The world changed colors while we weren’t paying attention.

By the way, August: Osage County was strange, emotionally exhausting, and extremely well-played – fantastic show! (But methinks I need to watch a few more musicals before I can try another play.)

So sorry but my human is so busy with our “moving overseas” thing that she hardly has any time to help me do blog stuff and I’m finding it really hard to keep up with visiting my friends at the moment – so please forgive me if I don’t manage to comment much in the next few weeks!

I’ve got lots of things I wanted to post about from ages ago which have been sitting in a queue but I keep having so many new adventures that I’ve had to tell you about those first and so my catch-up list keeps getting longer and longer!

But now that we are leaving NZ, my human thinks we should quickly tell you about all these things before we leave – as I’m sure I will have even more adventures to post about after we move to Australia! So I hope you won’t mind me bombarding you with posts about “old stuff” for the next week or so (whenever my human can get time away from all the packing and “moving overseas” stuff!)

OK – so I wanted to tell you about a lovely walk I did on St Heliers Bay beach back in July. My human, Hsin-Yi, says that we are very lucky because Auckland is a “harbour city” right next to the sea and so there are many “inner-city beaches” that we can get to in 10mins with the car machine, to enjoy.

Enjoying the sunshine on Tamaki Drive

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In fact, there is a beautiful long road called Tamaki Drive which follows the side of the sea and there is a row of “waterfront suburbs” along this road which all have beautiful beaches.

View Larger Map

Tamaki Drive

Lots of humans like to walk, jog or cycle along Tamaki Drive and it’s REALLY busy on Sunday mornings!

 (Hsin-Yi says: I think this is one of the most beautiful city drives in the world, with the sparkling blue sea dotted with yachts on one side, and on the other side – the pohutukawa trees (aka. the ”NZ Christmas Rose”) with their bright red blossoms fringing the road and the sleeping volcano, Rangitoto Island, looming on the horizon…

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Rangitoto Island

You can get lovely views of Waitemata Harbour, from anywhere along Tamaki Drive and also beautiful views back to the ‘City of Sails’ with the Sky Tower dominating the skyline…

 

Our favourite, of course, is Mission Bay where there is a beautiful fountain and park and lots of people sit at the cafes out on the street and it feels like you are on holiday all the time!

(Mission Bay has more young humans living there and is more “trendy and happening”, with lots of bars, restaurants, cafes and an art-deco cinema)

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Mmm - my special treat!

I love the beach at Mission Bay and often meet my friends there (check out my post: “A Walk with Chobe & Breakfast at Mission Bay“)

- and sometimes, after our walk, my humans will take me to the ice-cream shop to get me a special treat!

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But all the other beaches along Tamaki Drive are also really beautiful. Kohimarama is smaller & narrower and lots of people who live in the waterfront suburbs like to walk their dogs there but we don’t go as often ‘coz Hsin-Yi doesn’t like the way some of the other dogs (or their irresponsible owners!) behave and she says lots of uncontrolled, aroused dogs in a small space is just asking for trouble…

We learnt this the hard way because when I was younger, she used to take me to a dog park called Madills Farm where lots of humans like to stand around and gossip and just let the dogs play around them, instead of walking them…and while I was playing nicely with a Border Collie pup, a Husky-Shepherd-cross suddenly arrived at the park and ran up to me and tore a strip out of my shoulder! And his owner wasn’t even sorry – he just laughed and said proudly, “Look at that! Going for the biggest dog in the park!”

I was bleeding very badly and my humans had to rush me to the vet for stitches. I still have the scar – ouch! That was one of the ‘bad experiences’ which started me getting grumpy with strange dogs…and Hsin-Yi has had to work very hard with clicker training and “re-conditioning” to get me friendly with strange dogs again.

So now, Hsin-Yi avoids taking me any place where people  just want to gossip and be lazy and hope their dogs will exercise themselves - unless the dogs all know each other really well and (more importantly!), the owners are all sensible and responsible and have good control over their dogs – because even best friends can have an argument sometimes or accidentally hurt each other during play and of course, us doggies argue with our teeth! And if you have a pack of dogs together all highly aroused, then what started as a little argument can quickly turn into a nasty dog fight!

