By Pepper Parr
December 23, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
This is one of those – on again – off again stories about a parking lot.
In July of 2021 Carriage Gate had not yet started construction of what was planned for the southern part of the site. They eventually put shovels into the ground and named the condominium the Berkeley.
It was one of three structures on a block bound by Caroline on the north, John on the West and Elizabeth on the East. The City recently announced that there was now a new “temporary” parking lot on John Street. That space was north of the Berkeley which was completed and occupied.
No word from anyone is as to who approached who to turn what was a pretty rough patch of ground used by trades people who were working on the Berkeley and the garage that was underground
The proposed medical building on the right, the garage in the middle and what is now the Berkeley condominium on the left.
There was to be a parking garage in the middle and an eight storey building on the north end. First mention was that it was to be a medical building.
It was space used by trades people to park their pickups and for construction material delivery. With the Berkeley complete there was no need for the parking lot.
New parking lot at 515 John St.! This new, temporary lot only takes mobile payments using HONK. Officers will check that you’ve paid using your license plate. Please pay for weekday parking b/w 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Free after 6 p.m., on weekends & holidays!
A thick layer of asphalt turns unused space into a parking lot with a revenue stream. Not a word about the several story parking lot that was planned.
Who approached who with the idea of turning the space into a temporary parking lot – and how long is temporary?
Will the City share the parking lot revenue with Carriage Gate; who will get how much. the city?
Related news story:
The Carriage Gate development had problems from the very beginning
I enrolled with a doctor four years ago and was told they would be moving to this location, but she ended up at Dundas and Walker’s Line. It is quite stressful to have to drive there from Downtown Burlington.
Editor’s note: We recall a female doctor speaking on behalf of Carriage Gate and explaining that she planned to open her office at the location – that was more than five years ago.
Those locust trees were put in a tree museum
and for a dollar-and-a-half you can see them.
I was glad to see the black fence gone, but I still mourn the three locust trees they cut down (unnecessarily) at the edge of the sidewalk. I also remember the promises of medical offices and a number of affordable units.