From the Record
Saturday October 3rd 2009

Help Northdale

Re: Party’s cancellation fails to
deter Queen’s alumni — Sept. 24

Waterloo’s Northdale neighbourhood is already experiencing
the beginnings of the same rowdiness issues as the residential
areas of Queen’s University in Kingston. I am embarrassed by
our own “ghetto”-in-the-making that tarnishes our region’s reputation.
How did this occur? Our supposedly intelligent community
allowed licensing of lodging houses (rent-by-the-room) along University
and Columbia streets to support the universities’ student
accommodation studies. Permanent residents are now outnumbered
10 to one. What remains are neglected properties, garbage, and
noisy keg parties. Why should people in Waterloo
care? Their city and regional tax dollars are paying for periodic
daily garbage collection, police response and bylaw enforcement.
The universities aren’t footing the costs as universities are tax exempt.
Now imagine Northdale Village with a vibrant streetscape
including attractive townhouses and low rise condos plus a bustling
shopping mews. Northdale Village could be a world class town
centre for those who work, study and live in the area — a diverse,
urban village that the Region of Waterloo could be proud of.

Karen Earle
Waterloo