Columbus Community Coalition: Hamlet Streetscape Improvement Report

To be successful, a boundary realignment must be minor and specific.

For this reason the proposal is limited solely to the properties within the Hamlet of Columbus' boundaries and the contiguous 1km between the Hamlet and the Town of Whitby's eastern border.

It is not intended to disadvantage or slight any resident of Oshawa outside the Hamlet of Columbus' boundaries.

A number of residents beyond the boundaries have called the phone number on our 'Oshawa Please Release Us' signs and commented that they wish us luck.

The Hamlet of Columbus’ situation is very different from Raglan’s. Raglan will not be impacted by the 407 to the extent that Columbus will. The 407 interchange at Simcoe will be less than 1km from the Hamlet of Columbus southern boundary and Columbus is a community with many residential driveways fronting on Simcoe St. where Raglan has none.

Raglan is in the greenbelt and as such is not affected by the Growing Durham, Region Official Plan 2009 Amendment rezoning agricultural lands to urban and industrial the way Columbus is.

Raglan is further removed from the Village of Brooklin, not the same easy walk or biking distance from Brooklin as Columbus is.

Raglan does not have the same high number of historic buildings as Columbus. In fact, the concentration of 43 identified heritage properties in the Hamlet of Columbus are most suited to compliment the historic Brooklin Village.

Raglan has a vital commercial enterprise within its hamlet boundaries (the Whitefeather County Store), whereas Columbus has no commercial business now for the first time in 170 years.

Columbus was randomly forced to join Oshawa in 1974 with the creation of the Region of Durham.

The Hamlet’s disconnection with the city has been there all along. In addition to the shameful neglect of Oshawa to notify and engage Columbus residents in the Growing Durham Plan process, its handling of last year’s decorative lights petition served as a catalyst for the Columbus movement to join Whitby.

When Columbus residents attempted to revitalize their community using the opportunity of the Simcoe St. road reconstruction project, Columbus residents secured two legitimate quotes (one from the actual company contracted by the Region to do the road work) which were both for less than half of the inordinately high $815,000 quote Oshawa put forward.

The 407 extension will serve as a physical barrier between Oshawa and Columbus and disconnect Columbus residents even more. However, Brooklin, like Columbus, will be north of the 407.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Hamlet Streetscape Improvement Report

EXAMPLE of a marker pole with flower baskets. The Columbus streetscape improvement group is recommending the City install similar marker poles as above, with both banners and flower baskets, in front of Hamlet of Columbus community centre and church as the first stage in a multi stage streetscape enhancement project

Columbus Community Coalition

407E Phase 1 now to end at Harmony Rd.

Slideshow

Blog Archive

People Advocating Change Together

March 2009 Hamlet of Columbus residents get organized!

Sept 2009 some Steering Committe members

Steering Committee Meeting May 27

Columbus United Church built 1873

Former Manse 27 Columbus Rd. E.

Columbus Rd,E,

Columbus Rd.W.

Simcoe St. looking south

Wm Smith farm now Golf Course

School on the West Hill

West Hill school now residence

early Columbus school

Armoury in front of Town Hall

1967 Town Hall commemoration

Columbus Community Center/former East Whitby Townhall built 1859 same year Trafalgar Castle School

Clerks of East Whitby

Reeves of East Whitby

Last East Whitby Council 1973

July 2009 Coalition celebrates

s/e corner Columbus Rd & Simcoe St.

n/e corner Simcoe & Columbus

Empire Mill mid 1800s

'Uncle' Walt Mason 1862 -1939

Columbus Community Meeting May 21/09

Pereman House 3315 Simcoe

Columbus Community United Church

April Steering Committee

April 29th leaving meeting

Newspaper Interview Mar/09

March 22 Steering Committee

Columbus Community Centre

Methodist Cemetery Columbus Rd. E.

Methodist Church

Methodist Church now residence

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Hamlet Streetscape Improvement Report