Re: Project draws ire of downtown residents (News, Sept. 10)
I wholeheartedly agree with the development of the old St. Andrew’s Catholic school.
I live and work in the 900- block of Mason Street and Pandora Avenue.
The only glitch as far as I am concerned is that Victoria city council and the developers are not dealing fairly with the owners/renters in the 1000 block of Mason Street adjacent to the development.
In most countries in the European Union, including the UK, a two-part compulsory purchase order would be issued to the owners by council or the developer.
A valuation would be done independently by both parties, and 25 per cent of that value would be added as a compensation payment. It is then up to the owners to sell or not sell, but they would still receive the 25 per cent gratuity either way.
It is about being fair, not politics, not property tax, and not greed.
Tony Mathews, Victoria