So the best thing is to always keep moving when out walking – this is much more natural for us doggies anyway and we get to see & smell more things and the exercise is better for our health and our humans’ health! Even if people want to socialise with a group of friends, they should keep moving because a group of dogs walking together is usually a happy, peaceful pack.

Oops! Sorry for that long story! Anyway, back to the beaches: after Kohimarama is St Heliers Bay beach which is bigger and quieter, so we like it better. St Heliers Bay also has some nice cafes and shops but it has more older humans (who are not working anymore) living there and feels a bit different to Mission Bay.

Me at St Heliers Bay beach

When we arrived that day, it was very exciting because some killer whales had just been passing by that morning, hunting sting rays for food in the sea, and now there were hundreds of birds coming to check out the “leftovers’!

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A lot of the half-eaten sting rays had washed up onto the beach…

They smelled deliciously fishy but actually tasted quite leathery and not very nice at all!

So I left them alone and contined my nice walk along the beach…

…until I found a stick!

Oh! But then a black spaniel came out of nowhere and tried to steal the stick from me!

But I won – ha! ha!

We had a nice play together, though, because Hsin-Yi is always very strict about teaching me to share my toys with other doggies. Then some more doggies arrived to join the fun!

Hmm...if you lost a lot of weight, you might look like my friends, Cookie & Cinnamon!

The sun was setting as we started walking back to the car machine but there was time for just one more picture!

I didn’t know then but that was actually the last time I could enjoy the beaches on Tamaki Drive!

See, usually dogs are only allowed on the “inner-city beaches” in the winter months (from Easter until end October) and even then only before 10am or after 4pm…so in winter, my humans usually take me to Mission Bay and the other Tamaki Drive beaches a lot for my daily walks.

But this year, just shortly after this lovely walk in July, a terrible thing happened! Five dogs died from eating something poisonous on the beaches and there were also some dead dolphins washed up on the beach, so they shut all the beaches along the Waitemata Harbour coastline and told all humans not to swim in the sea, until they could find out what it was.

Very sad – they have been shut ever since and now it has passed October which means we doggies can no longer go on the beaches anymore…so I have missed my chance this year and since we’re leaving NZ now, I will never get to go again!

They are still not sure what the poison was but they think it was “tetradotoxin” which was in some sea slugs washed up on the beach that the doggies (and other animals) ate…

The good news, though, is that it is still OK to go to the beaches on the West Coast ‘coz they are next to a different water. I love these beaches too, like Bethells Beach (Te Henga) which was my first ever beach when I was 3 months old, and dogs are allowed on them all year round but they are about 1 hrs drive from Auckland centre. Still, my humans have promised to try and take me there for a last walk before we leave NZ - if they manage to finish the packing in time!

View Larger Map

* For more information about Auckland’s beaches, check out the Auckland City Council website: http://www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/whatson/outdoors/default.asp

* For more information about the West Coast beaches, check out the Waitakere City Council website: http://www.waitakere.govt.nz/cnlser/pbr/prkgrnsp/index.asp

On the doorstep of the the Houses of Parliament, the world renowned Tate Gallery and the splendour of the River Thames, and Buckingham Palace, St John’s Westminster is not just in a desirable part of London but can be considered one of the world’s most desirable residential addresses.

This award-winning exclusive development offers some of the finest luxury apartments that London has to offer, situated around the ancient gardens of St Johns and within touching distance of Victoria, Westminster and St James’s Park Underground Stations.

The apartments have been decorated and fully furnished with true care and attention, granite kitchens, unique marble bathrooms and parquet flooring are just some of the beautifully finished touches the apartments boast.

This apartment block also offers guests a fully-equipped gym, whirlpool, sauna and private health spa with a wide range of alternative health and beauty therapy services. A digital television service, DVD player and wireless broadband are also available in each apartment.

http://www.crownlawn.com/United_Kingdom/london_apartments/westminster/st_johns/st_johns.html

http://www.crownlawn.com

Foggy Louisville skyline, by Lizzie Morrison http://www.flickr.com/people/lizziemorrison/

What a fantastic question. Every city needs to ask themselves this—some more than others. I wish I could lay claim to posing the question in the first place but instead, it was this insightful fellow. In the post, Your Civic Ambition, Aaron Renn says he would like Louisville, Kentucky to follow through with the 8664 plan. I wasn’t familiar with this citizen-led grassroots initiative until today but it’s now etched in my mind as one of the more powerful community efforts to make cities and developers rethink their often thoughtless plans.

