It’s up to citizens to preserve their mature neighbourhoods 

Waterloo Region Record · 21 Jan 2022

If you enjoy living in a mature neighbourhood where homes have charm and character, prepare to roll up your sleeves and fight to keep it that way.

With ridiculous real estate prices, we are challenged by municipal growth plans.

A property on our block recently sold to a family who professed their love of the home and neighbourhood. Within days they applied to demolish this mature home with intent to create four lots with semidetached dwellings. It was their lottery to profit off our neighbourhood, instead of being a part of our neighbourhood.

Other neighbours’ commitment to oppose this development took nine months and thousands of dollars. We fought for the integrity of the neighbourhood, all the way to the Ontario Land Tribunal.

As homeowners with pride in our distinct neighbourhood, we were treated as underdogs by the city. Can we count on the city to protect these neighbourhoods? When it bumps into policies favouring intensification, don’t count on their support.

Mature neighbourhoods are the heart and soul of our city. When we asked the city how we can work with it to preserve our unique block, the city answered, “You can’t.”

Get involved citizens, before the bulldozer shows up next door. 

Sharon Hartigan Kitchener