*
UTC=20120216T000001Z~
__The
Liberal print edition
op[nion
piece by Marney Beck, "Lofty
solution
short on details", criticizing
Perrelli
DDO&P purchase scheme
*
UTC=20120218T000001Z~
__Toronto
Star print edition, 2012-02-18, page H12,
"SPECIAL
REPORT: INDUSTRY INNOVATORS", "DE GASPERIS
FAMILY
Building from the Underground Up: From drainage
systems
to highrises, Fred, Tony and Angelo have made
their
mark on th GTA's building and development
community"
__mentions
philanthropic donation of 3 large bells
to
St. Clare of Assisi Church, named
"Saint
Alfredo", "Saint Anthony" and "Saint Angelo"
*
UTC=20120223T000001Z~
__Liberal
editorial "Councillors must show respect",
suggesting
that it is ill-advised of Cncl Perrelli
to
propose a DDO&P land-purchase scheme when
the
DDO&P land case is still under OMB mediation
*
UTC=20120412T200000Z
__Liberal
print edition,
article
"56% of Dunlap Observatory preserved",
in
_Liberal_ of 2012-04-14,
reporting
Council deliberations of 2012-04-12 (THU)
__mentions
disappointment of Beros, Perrelli, Papa, Chan
__((QUOTE))
Defenders
chairperson Karen Cilevitz was
present
for the vote and reacted positively to
the
settlement.
"I'm
so relieved. This is a remarkable gain
for
the community and I am proud of what
we've
done. This settlement and all parties
working
together to reach this gives me a
great
soruce of pride," said Ms Cilevitz.
Despite
her elation, Ms Cilevitz did convey
some
sadness that 100-per-cent protection
couldn't
be achieved at mediation.
((/QUOTE))
__following
is potentially of high significance:
((QUOTE))
As
for Corsica's 44 per cent of the property,
Mr.
Barrow may still ask a provincial
facilitator
to bring the four levels of government
together
and discuss realities of a land swap or
buy-out
to preserve the rest of the site.
((/QUOTE))
__IMPORTANCE_RANKING=95outof100
*
UTC=20120413T000001Z~
__printout,
on blue paper, of a 26-page document
marked
"(c) 2012 Richmond Hill Naturalists"
and
headed "Chronology of a Rare Asset:
David
Dunlap Observatory Memorial Parklands:
Richmond
Hill, Ontario"
__chronology
from pre-history thru 1787-09-23 up to 2012-04-02
__contains
various factual errors (for instance, the claim
that
the World War 2 stellar sextant or
sextant-liek
device developed with DDO support
is
the basis of present-day aerial navigation;
or
again (ALMOST certainly) the date of the Reza Moridi
tabling-of-petioin
in Provincial Legislature)
(_some
mistakes corrected in an ad-hoc way
by
Kmo, in pencil, for the most parting working on 2018-08-04)
__nevertheless
contains leads for possible further
research,
now requiring follow-up and independent investigation
[_in
what follows, the document's nonstandard use of itals and
underlines
is reproduced, along with the document's occasional
errors
in punctuation and syntax]
[_what
follows it now intended to as an adequately full digest
of
the document
__it
is attempted ONLY to pull out those particular assertions
which
either (a) serve as aides-memoire for subtle points in the
case,
easily overlooked, or (b) suggest specially
promising,
easily-overlooked, leads for
future
independent investigators]
__((QUOTE))
[re
1939-04-13]
Edmunt
Zavitz, the Minister of Lands and Forests
and
Provincial Forester donates
8,000
seedlings in equal amounts of
native
and non-native tree specis to the
Observatory
Nursery. The Observatorty staff
hopes
to reforest the entire property to
insure[sic]
the proper operation of the telescope.
This
reforestation is part of a
provincial
initiative to reforest the Oak Ridges Moraine.
The
desire to reforest the entire Observatory site
is
a key reason why protctive 'Greenbelt' zoning
is
placed on the property in 1955.
((/QUOTE))
__((QUOTE))
[re
1956-07-31]
Philanthropist
Jessie Donalda Dunlap dies
after
suffering a third heart attack.
After
purchasing the Observatory property,
she
leaves an estate of $5.6 million and
a
trust of $25,000 for the perpetual care
of
the Observatory. After the Observatory is
sold,
Mrs. Dunlap's fund is lost, and in the
succeeding
period has not been found,
despiste
inquiries being made.
