Maria
AUGIMERI

Councillor Augimeri believes that Parc Downsview Park (PDP) should remain a public park void of buildings, facilities or any structure that will destroy the beauty and tranquility of this community-adored park.

IMPORTANT DOWNSVIEW SECONDARY PLAN INFORMATION:

On March 9, the Downsview Secondary Plan was debated at North York Community Council. Thank you to all the residents who were able to come to the meeting to voice their concerns surrounding the Secondary Plan. Meeting minutes, motions and decisions can by found here (March 9).

Downsview Park:

After the Federal election in January 2006, we discovered plans to sell off 300 acres of this parkland.  The 13-year promise by the Federal Government to hold this land in perpetuity for the continued enjoyment of the Canadian people was broken.

Several community meetings have been held throughout 2008 and 2009 by City Planning, PDP, and Councillor Augimeri for community input regarding this plan.  The community has voiced its serious concerns with the proposal, as it involves the sale of large parcels of land to create five distinct neighbourhoods: Stanley Greene, William Baker, Sheppard, Chesswood and Allen.  With the exception of Chesswood, these neighbourhoods would consist almost entirely of multi-unit residential buildings.  Over the long run this would introduce an additional 10,000 units and at minimum 20,000 new residents in a community already stricken with basement flooding, high traffic volumes and deteriorating infrastructure.  The expansive national park that can be seen from Keele St, Sheppard Ave W and Allen Rd will be reduced to smaller neighbourhood parks.  The proposed national park included in the revised plan would consist of museums, galleries and other private recreational facilities that support PDP’s vision of a National Park – a far cry from the public park that was promised.

The revised Downsview Secondary Plan will be brought to North York Community Council in the New Year.  Councillor Augimeri has heard your concerns and is working with the Downsview Lands Community Voice Association to ensure that community input is taken seriously.

“You know that you have my commitment, as you have had for the past 25 years, to work hard on your behalf, to not allow anyone or anything to get in the way of speaking out for you, no matter the consequences.  Whatever you decide, I will be there, continuing to fight for you, and to bring your voice to the political table.”