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Creekside sale ends OMB appeal
(Dundas Star News, Craig Campbell, Dec 20, 2012)

The Alterra Group of Companies withdrew its Ontario Municipal Board appeal for a proposed 7-storey condominium at 2555 Creekside Dr. in Dundas after closing a deal to sell the property to the City of Hamilton, last week.

The city paid $1,000,000 to the company for the property, near of the corner of Hatt and Ogilvie streets, financed through area rating, and plans to create a parkette with greenspace there. The sale officially closed December 12.

Dundas city councillor Russ Powers, who brokered the deal on behalf of the city with Alterra president Rob Cooper, said funding for the rest of the project will come from a few areas.

In addition to using area rating to fund the purchase of the million dollar property, the city’s Open Space Design department and Parks Maintenance Budget will pay for design, technical support and ongoing maintenance.

Money for parkette construction will come from tenants of four existing condominium buildings on Creekside Drive, who strongly opposed Alterra’s building application, and Amica retirement home which backs onto the site.

“Funding from external sources will be pursued to reduce gross costs,” Powers said.

Larry Button, a Creekside resident and member of Dundas Community Council who actively opposed the proposed new building, said last week he was very pleased all the hard work of many people over the past year has brought them to this point.

“And, of course, appreciation for the leadership and guidance provided by Russ throughout. It was invaluable,” Button said.

As far as the next steps, Button said he’s waiting to learn more from the city on the details and timetable for the process, but that he’s “looking forward to a collaborative effort that will result in a parkette (and) greenspace that will be an asset for generations to come.”

Rob Cooper, president of Alterra, previously told the Dundas Star News it made sense to avoid an OMB hearing – even though the company believed they had a good case to support the proposed development.

Cooper said the city found a way to satisfy the company and the Creekside neighbours.