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NIMBYs protest Tim Hortons
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| Jayx1 |
| quote: | Hortons hears a boo
Last updated Jun 1 2005 08:58 AM EDT
CBC News
TORONTO – Cabbagetown residents came to a public meeting Tuesday to protest plans for a Tim Hortons coffee shop in a historic neighbourhood hotel.
The coffee shop is slated to replace a pub in the Winchester Hotel, a Parliament Street establishment that has served as a local gathering place since 1881.
The building's owner, John Barnardo, closed the pub earlier this year.
Some of the 200 people who attended Tuesday's meeting said they think Tim Hortons is a bad fit with the neighbourhood.
"We don't want a mass monochromatic brand name attached to one of the most viable and most respected institutions that punctuates our community," said Craig Knowles, who organized a petition of people opposed to the redevelopment.
Inge Van Der Meulen says she will miss being able to enjoy drinks with friends at the Winchester Pub.
"You know, it's a meeting place for the people of Cabbagetown, and it's gone.
Barnardo said Tim Hortons will provide that same service, and will be a good corporate neighbour.
"They're a full-scale restaurant. They do provide a good meeting place. They do clean the corner," he said.
Despite some opposition, the project appears set to go ahead. Barnardo has already signed a lease with Tim Hortons, which says it will do its best to make the restaurant blend in with the building.
The Winchester is a designated heritage site, so any significant changes will have to be approved by city council.
Tim Hortons also plans to seek local input on the design of the new store.
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I saw an interview with the pub owner John Barnardo. He cited the new smoking laws as the main reason he had to shut down the pub which had been in business for over 100 years.
As far as these NIMBYs go, they are not changing the outside of the building save for a tim hortons sign. I also understand that this area is still a bit economically depressed so having a Tim Hortons will be a draw to the area. There was one business owner on CITY TV who said that the only people complaining are the ones that dont shop in the area anyways. He was in full support of Tim's since he sees it as the beginning of the revitilization of the area..
NIMBYs piss me off royally. |
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| starsearcher |
I guess it wasn't such a big gathering place if it went out of business ;)
Either way it seems kind of silly...
Some of these actions lately remind me of kids in first grade |
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| Jayx1 |
| quote: | Originally posted by starsearcher
I guess it wasn't such a big gathering place if it went out of business ;)
Either way it seems kind of silly...
Some of these actions lately remind me of kids in first grade |
People oppose everything these days. No one has any tolerance for anything or anyone anymore. I read something in the star yesterday where people were saying that they dont go to movies anymore because other people make them get up when they go to the bathroom...
WTF? hasnt that always been part of movies? :rolleyes: |
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| amb_ |
I used to hang out at the Winchester all the time. It was a great place...
However, All Good Things... if Tim Horton's is going to respect the historical nature of the area and the building, by all means let them come in... |
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| Jayx1 |
| I have to agree that a tim hortons replacing a bar is sad. But people should look at the reason why the bar closed. They should not be protesting what is coming to replace it. |
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| Pettiscool |
| there only scared ppl from regent will hang out there |
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| amb_ |
| quote: | Originally posted by Pettiscool
there only scared ppl from regent will hang out there |
Timmy's ain't no Coffee Time! ;) |
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| house_conXion |
| quote: | Originally posted by amb_
Timmy's ain't no Coffee Time! ;) |
Well not Regent Park kids, but you'll find it to be the new hangout for all the ginos and their riced up Civics playing hackey sack in the summer |
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| ShadoWolf |
| quote: | Originally posted by house_conXion
Well not Regent Park kids, but you'll find it to be the new hangout for all the ginos and their riced up Civics playing hackey sack in the summer |
since when do ginos play hackey sack? |
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| zoogla |
| quote: | Originally posted by Jayx1
NIMBYs piss me off royally. |
If you can't beat 'em, join 'em! I say you move down there and infiltrate their psyche from the inside! ;) |
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| Jayx1 |
| i wouldnt want whiney neighbours like that...thanks anyways |
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| MarkT |
What's wrong with a protest? Whenever people are unhappy, you (jayx1) tell people to get up off their ass and do something about it...well, now they are and you're bashing them for not wanting a Tim Horton's in one of the most historic buildings in the area...
What's wrong with wanting to preserve a neighbourhood that's filled with mostly indie-owned establishments too? I live a few blocks from there and it's nice to see a street that's not filled with every lame franchise imagineable.
So just becuase the owner of the Winchester SAYS that the smoking laws have forced them to close, that's gospel? Has anyone looked at their books? Just because it's been there forever doesn't mean it's a well-run bar these days...so blaming the failure of such an established business on a smoking bylaw could easily be a cop-out for an owner who's not efficiently running their business, IMHO, or who is facing rising costs (I don't even want to know what the property taxes are for that piece of real estate). Speaking of which, Cabbagetown saw the highest average property value increase in 2004 of ANY area in the GTA, if memory serves. Maybe wealthy residents are favouring more "upscale" places?
anyway...regardless...there's nothing wrong with a protest. Someone ID'd the place as a business opportunity...and residents are protesting...I really don't see the problem. |
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