ON Economic Fundamentals 2008-11

[joeiannuzzi]

ON Small Town Updates: 2008-11-23

 

[joeiannuzzi]

1108ONTR
Home sales with a marketing twist

After spending years working in sales for a large automotive supplier, Mike Shanks saw limited potential for career advancement in an industry that`s been squeezed in the past year.

"I was frustrated with watching someone else make my goals and targets and watching my paycheque shrink," says Mr. Shanks, a Cambridge, Ont. resident. "So I started looking at other opportunities."

http://www.nationalpost.com/todays_paper/s....html?id=987762

 

[joeiannuzzi]

1108CATH
Canal project powers up

The first canal power generator in the Garden City roared to life at Lock 2 Thursday.

A 22-tonne turbine was churning out almost two megawatts of green electricity by noon Thursday, enough to power 1,500 city homes.

"I`m so happy to see it working," said a grinning Tom Rankin, president of the St. Catharines company that teamed up with the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corp. for the project.

"I`ve been calling down here every day to see if they`d got it running."

http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/Article....aspx?e=1311843

 

[joeiannuzzi]

1108CATH
Downtown property values soar

St. Catharines Mayor Brian McMullan is forming a committee to review property tax assessments on downtown businesses, some of which saw increases of more than 100 per cent this year.

McMullan said some of the assessment increases -- ranging from 35 per cent to 112 per cent -- are simply out of touch with what properties are actually worth in the city`s core.

If the numbers are not adjusted, he said, business owners are going to suffer.

http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/Article....aspx?e=1311830

 

[joeiannuzzi]

1108BTFD
Condo owners seek services

Residents of seven condominium complexes in Brant County say they want the municipality to provide more services for their tax dollars.

More than 50 condominium owners attended council chambers this week to hear a presentation by Honey Kolanko, director of the Brant Condominium Corporations` Association. Kolanko told politicians the association wants the county to pay for the flushing and flow testing of fire hydrants, as well as videotaped inspection and pumping of sewers.

She said they are services other homeowners already receive, but are denied to condo owners.

http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/ArticleDi....aspx?e=1310998

 

[joeiannuzzi]

1108BAOR
Mitsubishi sets up shop in south end

STAFF) -- Mitsubishi Motors opened a new dealership in Barrie`s south end on Thursday. Barrie Mitsubishi is located at 231 Mapleview Dr. W. On hand for the grand opening and ribbon-cutting were president and CEO Koji Soga, vice-president of sales and marketing Tomoki Yanagawa, and dealer principles Steve Boseovski, Tony Boseovski and Scott Ferguson.

"We look forward to serving our customers with the very best sales and service that the automotive industry has to offer," Steve Boseovski said.

Soga said the company is pleased to add Barrie to its dealer network.

http://www.thebarrieexaminer.com/ArticleDi....aspx?e=1312136

 

[joeiannuzzi]

1108BAOR
Home sales continue to slide

Prices are holding, but the number of home sales are dipping in the Barrie area`s housing market.

While average residential prices remain the same month over month, from September to October, the Barrie and District Association of Realtors says the total value of last month`s sales dropped by 23 per cent from September, and 28 per cent from October 2007.

And the total number of properties which traded hands last month is 21 per cent lower than September`s total, as well as down 23 per cent from October 2007.

http://www.thebarrieexaminer.com/ArticleDi....aspx?e=1310841

 

[joeiannuzzi]

1108HAMN
Steelcare expands

Hamilton`s Steelcare will build a $7-million US plant in Alabama despite an economic downturn that has led many firms to postpone expansion plans.

Construction on the 80,000-square-foot steel handling plant will begin in the first few months of 2009.

Its first customer will be the southern offshoot of another Hamilton firm -- rail-car maker National Steel Car.

http://www.thespec.com/News/Business/article/471412

 

[joeiannuzzi]

1108KWCG
Portapak future up in the air

WATERLOO

Conestoga College could be poised to buy a 20-room structure from the public school board for a dollar.

In 2006, the Waterloo Region District School Board sold what used to be University Heights Secondary School to the college, which has turned it into its Waterloo campus. At the time, the parties agreed the board wasn`t selling the "portapak" temporary addition attached to the former high school and could continue to use until July, 2009.

http://news.therecord.com/News/Local/article/448763

 

[joeiannuzzi]

1108TNTO
More express bus routes considered

On the heels of yesterday`s system-wide bus improvements, the TTC is considering expanding its roster of premium express buses to provide faster, more expensive rush-hour service in areas where GO isn`t available or is operating at capacity.

The TTC already operates two kinds of express service: buses that stop at selected major intersections, and four routes that offer direct rapid service – during rush hours only – at double the regular fare.

http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/542825

 

[joeiannuzzi]

1108TNTO
Report sinks idea of transit ferry plan

A consultant`s report has thrown cold water on the idea of a TTC ferry service to carry commuters downtown from the Scarborough Bluffs and the Humber Bay areas.