Anyone familiar with the Gardiner Expressway and the regretful waterfront development decisons made by Toronto will want to know about this.

After 4 years of community outcry and the support of over 10,000 citizens, I think Kentucky’s civic aspiration to “86″ this silly plan stands a very good chance of being realized. Even better, it would be replaced with this much smarter plan.

It also gives me great hope for similar efforts in my own city of Burlington.

Next post? Unemployed doesn’t mean uninvolved. I sit on the Steering Committee of Burlington Save Our Waterfront.  I’ll tell you about our civic aspirations and what we’re doing to make them a reality.

Nothing to say about this one, just that I love how it turned out.

Note:  I did find out that these towers are named Shoal Tower, Cathcart Tower and Fort Frederick Tower.  Slightly embarassed about a previous post in which I referred to Shoal Tower as Murney tower; confused the name of one tower with the type of towers.  They are all Martello Towers.

Welcome to Anthony’s Woodfire Grill! This restaurant features specialties from its custom-built rotisserie, applewood-burning oven and an applewood grill. As a part of the Anthony’s family, Anthony’s Woodfire Grill serves signature fresh Northwest seafood selections such as margarita crab, as well as applewood roasted St. Louis style ribs and sirloin beef kabobs. Explore the culinary delights while enjoying a great waterfront view. When the weather allows it, you can also dine outside and relax in the fresh, clean air. Visit Anthony’s Woodfire Grill on Sundays to enjoy a rich brunch! It is located just off the I-5 corridor in the Everett Marina Village next to Anthony’s Home Port Everett. For more information, visit the Snohomish County Destination Guide.

City Sightseeing Open-Top Tour, Table Mountain Cableway and Two Oceans Aquarium have joined forces to launch the Go Cape Town Card, an all-inclusive ticket for the three popular tourism attractions. The card will be available from Tuesday December 1, 2009.

Visitors pay only R360 per card, which includes a return trip on the Table Mountain Cableway, a visit to the Two Oceans Aquarium and a ride on an open-top City Sightseeing Bus. Children under 18 years pay R180 per card.

“The beauty of the card is that visitors no longer have to stand in queues at any of the attractions; as well as the three-month validity, allowing for more flexibility in planning your itinerary,” said Jillian Grindley-Ferris, brand and business manager of Two Oceans Aquarium.

Sabine Lehmann, CEO of Table Mountain Cableway, believes the Go Cape Town Card encourages visitors to experience all three attractions at a reduced rate making it an affordable and stress-free outing.

Claus Tworeck, of the City Sightseeing Open-top Tour, says the open top bus is the perfect connection between the Aquarium and Table Mountain Cableway with regular departures leaving every 20 minutes.

The Go Cape Town card can be purchased at any of the three attractions, the Cape Town Tourism offices or online at www.webtickets.co.za from Tuesday December 1 this year. The cards are valid for three months from date of purchase.

The Cableway operates weather permitting. For information please contact any of the three attractions or Cape Town Tourism.

Cape Town Tourism 021 487 6859 www.capetown.travel

City Sightseeing Open-top Tour 021 511 6000 www.citysightseeing.co.za

Table Mountain Cableway 021 424 0015 www.tablemountain.net

Two Oceans Aquarium 021 418 3823 www.aquarium.co.za

Soon, you can ride the wave of excitement in south Etobicoke, when Camrost-Felcorp introduces California Condos – the newest phase at the company’s phenomenally successful, established, 16-acre, master-planned community, Mystic Pointe.

Designed to be as fresh and sophisticated as its name, this hip and urban building will be situated close to the ­waterfront and all that lifestyle has to offer. California Condos residents will live just 10 minutes from downtown in a setting that will make breathtaking city and lake views part of their everyday life.

