Re: These Ottawa churches opposed heritage status; the city is pushing forward anyway, Sept. 10. Read MoreTuesday, Sept. 16: Some of these architectural gems might otherwise face the wrecker’s ball, says one reader. You can write to us too, at letters@ottawacitizen.com
Tuesday, Sept. 16: Some of these architectural gems might otherwise face the wrecker’s ball, says one reader. You can write to us too, at letters@ottawacitizen.com
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Heritage status good for churches
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The designation of heritage status can be a double-edged sword, but it also can provide permanent longevity for buildings, particularly churches.
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If you look at the significant architectural beauty in this city, there’s the government-related buildings, a hotel, an art gallery and churches; that’s about it. Given the secular nature of society, churches are susceptible to future developers’ whims, which could mean their disappearance. Some churches in the future could have an unfortunate meeting with the wrecking ball.
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Churches are, of course, religious in nature, but their architecture is part of their attraction. They were built to have a certain “awe” factor. They also are a bridge to the architectural past. Is it any wonder a great deal of impressive European architecture is composed of churches? France is a secular society, but Notre-Dame is considered the “soul” of Paris, and a king’s ransom was recently spent repairing it after a major fire.
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Heritage status not only makes sense, but may also prove essential to the future survival of churches.
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Douglas Cornish, Ottawa
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Age of NIMBYism should be over
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I sympathize with Matt Jones’s concern about the proposed 400-acre solar farm near in Dunrobin — he makes some good points — but surely the greater good of this project, or any project that benefits the community and the country, must prevail.
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NIMBY attitudes have derailed too many beneficial projects. A glaring example is the opposition of some locals to developing the Ring of Fire region in Northern Ontario. That area contains many critical minerals for industry, such as gold, copper, nickel, etc. and was proposed for development more than 20 years ago. If we had produced these minerals then, critical for electrical batteries, we would have the world knocking on our door.
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Adam: Put the brakes on these calls for a new Ottawa ring road
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But the area is being put on fast track for development only now. Hopefully it’s not too late to catch up with other countries that don’t have the restrictions for projects at every step.
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Rafal Pomian, Ottawa
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Let the municipality tax incomes too
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An interesting sentence in the newspaper caught my eye: Statistics Canada noted gains (in financial assets) aren’t evenly distributed — “the top 20% of wealthiest households hold nearly 70% of financial assets and are best positioned to benefit from investment income and valuation gains when markets perform well.”
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Meanwhile Ottawa and other municipalities are restricted to property taxes and fees to raise money to pay for services. Too bad we cannot get the municipal laws changed so that a family’s wealth can be taxed. Some of that vast wealth could boost essential services for we who live paycheque to paycheque. Those in survival mode could gain a better quality of life.
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Carolyn Herbert, Nepean
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