Comments on: The development of the Airport Employment Growth District will play a critical role in Hamilton’s renaissance.

By: Philip Lowry

Philip Lowry — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 01:46:46 +0000

There is no question that Hamilton needs to rebuild it’s core which has been neglected for years, but we must not let this deter us from moving forward with the AEGD.

We are already spreading out down the QEW towards Niagara, and out the 403 toward Brantford, and this makes it easy for people to avoid coming into Hamilton.

Let’s find more reasons for people to live and work in Hamilton, not just in the core, but in all areas of this city.

THE AEGD is a great opportunity for this community and I believe this city needs to take advantage of all the great opportunities that come our way.

By: jay n. rosenblatt

jay n. rosenblatt — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 20:07:39 +0000

thank you peter for your comments; i too respect your opinions; our democratic principles are important, and the opinions are all have to be heard and weighed; i will leave final determinations up to council after appropriate input from all interested parties; best regards, jay – october 19, 2009

By: Peter McCann, McCann Corporate Consulting Associates

Peter McCann, McCann Corporate Consulting Associates — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 09:42:35 +0000

While I deeply respect Mr. Rosenblatt, the closing comment “… acknowledge the opinions of others, but we cannot allow these opinions to stand in the way of this important development”, merits the response that we live in a democracy and the opinions of others if sufficiently numerous will stand in the way, and should stand in the way.

The Red Hill Valley and the Lincoln Alexander Parkway are cited as long delayed but successful projects; it should be noted that while they were proposed to stimulate demand, but by the time that they were built there was in fact a need to serve. A much better comparison in the category of building to stimulate development would be the destruction of a swathe of the downtown to build Jackson Square, Copps Colesium et al – a joyless, soul-less, de-populated wasteland for the last thirty years.

AEGD should not proceed without a thorough evaluation of the benefits of taxpayer investment in a range of public policy options including AEGD, development of existing brownfield sites in Hamilton to capitalize on existing infrastructure, and investment to capitalize on existing human capital.

‘Build it and they will come’ makes a great movie; it is not a basis for public policy.
Peter McCann – October 17 2009