to the community that served it for 75 years.â€
The University of Toronto put the site up for sale in November, saying a winning bid should be announced in March, with the sale closing in July.
The university has not yet announced a winning bid, but there are hints that could change as soon as this week.
The town has also asked the Ontario Conservation Review Board to advise them on designating at least 48 per cent of the site as a heritage site. A pre-hearing tele-conference is scheduled for June 26 with the actual hearing, open to the public, likely following in a month or two.
Who is bidding
The university’s bid process was confidential, but at least some information is known:
• The land was divided into a 177-acre Parcel A and a 12-acre Parcel B.
• Because a park and the Elvis Stojko Arena are located there, the Town of Richmond Hill bid on Parcel B, but received notification in March that its bid had failed.
• Tribute Communities confirmed it was initially in the bidding, dropping out for undisclosed reasons.
• TACC Construction president Silvio DeGasperis said public opposition to the project was enough to keep him out of the process.
• Metrus representatives declined to comment on the matter.
• With land in Richmond Hill going for as much as $600,000 an acre, the entire site, north of 16th Avenue between Yonge Street and Bayview Avenue, could be worth $100 million or more.
• Officials from Menkes did not return repeated calls before press time.
No shortage of suggestions for future use of observatory
Richmond Hill
Jun 03, 2008 01:05 PM
By: David Fleischer, Staff Writer
The future of the David Dunlap Observatory still hangs in the balance, but there is no lack of ambition for the potential of the 190-acres of land.
Two plans are in the works, one having been presented to council already and another soon to be unveiled.
View our David Dunlap Observatory Section for more on the story.
First out of the gate was the 74-page Observatory Park report prepared by Lord Cultural Services for the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada’s Toronto Centre chapter. It is a concept plan and business case for keeping the observatory alive as a public outreach facility.
Under the society’s plan, the centre would partner with organizations to create interactive educational programs and ensure the conservation and stewardship of the property.
Curriculum-based programs would be suitable for school groups with observing programs held day and night.
Concerned about shortcomings of the society’s plan, the DDO Defenders, an ad hoc group of local residents including the Richmond Hill Naturalists, are creating a Richmond Hill Plan for the observatory.
“The Richmond Hill Plan will be more inclusive and considers many aspects of the property,†Naturalists president Marianne Yake said.
“To facilitate continued research on the property, you have to protect the environment,†she said.
The DDO Defenders have expressed concerns about the society’s coming late to the game and dividing efforts to save the site, rather than working with them for a single, local solution.
Their consternation is noted in the Lord report’s conclusions, asking the astronomical society to determine what role they wish to play.
“I think our plans are very similar,†Denis Grey said, Observatory Park Working Group co-chairperson.
He agreed having land surrounding the observatory is crucial to its continued viability, but the society report is not as concerned with protecting specific boundaries as the Defenders’ plan.
With the report done, there is little more for the society to do right now, but that could change when the future becomes clearer.
“We’ll certainly make ourselves available if there is an astronomical future for the site,†Mr. Grey said.
Their plan is based upon the assumption that either the town will own the land or the owner will lease it to them for a nominal fee.
The society did its best to quickly complete a report that could have used more time, said co-chairperson Randy Attwood.
“The timing of this whole event has been a challenge for everyone,†he said.
The uncertainty of the land’s ownership was cited as the greatest challenge by Mr. Grey and Mr. Attwood.
In the meantime, Mr. Grey was pleased their consultants agreed there is still a future for the observatory.
“The potential is clearly there,†he said.
As for the Richmond Hill Plan, Ms Yake could not go into details, but said it will be released in the coming weeks.
“For me, it’s not just about the plan,†she said. “It’s about (University of Toronto’s) obligation to the community that served it for 75 years.â€
The University of Toronto put the site up for sale in November, saying a winning bid should be announced in March, with the sale closing in July.
The university has not yet announced a winning bid, but there are hints that could change as soon as this week.
The town has also asked the Ontario Conservation Review Board to advise them on designating at least 48 per cent of the site as a heritage site. A pre-hearing tele-conference is scheduled for June 26 with the actual hearing, open to the public, likely following in a month or two.
Who is bidding
The university’s bid process was confidential, but at least some information is known:
• The land was divided into a 177-acre Parcel A and a 12-acre Parcel B.
• Because a park and the Elvis Stojko Arena are located there, the Town of Richmond Hill bid on Parcel B, but received notification in March that its bid had failed.
• Tribute Communities confirmed it was initially in the bidding, dropping out for undisclosed reasons.
• TACC Construction president Silvio DeGasperis said public opposition to the project was enough to keep him out of the process.
• Metrus representatives declined to comment on the matter.
• With land in Richmond Hill going for as much as $600,000 an acre, the entire site, north of 16th Avenue between Yonge Street and Bayview Avenue, could be worth $100 million or more.
• Officials from Menkes did not return repeated calls before press time.