((/QUOTE))
__((QUOTE))
[re
1955-10-24]
After
assessing the Dunlap Observatory site,
Ontario's
Chief Conservation Engineer,
R.H.
Richardson recommends to the
Township
of Markham Planning board, it be
zoned
as protective 'Greenbelt'. The
Township
of Markham follows through and
adopts
its first Official Plan. The Observatory
is
assigned its first zoning - dual
designations
of 'Institutional' and 'Greenbelt'.
The
Greenbelt designation, which
applies
the same environmentallyh protective
terms
as it does today, remained on
the
property for a decade before urban
planners
convert the term to 'Open Space'.
Dual-zoning
of the Observatory continued
for
26 years before the Town of
Richmond
Hill dropped its 'Open Space'.
But
mere weeks later, Minister Claude
Bennett
returned this zoning, where it
remains
in effect.
((/QUOTE))
__((QUOTE))
[re
1956-11-18]
Asronomer
Chant dies at 91 and leaves
his
entire $276,922.44 estate to the
University
for the specific care of
Dunlap
Observatory. His will states money be used
to
update the library collection, telecopes
in
the Administratoin Building, [etc] /... /.
A
codicil in Dr. Chant's will allows his
heirs
- all female - to ask the ((ITALS))University((/ITALS))
for
aassitanc when needed. On July 21, 2008
Dr.
Chant's granddaughter, Mary
Robertson-James
writes to ((ITALS))University((/ITALS))
President
Naylor asking for custody of the
entire
Observatory contents - rather than have
it
removed by the ((ITALS))University((/ITALS)).
The
((ITALS))University((/ITALS)) refuses to honor
her
request.
((/QUOTE))
__((QUOTE))
[re
1993-06-30]
The
province of Ontario passes ((ITALS_UNDERL))Bill Pr-25,
The
Town of Richmond Hill Act, 1993((/ITALS_UNDERL)) to
protect
operation of [word missing??] in southern York Region.
The
((ITALS))Bill((/ITALS)) permits ((ITALS))Town Council((/ITALS))
to
pass by-laws prohibiting or regulating the use
of
outdoor light fixtures - on or near the
Observatory.
The ((ITALS))Town's((/ITALS)) subequent
((ITALS_UNDERL))Light
Pollution Control By-Law, No. 63-95
((/ITALS_UNDERL))
is still in effect today is the first adopted
in
Canada and second in North America.
((/QUOTE))
__((QUOTE))
[re
2005-05]
The
((ITALS))Regional Council of York((/ITALS)) recognzies the
woodlands
covering approximatley half
of
the David Dunlap Observatory as being
regionally
significant and a natural
heritage
resource worthy of protection.
((/QUOTE))
__((QUOTE))
[re
2007-06-21]
Minutes
from the ((ITALS))University's((/ITALS)) Business
Board
reveals Vice President, Business
Affairs,
Catherine Riggall forms a Real Estate
Advisory
Group, comprised of select
advisors
in the real estate community - the
((ITALS))Rockport
Group, Tricon Capital Group((/ITALS))
and
((ITALS))CB Richard Ellis((/ITALS)). On tbhis date, the
Advisory
Group meets for the first time. it
recommends
the first property sold by the
University
should be the Dunlap
Observatory.
((ITALS_UNDERL))Report 158, of the Business
Board,
Governing Council, Unviersity of
Toronto((/ITALS_UNDERL)).)
The sale of the property
was
completed a year later by ((ITALS))CB Richard Ellis
Limited((/ITALS)).
((/QUOTE))
__((QUOTE))
[re
2007-12-07]
Richmond
Hill MPP Reza Moridi rises in the
Ontario
Legislature to deliver a petition
of
4,000 signatures /.../
((/QUOTE))
__((QUOTE))
[re
2008-01]
In
2008, the ((ITALS))Municipal Property Tax Assessment
Corporation((/ITALS))
(MPAC) lists the fair
market
value for the 'Institutional' zoned
Dunlap
Observatory of $10,678,000. MPAC
fails
to recognzie the 'Open Space' value
of
the property. The fair market value of
'Open
Space' zoning wojuld only be
$7,851,201.75
or $41,540.75 an acre.
((/QUOTE))
__((QUOTE))
[re
2008-02-13]
((ITALS))Richmond
Hill Naturalists((/ITALS)) write to
Ontario
Minister of Culture Aileen Carroll asking
her
to protect the Dunlap Observatory
site
by applying provincial heritage designation
and
to ensure its valued contents stay on site.