The condominium will be situated just steps from the Humber Bay Shores waterfront, where residents can bicycle or stroll along the Martin Goodman Trail. Local amenities include a 24-hour Sobeys, Ikea, Sherway Gardens, fabulous restaurants, Humber Bay Park and other area parks, schools and libraries. Access to the Gardiner Expressway is convenient and the QEW, Hwy. 427, the Mimico GO station and TTC are all close by.

By Jocelyn Martinez
Contributing Writer

Photo by Christina Cernik, Photo Editor

After years of planning and working on the City Commons area of the West Palm Beach Waterfront, a lot of hard work is about to pay off.

“This project has been part of Mayor Frankel’s vision for downtown as a whole since she came into office in 2003,” said Peter Robbins, public information officer for the City of West Palm Beach.

Now all that is left is to get the project completed. The area should be finished by Feb. 20.

The $30 million project will consist of a visitor’s center, tree-shaded walkways, a pavilion, piers and a beach at the sea wall. The city expects the new area to transform the waterfront at Flagler Drive and Clematis Street into a new and improved area of public space.

Mayor Lois Frankel is very excited about the project.

“This is an exciting event and a significant part of our commitment to enliven our downtown, embrace our waterfront and bring people to West Palm Beach,” Frankel said.

According to Frankel, she sees this waterfront as a way to attract people and tourists downtown so they can enjoy the businesses already there, as well as the new and coming attractions.

“This project is about transformation,” Robbins said. “It’ll give everyone a completely different view of downtown.”

In place of the old library, the area will be an open, green area with fountains and seats for people to enjoy. It will also be a place for entertainment and concerts.

Three docks are already open to the public.

“These new docks will be enjoyed by boaters and pedestrians alike,” Frankel said.

Dock usage is free, including for boaters. Although rafts are not allowed on the docks, commercial vessels may dock with a city-issued permit. Docks are open
seven days a week from 5 a.m. to midnight.

Boaters are required to register their vessels with the dock supervisor and each dock has a maximum capacity.

“I love the docks. They are convenient and a smart idea,” said local resident Chris Pastorick, a PBA alumni from the class of 2009. “They’re good for visiting during the day and should bring in more business for the restaurants because a lot of other dockside locations around here benefit greatly from boaters but West Palm Beach has had nothing to offer them like PGA, Jupiter or Boynton Beach.”

The docks are a key component of West Palm’s downtown waterfront revitalization project. The plan is to beautify and re-energize the entire downtown waterfront, from Banyan Boulevard to Lakeview Avenue. Completion of the revitalization is expected in December.

“They should make weekend dock hours later for boaters who want to take their boats downtown then and go out,” Pastorick commented.

Some worry that the construction on Flagler Drive is hindering some businesses downtown.

Bradley’s waitress Jessica Wieder, a PBA senior, said, “It took the view away from Bradley’s and the construction is taking too long. It is also taking business away from Bradley’s because people do not want to drive completely around just to get there.”

Businesses on Clematis are suffering from the months of detours and barricades, but once the project is completed a great increase is expected in the local economy, especially with the docks.

“The docks are convenient for boaters and will bring in more people downtown,” said PBA sophomore Lauren Mareri.

“It’ll be a completely different view of downtown,” Robbins said.

An opening party is set for February. The city hope the face lift will benefit downtown businesses.

“I am excited to see this project completed already,” said PBA junior Natasha Da Silva. “I believe it will make downtown look so much better and bring more people to our city.”

Still morning waters at Kingston Mills.

Spence Plantation Lake Murray SC Homes For Sale – Lake Murray SC Real Estate

Spence Platation Homes For Sale and Land For Sale

Spence Plantation is located on the shores of Lake Murray in Lexington, SC. This lakefront community is approximately 7 miles from Lexington and 20 miles from Columbia, SC the State Capitol. This neighborhood has lakefront homes, lakefront home sites, interior homes and interior home sites available for purchase. Spence Plantation offers its residents Lake Murray access and is gated. Spence Plantation on Lake Murray still has the perfect home site for you to build your personalized Luxury Custom Home. Children in this neighborhood will attend the award winning Lexington-One Schools. Spence Plantation on Lake Murray is great neighborhood so come out and take a look today.

