Downtown developments ignore needs of marginalized

“Redevelopment planned downtown” Friday, July 3

Having just read the Examiner articles about development planned for the downtown, I am extremely concerned that we are doing what we deplore in “other places” like developing nations — gentrifying our downtown for the sake of the well-off/middle-class at the expense of the marginalized.

Individuals and groups have been working for years to halt the growing gap between the rich and poor, with little success.

It seems city council always “has plans” to address homelessness/inadequately housed but no vision. But rich developers have vision. They see the potential of properties going out of business due to COVID-19 or economic downturns; they buy up downtown properties (bargain basement sales prices?), build high-end condos and erode any future possibilities of the city being welcoming to the indigent.

I totally agree with densification to avert urban sprawl and love the vision of a vibrant downtown. However, where is the parallel vision for a life worth living for the great number of people who are living on the margins?

We hear of upper level government grants available for homelessness, but no details, no vision. Where is the commitment to a vision to give us hope?

Agreed municipalities have limited power and resources. That reality should inform city council’s decision at Monday’s meeting to deny even a cent of our limited resources to the George Street developers to give “municipal grants to help pay for façade improvements on the buildings” they have just purchased.

Welcome to Peterborough, rich Toronto developers, but please don’t ask a struggling municipality for handouts! Sheila Nabigon-Howlett, Cambridge Street