Sir: The Feb. 21 Chatham Voice editorial “Enough Dislike,” in my opinion, is laser accurate respecting the major downtown Victor Boutin developments.
Although it has taken longer than hoped, nonetheless, the downtown condo, when completed, will be a major ingredient toward creating a self-sustaining downtown.
I know from personal experience with some Toronto investors C-K is looked upon as a joke, creating an insecure investment environment (using their terminology). The Boutin family from my understanding undertook the condo project more as a personal family investment. I’m not out to defend the Boutin family. I’m looking at things from an investment portfolio, a strategy to advantage the Boutin investment for our advantage.
I believe it’s still going to be two or three years before the Boardwalk on Thames condo is complete. So what? At this point, it’s better than not having it.
I know a laundry list of things that could happen causing the Condo project to back fire, however, another laundry list supports an investment catalyst to this project, creating a “must” ingredient to support an ultimate self-sustaining downtown.
It is imperative our Economic Development Department and our chief administrative personnel know how to advantage this project and understand how to fast-forward to use these investments as a foundation creating that self-sustaining downtown core.
If, and I mean “if,” Boutin feels by completing the old YMCA project, and I think it’s wise of him to do that first, in that, it’s faster and less expensive to get that project done and money rolling in, the cash then applied to the condo project, then I support that direction.
The condo project, when completed, can become a skyline for Chatham-Kent, which will greatly assist our C-K marketing department to feature in brochures and on the C-K website.
Such shows growth or leaves a first impression or perception of growth. Without the condo project, we can’t show or convince the outside world Chatham-Kent is growing. Pictures convince. Talk is cheap.
The 10-storey complex, housing ground-level retail shops and a built-in population of 200 or so, can be a tremendous ingredient to explode downtown as its own living and shopping village. Further, that, combined with tri-lateral zoning to accommodate personal living, office, retail/ professional corporation etc., can only be achieved by creating an asset and net value windfall for investors.
Once our downtown is developed that way (having its own permanent population) such then warrants a small grocery store then expanding from there.
It would be a huge income asset, by creating a new tax base from a completed downtown retail/commercial/professional/residential type of community hub.
Let the Boutin group do what they need to do.
John Cryderman
Chatham
