Big thanks to everyone that was able to attend the meeting on Tuesday night at the Nash Auditorium. It was well attended ( 150+ people). Hopefully, even more will attend the next meeting on October 11, 2007.

This will be a ‘charrette’ meeting. Attendees will be put into groups and discuss ideas of what we, the community, would like to see done with this land. If you plan on attending the next meeting, you will need to contact Kirsten McCauley to be added to the list so they can plan for the appropriate number of people planning on attending and hold the meeting in an accommodating venue.

Kirsten McCauley, Planner
City of Hamilton Planning and Economic Development Department
Planning Division
Community Planning Section
77 James Street North, Suite 250
P.O. Box 2040 LCD 1
Hamilton ON L8N 0A3
Phone – 905-546-2424 ext 1292
Fax – 905-643-7250
kmccaule@hamilton.ca

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Further to Mr. Whitehead reference to a ‘Covenant’ on the property, I received a voice mail from him and was asked to share information with you. I have attached the following for your information:

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September 13, 2007

Councillor Terry Whitehead met with the lawyer yesterday and confirmed that there is a covenant which says the land is to be used for parkland or single family housing.

For Clarification:

Covenant means – agreement, contract, convention, treaty, promise, pledge.

The Land was actually purchased for $1,200 in 1936 ($1200 was fair market value in 1936) from Edith Lang.

The question is whether or not the covenant still has any legal standing or not. The City is still trying to determine this. The City lawyer thinks it does. However, Mr. Whitehead’s wife works for the Land Registry; she does not think it does under the new act. There is a sunset clause that removes it after 40 years (automatic removal) and it has been more than 40 years.

Terry feels that there are 2 tracks that we need to pursue:

1. Is there in fact a Legal track

2. The Moral/Ethical track

Councillor Whitehead asked me to share this with you. In summary, there is a covenant and as stated above the land was purchased from Edith Lang. Mr. Whitehead is in the process of trying to find descendents of Edith Lang, or determine if Edith Lang is still living, to see if we can have some moral support to uphold the covenant. This might give us some weight to support the community’s position in regards to the development of this land.

If anyone out there can share any information regarding Edith Lang or her descendants, it would be greatly appreciated. Please contact me and I will share the information with Mr. Whitehead.

Colleen