The
Minister replies after
the
peropty is sold and its contents removed,
four
months later.
((/QUOTE))
__((QUOTE))
[re
2008-09-24]
((ITALS))University
of Toronto((/ITALS)) President, Dr. David
Naylor
repleis to correspondence of
Donalda
Robarts, chastising her because
they
had a 'deal'. Additionally, Naylor
reveals
the University plans to return the
Observatory
contents after development
rights
have been obtained. /.../
((/QUOTE))
__((QUOTE))
[re
2008-06-05]
/../
One homeowner submits an adverse possession
claim
to 20 feet of the Observatory
property.
((/QUOTE))
__((QUOTE))
[re
2009-08-30]
((ITALS))Corsica/Metrus((/ITALS))
hires archeologist, William
Finlayson
and accepts his ((ITALS_UNDERL))Stage 1
Archeological
Assessment((/ITALS_UNDERL)) on the Observatory
site.
This Assessment has three pages
of
text and seven maps. There are no maps
showing
the 14 identified archeological
sites
known to be surrounding Dunlap Obsevatory. /.../
((/QUOTE))
__((QUOTE))
[re
2009-09]
The
government of Canada sends Minister
Peter
kent as an official envoy to meet
with
Directors of ((ITALS))Corsica/Metrus Development((/ITALS)),
owners
of the Observatory. Believing
the
heritage of the Dunlap is worth of
becomind
a national landmark, and the need [sic syntax]
keep
the enrie Dunlap site intact is urgent,
the
federal government proposes a land
swap
to ((ITALS))Corsica/Metrus((/ITALS)). The Directors
of
((ITALS))Corsica/Metrus((/ITALS)) reply they want 300 acres
in
exchange for 189 acres. The Federal government
is
offered the Observatory's three main buildings
once
development is secured. Further negotiations cease.
Minister
Kent then attempts to motivate
provincial
Ministry of Culture officials and
the
Mayor of Richmond Hill to put heritage
protections
in place to proect the
complete
site.
((/QUOTE))
__((QUOTE))
[re
2009-11-27]
The
Board of the ((ITALS))Toronto and Region
Conservation
Authority((/ITALS)) passea a resolution
(((ITALS_UNDERL))Rez#A206/09((/ITALS))
to put the David
Dunlap
Observatory Parklands property on their
Priority
Acquisition List.
((/QUOTE))
__((QUOTE))
[re
2010-05-26]
((ITALS))Corsica/Metrus((/ITALS))
accepts a
((ITALS_UNDERL))Stage
II Archeological Assessment
((/ITALS_UNDERL))
on the Observatory site,
by
archeologist, William Finlayson. This
((ITALS_UNDERL))Stage
II Archeological Assessment
((/ITALS_UNDERL))
lists only
two
native artifacts found surrounding the
Alexander
Marsh homestead site. In a
period
of mere days, Mr. Finlayson completed
the
physical assessment of an untreed 88.5-acre
property.
A busload of students are seen descending
upon
the site to search for artifacts in the ploughed
fields
of the lObservatory. During completion of
archeological
fieldwork, mr. Finlayson is not seen /.../
Land
Registry documents reveal ((ITALS))Corsica/Metrus((/ITALS))
pays
off its $35 million dollar
mortgage
to the ((ITALS))University of Toronto((/ITALS))
and
remortgages the Donlay Observatory for
$85
million wih the ((ITALS)) Canadian Imperial
Bank
of Commerce((/ITALS)). The property is the
collateral
for the mortgage and the rate of
interest
is 21%. It is suggested the
((ITALS))University((/ITALS))
continuies to be a partner
in
the Dunlap site, expecting to share in revenue
if
it is developed. Revenue flowing to the
((ITALS))Unviersity((/ITALS))
is not subject to provincial
oversight,
nor independent oversight by the Ombudsman.
Former
federal Minister of the Environment, Jim Prentice
is
now the Chairman of
the
Board for ((ITALS))CIBC((/ITALS)). Prentice, once
responsible
for ((ITALS))Parks Canada((ITALS)), was
interested
in the acquisition of the Dunlap in the fall of 2009.
((/QUOTE))
__((QUOTE))
[re
2011-01-24]
Council
adopts a revised ((ITALS_UNDERL))Conservation
Management
Plan (CMP)((/ITALS_UNDERL)) for the David Dunlap
Observatory.
