It’s going to be an interesting year
A concern about apartment living, seniors’ safety and citizen activism
Having lived in detached homes my entire life, I was unaware of one of the hazards of highrise living, and a recent incident upset me.
Mid-morning Jan. 4 two friends of mine were in our lobby when an ambulance appeared, and paramedics headed for the elevators. Our 12-storey, 119-unit building has two elevators.
Too frequently, though, and often for excessive time, one will be “on service” (unavailable) while it’s held for someone moving, or for workmen. It’s even held when staff is mopping floors.
The paramedics were told one was “on service” because work was underway on the boiler. With only one available, and tenants all using it, it took a long time to reach the lobby. I’m told the paramedics made a comment to the building manager about priorities. My friends estimated the wait was two to three minutes.
I happened to be in the lobby early afternoon when paramedics arrived again. Same story — workmen working on the boiler. Again, a two to three minute wait. The paramedics said to the building manager — “911 is an emergency”, but the elevator wasn’t taken off “service”. Whatever happened to “When seconds count, call 911”?
Our tenants are mostly seniors, whose lives can be jeopardized by delays. I emailed our building’s new property managers. And not wanting to tie up 911 for such a call, I called the Halton Police number for advice on whom to call, hoping the right agency might send a warning to highrises about the dire necessity of accommodating paramedics.
The police were a disaster. I told them I knew it wasn’t their problem, but hoped they could direct me to the emergency service number I should call. They suggested the City of Burlington!
When I replied that the City does not handle emergency services, they still gave me a city phone number. I was disgusted to learn it was the city parking bylaw enforcement number! I should have called 311, but with my mind on emergencies, didn’t think of it at that moment.
Then I contacted my councillor, Marianne Meed Ward, who followed up quickly, checked, and found that priority access is apparently not legislated! She also suggested I contact my MPP, but twice during her term I’ve written her about a provincial issue, and didn’t even receive a “Thank you for your inquiry” letter, let alone responses.
But there’s another big issue here. Burlington council recently approved a 23storey condo across from our eight-storey city hall, to howls of protest from the community. One delegation noted that plans for this 23-storey condo with 169 units, (mainly two or more bedrooms) showed only two elevators. He joked that buyers would have to allow extra time for their “vertical commute”. Are two elevators enough in such tall dense condos?
In an earlier column I questioned whether this approval was a game-changer for Burlington residents. The response was visceral, because the current zoning allows 12 storeys on only part of the property. The Official Plan was virtually disregarded, because the new draft (unapproved) OP allows 17 maximum in certain circumstances (but they approved 23).
Subsequently a city-wide citizens group — ECOB (Engaged Citizens of Burlington) — formed. If it can energize voters citywide, council seats could change. Check their website for info. It made New Year’s resolutions to:
champion real citizen engagement, that actually listens to citizens protect the character of Brant Street challenge why the OP is never really official, seemingly used as a starting point in negotiations
champion a “Made in Burlington Solution” — what works in Vancouver or Portland does not necessarily work in Burlington (likely a reference to City Manager James Ridge hailing from BC).
If ECOB succeeds, there could be big changes in October’s council election. Only Mayor Rick Goldring and Councillor Marianne Meed Ward opposed the Brant Street project. With councillors earning over $105,000 today, perhaps some credible candidates will emerge. This year promises to be interesting in Burlington.