Earlier today Brantford's Harmony Square, just opposite this stretch of the city's beleaguered, boarded, and soon to bulldozed historic downtown, hosted a wildly popular chili tasting event. We arrived early and were home by 12:30, but judging by the crowds the event was a huge success. Hopefully the chili held out!
Harmony Square was built three years ago to provide a public recreational space and to help stimulate downtown revitalization by simply providing a reason for residents to come to downtown Brantford. From summer movie nights to winter skating, events fill the square and create an energy and 'culture of community' that has been sadly missing for decades in the core. As this one small component of urban renewal begins to become established and sustainable, Brantford is now just days away from beginning a clean sweep of 41 properties directly across the street to make way for ..... well that hasn't really been determined for certain.
I hope removing these properties doesn't prove to be a costly error, as is being warned by many commentators. In the twenty years I've lived in Brantford I've watched the core deteriorate to the point where most residents are hard pressed to feel anything but apathetic toward the plight of the downtown. But faced with obliteration, I too am having second thoughts about what is the right move.
Standing in Harmony Square today, surrounded by five year old stucco and styrofoam structures that are already showing signs of wear and tear, a compelling argument can surely be made for doing everything possible to preserve the venerable south side of Colborne Street.
For your convenience, here are links to just a few of the discussions about the future of Brantford's downtown core, most questioning if the city is making a huge mistake.
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