SUMMARY
For over a year, the residents of Barnes Place have been enduring extraordinary disruption from heavy construction initiated by the Gathering Place (TGP) and without consultation. A parking lot for use by TGP is now under construction, it will be: unnecessary, a blight on this heritage neighbourhood, paving a valued green space, increasing runoff. Our lane will be used as a thoroughfare to
access this parking lot which is illogical and dangerous as the lane: is very narrow, has no drainage, has no sidewalks, and residents step directly onto the pavement from their front doors. The Gathering Place, a joint operation of the Sisters of Mercy and the Sisters of the Presentation, is "a service center committed to building community, promoting equality and providing nourishment for those seeking respite from isolation and loneliness". We support absolutely the aims of TGP and its contributions to the community of St. We are appalled by TGP's total disregard for the homeowners and families whose safety and quality of life are directly and abjectly affected by their heedless expansion. We will use all means at our disposal to bring the public's attention to this thoughtless and demonstrably unsafe course by TGP. We will contact every organization and individual who cares about St. John's and its neighbourhoods. DETAILS
Fall 2012
TGP began renovating their building. They used Barnes Place as an access road to the field adjacent to our lane way. This was always a problem: Barnes is a narrow lane way with no exit, no sidewalks, and residents step directly onto the street. We were never informed or consulted. We heard indirectly that it was just a kitchen expansion which would only be a matter of weeks; we would grin and bear it. October 2013
Drilling for geo-thermal wells continued for three horrible months, though we were told it would only be for a few weeks. We requested a meeting with TGP, after a year of ever more disruptive construction as TGP continued to raise large sums of money for its expanding project. At that meeting we were stunned to hear a parking lot would be built in this beautiful old field, one of the few remaining green spaces in downtown St. We protested, saying that parking was easy to find and very accessible at several nearby locations, including the large and often empty Basilica parking lot adjacent to TGP itself. Our greatest shock came when we were told TGP intended to turn Barnes Place into a thoroughfare, an access road, for this unnecessary parking lot! We expressed our utmost concern. We said this would be unsafe for residents and their children. All residents have stories of nearly being hit by trucks and cars belonging to the project. The house at 11 Barnes Place WAS hit by a truck, dislodging the porch roof. TGP promised to look for alternative parking. They promised to update us on a weekly basis regarding our grave concerns about parking. But our requests for information were either ignored, or evaded. They refused to address the issue. November 2013
Residents were finally given a meeting date with the Board of TGP — on December 18. At that meeting, we have been promised, studies regarding the feasibility of alternate parking arrangements would be tabled and options discussed. Yet a parking lot was obviously already being constructed before our eyes, and ears. December 2013
Now we have been told, by a construction supervisor, that there is no possibility of accessing the parking lot, other than through our lane way. We therefore have no choice but to go public. Again, we support absolutely the aims of the Gathering Place, but we cannot allow a serious threat to the safety and wellbeing of our families.