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Lake Murray Chapin Homes up to $350k
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Lake Murray Lex. Homes up to $350
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Lake Murray Lexington SC Real Estate Specialist, Exit Realty, Exit Real Estate Consultants South Carolina, Mike McVey is your local expert for all your Real Estate needs in Lexington, Chapin, Irmo, Lake Murray SC and all surrounding towns and communities. You will have access to the most comprehensive MLS Listing Service with free tools for Buyers and Sellers. Lake Murray SC Houses For Sale, Properties For Sale, Water Levels, Water Temperatures, Fishing Reports, Marinas, Lakefront, and Waterfront Properties. Luxury Custom Homes. I promise my service will impress you! Call me today (803) 206-5607

Crown Lawn have now added their Top 3 Serviced / Leased Apartments to the homepage of the site for both Londn destinations and International.

The Top 3 list for London currently consists of:

The Top 3 list for International apartments currently consists of:

This will allow new and existing customers to find the finest Leased Apartments Crown Lawn have to offer quickly.

http://www.crownlawn.com

As much of small-town America is falling victim to big box stores and endless chain restaurants, Leonardtown is going its own way. Leonardtown, the St. Mary’s County Seat, is a bustling town of fine restaurants, unique shops, and old-fashioned charm. Traces of its history can be found in historic buildings, churches and businesses throughout the downtown area. The town’s best kept secret is that it is a waterfront town. It offers a brand new Wharf public park which connects a 3-mile stretch of waterfront with a park at each end and facilities for boating, kayaking and canoeing. Leonardtown also offers exquisite and family-friendly restaurants open for lunch and dinner. For more information, visit the St. Mary’s Destination Guide.

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During my run this morning I suddenly remembered that the Romans had a word for “this” (hic), a word for “that” (ille), and a word for “that (detested)” (iste). English sometimes lends a little loathing to its “that” — in the throes of spite, “that girl” can pack a punch. But think of the privilege of having a demonstrative pronoun specially reserved for things you hate.

I have been running a four-mile route along the Willamette waterfront. Today, it wasn’t so much running — I felt more like I was caught in one of those dreams where the atmosphere retards motion. Why is it that some days it feels like flying and some days it feels like a potato-sack race? Anyway, I was battling through this waterfront run, thinking about a recent post by the Roving Runner. He wrote about another four-mile route, one I used to do quite often. The Hudson River waterfront from Chelsea-ish to Battery Park was a magical place for me. Unlike my partner, I am not one who can comprehend why places feel the way they do. I could not understand why this place was so wonderful — something about the wooden planks and poles, and the ferries, I suspect.

During that (iste) run this morning, I also thought fondly of the small practical things we learn from our parents. One of these, for me, is tying my house keys in my shoelaces, so I don’t have to carry anything when I run. This I learned from my mom. Sometimes, as today, it has the effect of announcing my every step with a little jangle. People look over their shoulders, worried that a hushed version of Jacob Marley is approaching.

I am looking forward to reading this book, What I Talk about When I Talk About Running by Murakami. There I hope to find some guidance in this new phase of life, which coincidentally involves writing and running.

ω

So this morning Tina and I had a quick breakfast because our ride that was taking us to Table Mountain was early.  Tina thought it would be nice to take our coffee to go.  She very carefully made our coffee, handed me mine and said, “I can’t remember (there goes her memory again!) which one I put sugar in so we will have to look at them.”  I must have looked perplexed for a moment because I was trying to figure out how I would tell if there was sugar in it by looking…so I asked Tina, with a very sly look on my face, if she had “sugar vision.”  Hence, “sweet” became our word of the day……

We FINALLY took the cable-car up the face of Table Mountain to the top.  We had planned on doing it on Tuesday but it was closed because of the wind, so instead we went to the windiest point in South Africa…Cape Point…duh!!!  We also had planned on climbing to the top instead of taking the cable-car, but we didn’t take enough Essentiale the night before!   At 4,000 feet, we could see all of Cape Town and Tina and I made a bee-line to get to the furthest point out so we could have some “quiet” meditation time before the crowds came in and also to record the video we could not end up posting here.  We spent about 3 hours at the top, came down on the cable car as we watched poor souls climbing to the top looking up at the car with a face that said, “Damn, why didn’t I take the car!” 

