The development at 2030 Caroline Street in downtown Burlington is aptly referred to by Joan Little in this September 12 Hamilton Spectator article as “the worst development boondoggle” that she can recall.
Going back to 2010, the site of one of the first towers downtown has been controversial. From day one this site has been a source of anger and frustration for residents, including those living in the original tower, The Berkeley. Significant promises were made by the developer, then not followed through on, and it seems certain that their application back in 2010 never would have been approved with a 28-storey second condo on site and none of the other original promises kept. The developer also managed to create a precedent for height that he and others used to their advantage for other condo projects downtown. The vacant site beside The Berkeley has been an eyesore for over a decade, and recently the City paved it for a temporary parking lot. As one Burlington resident opined in our local media: “This is a classic bait and switch on the Burlington community.”
Residents have banded together to urge our council to oppose the new application for a second condo tower, with petitions to be presented to the city. It will be a test of whether (finally) moving the MTSA/UGC designations away from the downtown can stop such applications.
