SooToday received the following letter to the editor from reader Glenna Davey in response to a previous letter Davey wrote regarding the hypothetical purchase of Station Mall by the Sault community.
I guess the idea of utilizing a great area for much needed housing, in the Station Mall, has its critics. That's fine, the point I was trying to make was, people without transportation, carrying groceries, should have grocery stores in the area they live, near the Mall!
I do know many people paying huge rents at the Legion building are able to live in areas, not congested, where traffic is hectic, and noisy, and dusty. They weren't forced to live there, that's what they signed up for. It's close to the amenities, like restaurants, hardware, clinics, and the like, and at the same time, many have cars.
What I'm trying to convey, is, if the Station Mall was turned into a multi use building, it would have housing, doctors offices, dental offices, shopping on main floor, plus plenty of parking. Seniors who live in these areas would have a grocery store, without getting gouged at places, could catch a break.
It's just a suggestion, for those without cars, it would be easier, on residents to go shopping! The people living in geared to income, or on assistance, should not be in these places, they should be able to afford housing anywhere they like in the Sault. Rents are terribly high, but if you look at places like Collegiate Heights, you can't tell me, people living there are scraping by!
I'd love to see new condos, and you would see people of means move there. Apartments are normally not large, but, by golly the rent sure is. The people who confide in me, pay a lot of rent in buildings owned by local and outside investors, get their money and offer less than stellar living conditions, bed bugs, lack of maintenance, mechanical, or electrical, plugged toilets, sinks and tubs, are the norm!
Doors won't lock, garbage is everywhere . . . these are the people I feel for, but every month here comes the landlord looking for rent. Seems like the only thing they can count on is once a year rental increases! Where do children play?
To the person who says sell my house for a dollar, maybe everybody, including you should do the same. For your information, my heat bills, electric bills, upkeep, taxes, aren't free, so if I could sell and rent at a decent rent, not what people are forced to pay, I'd be happy. Our taxes, like many, many others keep our City humming, roads plowed, streetlights working, road repair done, infrastructure taken care of, garbage and sewage services to name a few. Owning is not cheap, but necessary to City needs.
Glenna Davey
Sault Ste. Marie