Correspondence regarding Christie Point Redevelopment - Marie Denton

From: Marie Denton Sent: June-13-17 8:07 AM To: Mayor And Council Email Subject: Christie Point

Dear Mayor Screech and Council,

As a resident of Christie Point, I want to reaffirm my support for the plans for redevelopment. I feel that a huge amount of care and consideration has been put into this project to make a new Christie Point a most attractive and welcoming addition to the town of View Royal, with special care being made in having it blend in with the overall physical attributes of this ( tiny perfect ) peninsula. The recent announcements by Realstar that they will offer a twelve month advance notice of when construction will begin, plus a financial amount to ease the transition from living in older buildings to newer ones is more than generous. This is in addition to help that is in place, to aid tenants to move belongings into storage, together with paid Canada Post notification for change of address and other services are, in my opinion, over and above what is usual. My family and friends in Toronto particularly, are most impressed by this.

I know that there are many people in Christie Point at present who are feeling uneasy. This is because change affects us all. However there has been considerable 'scare mongering' among the most outspoken, particularly with regard to the lack of affordable rentals in Victoria. Nonetheless, at least three families from and close to my complex have found places to move to, in the last few months. So there are places, you just have to make an effort and start to look after yourself. Yesterday I passed a well established building on Gorge near Tillicum that had a sign advertising two different types of units as being available now, not even 'Waiting List Available '.

Finally, I am appalled that the issue of 'wildlife' and 'birds' is being used to attempt some kind of defence against a re- building. Where were these same people - who were silent when dogs and cats became prevalent on Christie Point? Yes, this used to be a Wildlife Preserve, but not any more. There was no outward display of dismay when the wildlife became threatened by allowing increasingly larger breeds of dogs and cats, many of which roam unleashed. There's been no meeting arranged here in Christie Point in the past 12+ years and certainly not in the very recent past to raise the issue of birds etc being threatened by an issue that could have been handled 'in house'.

In my opinion, these issues are simply a cosmetic coverage used to ' demand ' affordable housing. But affordable housing is not the business of the private sector.

Renting a place to live, is by its nature, tenuous, and everybody knows that. I am sorry for the tenants who feel dispossessed, but they are being manipulated and frankly, I doubt they will ever be satisfied no matter what Realstar offers!

This is obviously not a 'Politically correct ' letter, but these things need to be said. Enough is enough!

I wish you success in your deliberations with Realstar.

Most Sincerely, Marie Denton 2951 Craigowan Road