From the cable car

Tina between a rock and a hard place...

Chris thinking she could fly...

Our view from the top

We got back to the hotel and decided to take a quick nap before heading out to shop at the Waterfront.  I immediately began searching for my “man blanket” to sleep with.  What is that you ask?  Well, a couple days ago when I took a nap (I swear we do more than sleep and drink here!) Tina handed me a blanket from the closet and it smells just like men’s cologne.  Of course, I have slept with it EVERY night since!

The closest Chris has gotten to a man in a long time...

We had lunch at a great German restaurant, had some..wait for it…beers and then headed to an awesome Wellness Craft Center right in the middle of the Waterfront.  We went nuts!  We each bought several very rare crystals (yes, we bought more!), an African music CD, and all of your Christmas presents…all for $3.00!!! 

Tina fit right in!

The required drinking photo

We headed back to the hotel after about 4 hours, sun-burnt shoulders and all (it was about 90 degrees here today) and then we….wait for it…took a nap…again!  Shopping makes one tired. 

Helen, one of the ladies from the WP Blood Services where I am doing a workshop tomorrow (OMG I have to actually work!) picked us up and took us to this great restaurant right on the ocean called Petenaro’s.  We had such a blast!  We ate great food, fancy drinks and had wonderful conversations from Peru to politics.  Tina and I agree that we learned so much from the conversation and are so looking forward working with their group (about 85 people) tomorrow.    We also learned that when we are standing “in line” for something we are standing “in queue”.   We also found out in South Africa there are 8 days of the week…we can prove it!  (see below)  And we found out that when African women imitate Texas men, it is frickin’ hilarious!!!  Marika gave us a great account of an experience she had last time she was in Texas and Tina and I were rolling in the car on the way home.

Read the sign carefully!

Chris and crazy Helen

Madame Marika and Tina

We got back to our rooms to find that we had experienced “turn down service.”  We had our beds turned down, chocolates on our pillow, a weather card telling us the weather for tomorrow and step mats (or as Tina calls them “get up mats”) by the sides of our beds.  Tina decided that she would ask April to do this for her every night from now on…(hahahaha…my idea April!)

Our lovely turn down service

Off to work tomorrow…(I love my job!)

When Tina found out she had to listen to Chris AGAIN tomorrow...no Tina- Don't Jump!!!

“Maynard” and “Homer” (don’t ask….)

In case you did not know, the Homebuyer Tax Credit now applies to existing homeowners as well as first time buyers.   There is still $8,000 available to the first time buyer and now $6,500 is also available to the current homeowner who has lived in their home 5 consecutive years out of the last 8.  To see if you might qualify, please check out the FAQ at this website:   http://www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com/

Now onto the latest real estate statistics for waterfront houses at Lake Tapps:

Active Listings:   Under 1 Million Dollars = 36    Over 1 Million Dollars = 15

                 Lowest Price = $329,900     Highest Price = $4,100,000                      

Pending Sales:  16  ( 2 are over 1 Million Dollars )

Sold Homes:  2               11/02/09     5333 193rd Ave Ct E     $509,900

                                           11/02/09     20902 Church Lake Dr E     $600,000

That’s it for now.  Please call me if I can assist you any way in finding your new home.

Sincerely, Karen Wallace, John L Scott Real Estate, 206-910-8807

Fawn Lake Forest Lakefront Home

Lakefront Home – Price Reduction – Fawn Lake Forest home on Lake Westcolang (powerboat lake!)  New dock (photos show old dock) so you are ready for action come summer time! Dam repairs on Westcolang Lake are almost complete.

This HUGE, beautiful home is next to new &  full of custom touches not available elsewhere!  Views of the water from EVERY ROOM.  NOW ONLY $479,000. It’s the perfect Christmas gift… (who wouldn’t want a beautiful lake house for Christmas?)

