Greetings friends,
I was chatting with a friend today and she pointed out a bit of news that I had missed (not surprising really, I often miss Toronto news because I tend to read the world news more).
She and her colleagues had had a rousing discussion about it at lunch and she wanted to know my opinion. Well, I am almost never at a loss for an opinion, especially if asked, so I immediately went to the CBC (my source for news) and found this article:
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2006/07/25/docks-liquor.html
Essentially, a large and very popular nightclub (The Docks) has lost its license to sell liquor due to complaints about excessive noise from local homeowners. When my friend first told me about this, I was a little surprised because I didn't think anyone lived near The Docks, it having been built in the former Toronto shipyards (hence the catchy name). Well, real estate development being what it is, there are now condos not too far from The Docks, but more serious complaints originated not from those condo-owners, but from homeowners on the Toronto Islands in Lake Ontario. Apparently, these homes are less than a kilometre away from the nightclub, and since it's on the lake, there's really nothing between them to buffer the sounds of frivolity and party-making late into the night.
So, should the homeowners on the islands win the motion in court? So far, they have won. The nightclub owners have filed an appeal and are hoping to be able to stay open in the interim. As of press time, I don't know the result of that request. The question here is, should the nightclub get to keep its license (and essentially remain viable)?
This is a slightly tough decision folks... on the one hand, I would not necessarily want to be a homeowner on the island and have a nightclub practically in my backyard (although I can't say exactly how loud it gets across the lake). On the other hand, The Docks is more than just a nightclub; it's a concert venue, a special events venue and a beach volleyball venue (among other things). It's become sort of a downtown Toronto landmark in the summer time. It is very big and fairly popular. What will happen if it has to close because it cannot serve liquor? What kind of message will that send around the world about Toronto as a cosmopolitan city? Are we world class or are we middle-aged?
Some of the more staid, conservative types might immediately respond that anything that negatively affects property values is a bad thing and thus should be shut down. However, as a homeowner, and (at times) slightly conservative in my financial dealings, I think it's important to look beyond the immediate here. As far as I know, the image that Toronto is trying to project around the world is vibrant and alive, diverse and cultured. Culture doesn't mean just the stuff in the ROM. Culture includes all of a city's diverse pastimes. If the city doesn't have a nightlife, we won't attract tourists. And if we're closing nightclubs because of noise then that sends a bad message. Where will those people go? New York maybe? Someplace you can go to clubs and not worry about having a good time?
I don't have a solution that would make the homeowners happy. I know that numbers are often the least just way to solve anything, but are we not ignoring the numbers of the situation here? How many homeowners are dissatisfied and how much revenue is being generated by this club (which isn't even open year-round)? How many tax dollars? The city will lose those tax dollars if The Docks is forced to close.
So, I think my opinion on this one is clear: The Docks should keep its liquor license if the only reason it lost it is because of noise complaints from the people across the lake. Sorry to the people across the lake.
Peace out,
6 comments:
This one is easy. Who was there first? I think it is the Docks. They shouldn't lose their license because new people to the area are complaining. And if the island people (freaks) were there first why is this an issue now? Because they have Miller in their pocket.
Canadians are losing there freedoms one case at a time.
I agree with Owen on one thing, "Who was there first?". People moving into these new condos must be aware of the neighborhood’s surroundings, but I don't understand why people living on the island, who probably had their properties way before the Docks ever started operating as club, are labeled as "freaks"!!??!! Freaks or not they have every right to live in their property in a comfortable environment, and like any other Toronto resident they can complain if one of their neighbors is noisy enough to disturb their comfort at their own home...
So I’d have to disagree with you on this one Lesley; I think noise disturbance is a very reasonable reason to shut down the club, this is not about Toronto losing an attraction, or who generates more revenue to the city, It's about people's right or expectation to have a certain level of comfort at their own homes.
And sorry Owen, but closing a club (or pulling its liquor license) has nothing to do with Canadian freedoms, And Toronto still has plenty of places where Canadians (and other tourists) can party and get as drunk as they wish without bothering any residents trying to have a quite night sleep.
Good points both. However, as I said in my original post, this is not an easy decision because both sides have merit. I wouldn't want a huge nightspot to open up across the street from my place either.
Something I found out after I posted this came from my dad (who lived here at the time). The island people in their cottages were, at one time (like in the 70s), supposed to vacate the land because it was public park lands. I don't know all the details, and clearly, the island people won then as well (according to my dad they were all from Rosedale and were controlling the city then just as much as now) because they obviously got to keep their cottages.
It is a thorny issue, but I still think that if you live downtown (or on the island just across from downtown), you have to expect noise.
Thanks,
I'm with Basil on this one. The Island people were there first...and they're not all Rosedale elitists either - some of them are tennants (and not wealthy). They were also there first. I understand though that the Docks have a decibal monitor now though and since they have started doing this the complaints have dropped significantly. So they are making concessions and trying to be a good neighbour. I believe though that noise isn't the only problem with the docks. I remember hearing something about criminal activity as well. I'm such a lame suburbanite though that I don't really care one way or the other. It's not like I go there. I also think Toronto has a lot better things to offer than drinking spots. Let's let Hull be Canada's place to go and get drunk eh?
For the record, these people do not own their properties. The government still owns them and they are leasing the property from the government.
I don't mean to harp, but I have to go back to the 'if you want a quiet environment, don't live downtown' argument. And, the Docks is more than 'just a place to drink'.
The more I learn about the Island people, the less I feel that they deserve to get away with this. I have a difficult time suffering exclusivity of any kind, and the islanders are an exclusive group who do not own their land (they were squatters) who pay an almost neglible fee for the use of the land and less than market rates for their homes.
As the old saying goes, 'you can't have your cake and eat it too'. As far as I'm concerned, the islanders have way too much cake already.
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