Despite additional assitance from
outside
consultants, the ((ITALS_UNDERL))CMP((/ITALS_UNDERL)) now
has
the effect of undermining the ((ITALS))Town's
((UNDERL))Designating
Heritage By-Law((/UNDERL))((/ITALS)).
This
effect is seen in a ((ITALS))Town((/ITALS)) map where lands
to
be conserved at [sic syntax] reduced to a shape like a turtle,
and
are dubbed 'pink turtle-lands' by the public. /.../
((/QUOTE))
__((QUOTE))
[re
2011-06-02]
The
((ITALS))OMB((/ITALS)) holds a pre-conference hearing
for
Dunlap Observatory assigning it Case
No.
PL101254. The basis fo the hearing is
only
to deal with the Town's faillure
to
reply within a mandated 180-day window,
on
((ITALS))Corsica/Metrus'((/ITALS)) application for
development.
It is not to consider the merits of their
application
in full.
The
((ITALS))Town((/ITALS)) tables a 400-page
((ITALS_UNDERL))Motion((/ITALS_UNDERL))
arguing the
((ITALS))OMB((/ITALS))
case is premature because
((ITALS))Corsica/Metrus((/ITALS))
has not among other things,
provided
an application to alter a
cultural
heritage landscape under the ((ITALS_UNDERL))Ontario
Heritage
Act((/ITALS_UNDERL)).
The
((ITALS))Town((/ITA>S)) missesd a service delivery
date
on its ((ITALS_UNDERL))Motion((/ITALS_UDNERL)) by a day
and
the ((ITALS))OMB((/ITALS)) sets it aside.
((/QUOTE))
__((QUOTE))
[re
2012-01-19]
Continuing
on with the suggestion of the Minister [sc Wynne],
the
((ITALS))Richmond Hill Naturalists((/ITALS)) meet with
((ITA>S))Town((/ITALS))
POlanning Commission [sic] Ana Bassios.
She
is told about the original
greenbelt
zoning and subsequent history of
dual
zoning on the Observatory
Parklands.
She dismissesw the concept of dual
zoning
on any property. The
((/ITALS))Naturalists((/ITALS))
give her all research]
documents,
including the Modifications to the
Parklands
requested by Minister Bennett in 1982.
((/QUOTE))
__IMPORTANCE_RANKING=96outof100
*
UTC=20120421T000001Z~
__Liberal
print edition,
pair
of articles in wake of the OMB mediated settlement:
+
"Group aims to revitalize sky-gazing programs"
[_re
RASC]
+
"Observatory settlement one step closer to reality"
[_re
approval from York Region upper-tier municipality]
*
UTC=20120507T140000Z
__Liberal
print edition, 2012-05-10,
article
headed "August dates set aside for
observatory
settlement hearing",
reporting
event of 2012-05-07
*
UTC=20120602T000001Z~
__Liberal
print edition, 2012-06-02,
article
headed "Happy to call Richmond Hill
home:
poll: Telephone survey cost $36,000"
__Environics
Research Group, 600 residents
__((QUOTE))
/.../
the David Dunlap Observatory's
fate
garnered 3 per cent endorsement as
an
important future issue.
((/QUOTE))
*
UTC=20120623T000001Z~
__Liberal
print-edition article
"Building
event raises $700 K"
__does
not mention DDO&P directly
__mere
background, mere context
__((QUOTE))
/.../Mr.
Zanotti
praised the efforts of Alfredo DeGasperis,
chairman
of Condrain Group and
founder
of the fundraising luncheon.
((/QUOTE))
*
UTC=20120625T233000Z~
__Liberal
print-edition article
2012-06-30,
reporting Council
closed-session
decision of 2012-06-25,
"Town
pays $19.5M for Dunlap lands"
__((QUOTE))
The
town has leased the panhandle
since
1979 /.../
((/QUOTE))
__((QUOTE))
The
price tag works out to $1.61 million
per
acre.
Based
on that price, it wojuld have cost
the
town another $285 million to purchase
the
entire property, which Corsica purchased
for
$70 million in 2008.
((/QUOTE))
__official
closing date = 2012-10-12
__TorStar
GT section (print-edition) article
of
2012-07-04, reporting same event
*
UTC=20160630T000001Z~
__Toronto
Star page H16
"SPECIAL
REPORT ON INDUSTRY INNOVATORS
Aiming
to be the very best"
__on
Arista Homes
__profile
of Michael DeGasperis and others in family
__does
not directly mention DDO&P
__mere
context, mere background
No comments:
Post a Comment