Open House Info – Two Scheduled Times:

Sunday, November 22 – 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Sunday, November 29 – 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Directions – 182 Lower Lakeview Rd.
(Take 590 E. of Hawley to left on Westcolang Road at the Cuckoo’s Nest Restaurant.  Pass main entrance to Fawn Lake Forest and turn right on Upper Lakeview Rd.  Pass 1st Lower Lakeview Rd. and turn right on 2nd Lower Lakeview.  Home will be on the left.)

Virtual Tour: Fawn Lake Forest Lakefront Tour

View Full Info on Pike/Wayne MLS:  182 Lower Lakeview Rd, Lake Westcolang

Old Dock - New Dock Photo Not Available

Luxurious Master Suite Fit for Royalty

Like a Spaaaaaah.

View more photos:

Virtual Tour: Fawn Lake Forest Lakefront Tour

View Full Info on Pike/Wayne MLS:  182 Lower Lakeview Rd, Lake Westcolang

alphainventions

Awhile back I put out a blog concerning Mattamy owner, Peter Gilgan’s Edgemere Estate, a 5.7 hectare site on Lakeshore Road in Oakville.  It was listed for $45 million but had a fire sale at $35 million.  Maybe that is why the people of Milton are being asked to fork over almost $8000 in Development Charges for homes they bought from Mattamy.

Anyways, Edgemere is the “largest, original undivided estate in Oakville, with 1000 feet of shoreline”, according to the Toronto Star.

It was bought by developer Marc Hewitt, who wants to build 30 estate-type condos in 10 buildings, while still keeping some of the heritage buildings on the lot. (gardener’s cottage, stable, tea house  and boathouse)  For this I thank him - the preserving of the heritage buildings that is.

Mr. Hewitt of course wanted the waterfront to increase the value of these condos, which will start at a modest $3 million in loose change and range in size from 2000 to 5,400 square feet.  (Gilgan’s 15 year old palace was 32,000 sq.ft. – I guess not paying full share of the development charges in the past allows you to build bigger)

The paper reports that Mr. Hewitt will “dedicate a 15 metre wide linear strip of waterfront park and connecting trails to the town“. 

DEDICATE!!!!!

Sorry boys, but he had to give it up to the Town of Oakville as there is a by-law which states that if an estate is broken up for increased density, the waterfront must be turned over to the town.  Not maybe; not a gift; not dedicate but,  MUST TURN IT OVER. 

Mr. Hewitt, in the kind of Peter Gilgan “I am donating” mode, did manage to squeeze some more density out of the land instead of going to the OMB and arguing.

Shame to see this hunk of land get carved up for some rich condos but, at least the Town saved the waterfront from developers looking to make a buck and skirt the law. 

I guess the ghost of past shady practices still lives on the old Mattamy estate. (do we hear – illegal wiring?)

I’m glad that a former mayor of Oakville had the balls to ensure this by-law was passed and that the people of Oakville will not see their waterfront destroyed by developers, like in Toronto.

http://condron.us/index.php?i=6
condron.us

alphainventions

href=”http://blogitti.blogiche.com/”>Blogitti

From sumptuous crab cakes on the waterfront to a great pizza; from authentic Southern cuisine to show stopping Japanese tableside performances, St. Mary’s serves up a smorgasbord of great dining experiences. The restaurants and cafes of St. Mary’s dazzle diners with the warmest hospitality and the freshest seafood including our world-famous Rock Shrimp. When in town, visit Trolley’s Seafood Grill for casual waterfront dining! Try the best seafood in town and enjoy a fun time while visiting St. Mary’s, Georgia! For more information, visit the Georgia Coast Destination Guide.

I took a very long time last night putting together an audio slide show of fishing boat photos I’ve taken over the years.  If I were not such a perfectionist, I’m sure it would go quicker, but it’s like a mini online exhibit.  I want my best photos – and, of course, I am my own harshest critic, seriously – and I want them to be in a precise order, where no one image goes straight to another similar image.  I like contrast – close up to distant, colorful to muted, detailed to blurred, etc.

Fishing Boats

Found this one while going through a heap of CDs last night…

Click on image to order prints or note cards on Redbubble.

Dinghies

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Today’s photo is fishing boats at New Bedford State Pier:

Click on image to order prints or note cards on Redbubble

Water colors