Heron Gate editorial Bewilders tenants

Re: Editorial: Give landlord some credit for helping Heron Gate, Aug. 18.

Your editorial opining that the Ottawa public ought to “give (Timbercreek Asset Management) some credit for helping Heron Gate” has left the residents of one of Ottawa’s most vulnerable communities at best bewildered, but more aptly demoralized and scared. And for the 105 families who face eviction Sept. 30, fear is only the beginning.

Your claims that “Coun. Jean Cloutier concedes that the city could do more to improve Heron Gate, especially by upgrading city-owned Sandalwood Park,” and that “Timbercreek executives, as well as city politicians, could have done a much better job of explaining what’s happening at Heron Gate rather than remaining aloof ” are the editorial’s only assertions worth considering.

The deliberate neglect and wanton mismanagement of the Heron Gate community have created a “crisis of confidence in Alta Vista” and are an indictment of how the current councillor has treated, or more simply, ignored those less fortunate.

The Citizen editorial board had best re-examine its claims as I seriously doubt the percentage and dollar claims it makes. Many Heron Gate’s most vulnerable should give Timbercreek not credit, but scorn. I keep coming back to the unanswered question of the prior eviction (this is the second mass eviction) for the existing HG7 project at five-times density, and the sweetheart reduction in parking spaces of 158 less than the zoning threshold. Why was no site plan lifted or vote taken? Timbercreek and the city need to do better. Should the people trust the developer — versus a new council — to lead the secondary planning process?

Paul Howard, Ottawa