Harbourfront transformation
By Greg Kielec City hall has blown $1.4 million on legal fees and settlements for employees and managers this term, says city councillor Andre Rivette. Rivette made the revelation in response to news the city must cut another $700,000 from its budget to arrive at a two per cent increase. He says had the city not frittered away an estimated $1.4 million on buyouts and legal fees, it would not be in a position where it needed to raise taxes again. $1.4M blown on settlements, legal fees, says Rivette
By Greg Kielec Developers converting old industrial buildings into residential condominium units in the Cotton Mill area are speed- ing up their construction plans. The developers sliced the time-frame for their work almost in half due to an in- crease in demand for their water-view condominiums in Cornwall’s east end. Cotton Mill condo developers unveil $70M plan for Le Village area
Cornwall’s admin- istration was di- rected to Friday to find another $700,000 is spending cuts to compensate for an unanticipated shortfall in provin- cial funding. The spending cuts will be needed to bring the city’s draft budget to a two per cent tax increase.
And they are looking for make the harbour area a focal point of the $70-million, 170-unit phase 2 of the project in the Cotton Mill dis- trict along the St. Lawrence River west of McConnell Avenue. “This is a green light. It is happening. We are moving forward,” said
“This is a green light. It is happening. We are mov- ing forward.” Bill Kaneb Cornwall Warehousing
Photo by Greg Kielec Cornwall city councillor Denis Thibault, bacground, looks on as Bob Pelda of RMP Construction and Development unveils the next phase of his firm’s condominium proj- ect called Le Village Marche.
Rivette
Bill Kaneb of Cornwall Warehousing dur- ing a presentation to the city’s waterfront development committee last night. Kaneb and developer Bob Pelda, presi- dent of RMP Construction and Develop- ment, are looking for city backing in talks with the federal government over redevel- opment of the harbour area. “We need the support from the city of
Pelda said he would like to unearth this “wonderful piece of engineering” from the 1870s to incorporate into the develop- ment. According to a document on the city’s website, the project will consist of five separate buildings and construction phases. Three new buildings will be constructed as part of the plan, while two existing structures will be redeveloped. One of those condo units bordered by McConnell Avenue is nearing completion. Once complete, residents will enjoy a long list of amenities such as a wine cellar, lounge, fitness centre, a games room, a rooftop terrace and an outdoor fireplace area. Follow @gkielec on Twitter. For breaking news, go to www.editionap.ca and click on The Journal. Email greg.kielec@eap.on.ca
Cornwall. We’re just the private develop- ers,” Pelda said. Having the city’s backing will help them “take it to the next level”, he said. Pelda also revealed a planned waterfall in the area incorporating a historic stone flume and a cut stone pit left over from the Cotton Mill area’s industrial era.
The initial draft budget contained a 2.3 per cent hike, an increase of $56 a year for the av- erage taxpayer. Without the $700,000 cut, the average taxpayer would face a increase of close to $80 this year. Rivette wants to see $1.7 million sliced from the budget to forestall a tax increase alto- gether. “I’m looking at a zero,” he told The Journal Friday afternoon. “They’ve got to bite the bullet. I don’t think the taxpayers should be held responsible to pick up those costs.” He estimates the lawsuits and settlements could have cost the city as much as $1.4 mil- lion. “There’s been too many buyouts for my lik- ing,” he said. “It just turns my stomach the way things have been handled.” All city departments have been directed to come up with savings to meet the target of a two per cent tax increase.
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