The idea was floated last year by TTC chair Adam Giambrone and, despite widespread skepticism, the commission voted to study the matter.

http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/542824

 

[joeiannuzzi]

1108TNTO
Cheers, jeers greet meeting on possible wind farm

The possibility of a wind farm off of Toronto`s eastern shore generated cheers and jeers last night in a Guildwood high school auditorium during a meeting that pitted environmentalists against local residents who oppose the idea.

More than 900 people attended the Toronto Hydro information session, which was designed to explain a research project to test the viability of a wind farm in Lake Ontario.

http://www.nationalpost.com/todays_paper/s....html?id=991155

 

[joeiannuzzi]

1108LNDN
Water rate hike backed

London politicians recommended hiking water rates by eight per cent in each of the next four years, most saying the increase was unpalatable, but necessary.

Five of six politicians backed the increase, but not before the one voice of dissent, Coun. Steve Orser, warned the increased burden would be too much to bear for Londoners reeling under a global economic meltdown. "I really think we need a spike in the economy and a spike in jobs before we have a spike in water rates," Orser said.

http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/News/Local/200...524201-sun.html

 

[joeiannuzzi]

1108LNDN
Building fee flap heats up

The fight over who pays for development in London intensified yesterday even though the stakes were small -- a prelude to bigger issues to come. Developers, the housing industry and key allies on the city planning committee fought a proposal to shift development application costs from taxpayers to industry.

http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/News/Local/200...524251-sun.html

 

[joeiannuzzi]

1108CATH
Rezoning means apartment building finally legal

A St. Catharines landlord who was convicted of defying the city`s zoning bylaw for running an illegal apartment building has had his building made legal.

In a narrow 7-6 vote Monday night, city councillors rezoned Allan Muir`s property at 122 Oakdale Ave. to permit the four-unit apartment building to remain. But because of his poor track record of property maintenance, he`ll be closely watched by city inspectors for the next year.

It`s the third time Muir has sought a rezoning of his property, and each time it was opposed by neighbours.

http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/Article....aspx?e=1314422

 

[joeiannuzzi]

1108BTFD
Developer eager for Phase 2 of project

Motorists on Garden Avenue could soon see a doubling in the number of homes springing up in the Johnson Road area as a builder moves ahead with the next stage of its subdivision in the city`s east end.

City councillors had plenty of questions -- and lots of favourable comments -on Monday, when Brookfield Homes Ltd. unveiled the second phase of its housing subdivision of 213 units between Garden Avenue and Johnson Road.

The developer hopes to start work next year.

http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/ArticleDi....aspx?e=1313705

 

[joeiannuzzi]

1108BTFD
GRCA can help property owners with reforestation

The Grand River Conservation Authority invites area landowners to consider reforestation of their property through its tree planting program.

Landowners with more than one hectare (2.5 acres) of land, excluding buildings, are eligible to participate.

"This is reforestation, not landscaping," said GRCA communications manager David Schultz.

http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/ArticleDi....aspx?e=1313717

 

[joeiannuzzi]

1108BAOR
Parks` future detailed in report

A vision detailed in a proposed master plan for Couchiching Beach Park and Centennial Park brought a well-known Canadian park to mind for Coun. Joe Fecht.

"Between Couch Park, Scout Valley and Tudhope Park it reminds me of all the elements of Stanley Park," he said Monday night as council committee saw the proposed master plan.

Bruce Cudmore, of EDA Collaborative Inc., was on hand to present councillors with the plan that has developed since initial meetings in May to review options for city-owned land within Centennial and Couchiching Beach parks. That was a result of a 2003 waterfront framework plan completed by the Planning Partnership.

http://www.orilliapacket.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1314054

 

[joeiannuzzi]

1108BAOR
Water tower demo complete

The 85-foot water tower on Benner Street, an Orillia landmark for more than 50 years, was no match for mechanical jaws and acetylene torches.

In two weeks, a three-man crew from Green Pro Demolition ripped apart the structural steel tank and toppled the six legs of the old tower.

"It went exceedingly well," said Bruce Duncan, the city`s manager of property and purchasing.

http://www.orilliapacket.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1314071

 

[joeiannuzzi]

1108BAOR
Council OKs RVH site plan

And now to build it.

Royal Victoria Hospital`s $300-million- plus plan to expand and build a regional cancer care centre received another green light last night.

The project`s site plan was given initial approval by Barrie councillors, with no discussion.

"For years on city council, we have been working toward this point," Coun. Mike Ramsay said. "It is the most complex project ever approved by the city. A cancer care centre and the hospital expansion are very, very complex projects.

http://www.thebarrieexaminer.com/ArticleDi....aspx?e=1313630