I am not a resident, nor do I pay taxes to the Municipality of Huntingdon. I am a resident and taxpayer of the Municipality of Hinchinbrooke and thus a neighbour to Huntingdon for approximately the past six decades. Being a neighbour, I believe, allows me the opportunity and the right to look over my neighbour’s fence. When I see my neighbour isn’t cutting his grass or is stockpiling his junk in his front yard, I consider myself entitled and have the right to complain to the elected authorities. When we remove the superficial fences of municipal boundaries, we are neighbours of the same community.
I have recently been concerned that my neighbours are not seeing the forest for the trees and may have lost their way in the process.
Have the elected officials changed their priorities and decided that the only way to remain progressive is by expanding the tax base at as rapid a pace as possible, and disregarding the idea of Huntingdon remaining a quaint, residential town to live and raise families in? I think we should all ask ourselves the question as to where we would like to live. Do we want to settle in a rapidly expanding and the evolving municipality like Brossard, or do we want to continue to live in a quieter, community-minded place with character and cautious growth, like Hudson?
For sure, my neighbours have done some meaningful and much needed improvements over the past years. The renovations and re-purposing of the Chateau and Woolen Mills to become the centre of the regional MRC, CLSC, and CDC certainly have made a positive impact on the community and region. The relocation of the new municipal garage was overdue and needed (though I may not agree as to where it was installed) and the new medical building was a much-needed inclusion. I also applaud the developer and municipal planners for the repurposing of the historical O’Connor building. The installation of the water park, too, has been an inspiration and welcomed by all residents and neighbours. The improvements to the park on Russell Island have also been welcomed with open arms.
However, I must question the recent rapid development of the town and the building of the many ticky-tacky multiplex residences, as well as the rapid expansion of the urban commercial industrial park. The opening of the much-anticipated new grocery box store, for me, has been a disappointment and has not lived up to expectations. The relocation of the pharmacy has been a letdown and is not nearly as enjoyable an experience to shop at since it moved into new premises. The new chain pet store probably threatens the viability of the current locally owned pet store establishment, and God help us if a new florist decides to set up shop in the development, thus threatening another existing locally owned, well-respected, and loved business. I’m not a “let’s go out for coffee” person but certainly the recently built Tim Hortons has threatened the viability of locally owned establishments.
I am concerned that the possibility of the granting of a demolition permit, which is being considered for the historical Gleaner building, raises red flags. That building should be protected and if the owners insist on a development plan, then the existing building should be considered and incorporated into the plan, not demolished and erased from our memory and our heritage. Some creative imagination and a “think out of the box” approach should be paramount.
Obviously, some form of growth is required to sustain the financial viability of the municipality, but I would hope it is approached with caution and not reckless abandon.
My preference and vote are for a quieter, community minded place with character and cautious growth.
Ian Gill, Hinchinbrooke