We live in a condo. In a condo “community” known as Mystic Pointe. The sign on the highway actually reads, “Mystic Pointe Neighbourhood” but there is nothing neighbourly about where we live. There is no community in the sense that there is no social network, there is no local meeting place, nothing. No local businesses, nothing to encourage the people who live here to actually LIVE here.
There are currently 4 condo towers (a fifth is under construction with more planned) and a collection of townhomes (with many more planned). The main floor of one of the towers is the perfect location for the basics of a community. There are a number of vacant storefronts – they’ve been vacant for at least the last 2 years aside from the condo sales office – along with a corner store, a dry cleaner and a pet groomer. These businesses need neighbours. More shops to keep the citizens of this community in the community. As I cannot get all of the basics in my community I am forced to get in my car and drive to another area; since I am already making a trip, I do what I can to make it as effective as possible which means that I take our drycleaning to the cleaners near the video store, drug store and grocery store. I have no reason to do things in my neighbourhood as we are lacking so much.
A Dentist/Doctor, a video rental place, a drug store, a coffee shop/ place for an after work drink, and a diner would all be welcome additions to our neighbourhood. These additions would keep people in our neighbourhood, increase pedestrian traffic, (which helps curb vandalism – another issue in our community), and reduce the use of vehicles – another concern that has seen multiple Town Hall meetings called.
Despite all of these pros, the city councillor for our region seems opposed to doing anything about this issue – or maybe he is just opposed to having to work. (Either way the lure of politics is starting to take hold. I’m going to start with our condo corporation Board of Directors and see how that goes.)
