[fastcarsfreedom]

So the sky is falling, is it? The city is doomed because Wal*Mart wants to build two stores in Stoney Creek--one of which we've already known about for months. Seriously, all of you need to get a hold of yourselves and take a sober second look at this. As soon as I saw today's Spec article I absolutely knew I could come over to the Forum and find everyone having a field day with this--all despite the fact that the city administration you all detest so is doing quite an effective job at bureaucratic stonewalling on both projects. Do any of you realize how much breathless hyperbole you use about how the city is "dying" and how everything bad here always seems to go back to Bentonville, Arkansas. I've said it about developments in the past--it's really only the presence of W*M that gets anyone here bent out of shape. Do you realize how much your vision is clouded by Wal*Mart? Seems to me there is no Wal*Mart being built at 5&6--yet over months of debate suddenly the fact that the city paid to have the land serviced MUST mean that Wal*Mart is part of it. (Sorry folks, it's Zellers, Canadian Tire and Rona).

We are talking about two--count 'em, two sites. Releasing these two sites to retail development does not sink Hamilton's EcDev future. Retail and homebuilders are here because the area is desirable--it's a place people want to live--that is far from being a bad thing. All of Burlington's Service Road developments are mixed--retail/industrial/office--and while I'm on topic--this Forum is suddenly pro-Burlington? The retail component does not eliminate a single future use of those lands (although I doubt industrial development will return to the Centennial area).

As for business park development--I'm the first guy to call for more of it. The Ancaster and Clappison parks have both done well--and seeing more development on the highway corridors and in the Glanbrook parks is something that will benefit the entire region. The city needs to pursue these opportunities with far more vigor--but let's not forget, the highways JUST opened and some of the taxation challenges were JUST overcome--given time, there will be more interest. Of course, I'm sure the reception Maple Leaf got will put some pause out there in the business community--which takes me back to me previous statements--that the Hamilton area wants development--but only if it's done OUR way. Aerotropolis?...a great intermodal development opportunity that seemed to instantly unite the peak-oil crowd and the NIMBY crowd all at once. We get a canola oil plant and someone bitches that it smells odd.

Now, I've saved my real rant for the sudden turn this Forum has taken. Suddenly, an "urbanist" forum is talking about highway service road development and extoling the virtues of development in Burlington (what is that coloquial name you usually refer to it by?....hmmmmm). As frustrated as I often am with some of what I read here--you have--in the past, stuck to your guns and stayed on-point about the sort of future you want for Hamilton--now suddenly you are half on the other side--talking about the potential for development created by highways (as long as it's development done YOUR way)...I'm sorry to say it, but playing turncoat just to fight off Wal*Mart reallly harms your credibility--there are dozens of anti-W*M sites and forums out there--if that's the real purpose behind this discourse--perhaps your arguments are better taken there. I mean, I've heard nothing from this Forum but infill for the last two years, and now you're upset that they're building a Wal*Mart at Fifty Road? FIFTY ROAD, suddenly you acknowledge that there is life beyond Kenilworth Ave?