Jan. 16: shopping, cleaning

 It's been snowy. Saturday Joe went into town for supplies. You know how that goes. The streets are awful. It looks very pretty, though. I sped up the video, added sound effects, just for that winter look.

 I managed to refill feeders, vacuum, shovel the back deck, and decided to clean the fridges. (They came with the house.)  It's tricky getting up off the foot stool, too hard to sit on the floor. I seconded Joe. Sitting on the foot stool, I ripped the parts out of the door, handing them to him where he was washing them in the sink. Teamwork! 

Then, I washed the kitchen floor. Do you know what happens when I wash a floor? I drop something on it. Yes, I did. I had an old jar of gravy on the counter. I was trying to figure out how to get rid of it. 

The snow just keeps on coming!

My gloves are wonderful! 

No bird bathing today!

Meantime, Aster went snowshoeing with her gr. 10 outdoor ed class in Gatineau Park week ago. Exams start Friday. Great excitement there.

On the weekend her Trex group camped at Foley Mountain Outdoor Ed Centre.

We took the kids there during a summer Gramma Camp during COVID.

Out in B.C., our Vancouver grandies are getting outside. Ski season begins!

Oh to be young again!

 

Monday Morning...

 Somehow, Black Friday sales have crept into Canada. Thing is, they aren't really sales, I've found. I'm in the market for a new camera. The cameras on sale are too high end for me! The one I have my eye on isn't on sale. Goggle Ads have been helpful in pointing this out for me. 😏

I am content with my camera. It's just wearing out. Aren't we all?! 😳 I shall keep looking.

We went through town to the dentist. I wanted to look at the memorial dedicated to the young man who was murdered in town. They have charged a 16-year-old girl with First Degree murder. She was charged with 2nd degree, but that was changed. 

• Manslaughter: murder without intent
• 2nd degree: deliberate murder without planning
• 1st degree: homicide with planning and intent

UPDATE: Murder of Reese Stanzel

A 16-year-old has pled guilty to murdering the 15-year-old in 2024. This is a relief for many, I am sure. The small community is still shaken. 

After the horrific murders in B.C., I did some research. The Tumbler Ridge shooting is already fueling trans hate in Canada. There is a Wiki page devoted to Misinformation about violence by trans people. 

Despite Muskoka's Lake Effect Snow, we had precious little on the weekend. Bracebridge had 125 cm, Gravenhurst had 140 cm. The town just shut down. It took them all weekend to clear the cars and tow them to a parking lot, which I suppose they had to clear first! The main highway, #11, was just plain closed. 

This is Gravenhurst!

We had barely a skiff of snow. 

Power is still out for upwards of 20,000 homes according to Ontario Hydro. The section in the middle is covered by Elexicon Hydro, they have 2600 homes without power.  It's going to take another day or two. 

I just have to celebrate Christmas work parties! JL and Caitlin went to his office party. Caitlin's dress was $20 thrifted! Isn't that a wonderful deal? They are great thrifters. 

Have a great week, those not digging out! 

Vacant land on Gore St.

We didn't find too much going on, driving through town, aside from the digging. The digging made me happy. We need affordable rental housing. OK, UPDATE: they are $2300/month. Not affordable for many. 

The Present: Oct. 2023, 131 Gore Street, Perth

I've seen nothing new about this property. Until this past week. Someone is digging it up! 

I've been saving these photos in a blog post, just in case. Time to unpack the case:

BEFORE: 2012

This was a small building. The photo is from Google, 2012.

DURING: June 2020

It was — For Sale @ $369,000. The site was going to be developed into "a four-unit residential building. Cash-in-lieu of parking at new Perth development in limbo as council defers action on wider parking space proposal."

I noticed it mid-June, when JB came home to tell me it was being worked on.

By the end of summer, it was a bit weedy!

November 2020

THEN: Oct. 17, 2021

WHAT'S GOING ON HERE? Vacant lot remains as Perth apartment building plans shelved

Apparently, the apartment building is a no go. The cost of lumber was cited as one of the factors. The other problem is the supply chain. Many of us are having issues with some items in stores.

Dec. 13, 2021 another update:

Perth’s Empty Lot: The story behind the unfinished apartment plan at 131 Gore St. E.

Chuahan said the advice they received over the last year by various planning staff, followed by the “extreme misdirection and out-of-pocket expenses has me reeling.” Had he known then what he does now, “the original structure would never have been demolished.”

April 1st, 2023

We drove by, and there is a new For Sale sign. It is listed for $325,000. It has now been zoned, approved by the town, and a four-unit building is planned. The buyer needs to pay a security deposit, and cash-in-lieu of parking ($6000), and it is all yours! 

Oct. 26th, 2022

Feb. 7, 2023

AFTER: Sold July 7, 2023 For $295,000! 

Dec. 6, 2023

UPDATE: They have a QR code which leads to a website! 

$2300/month

Feb. 8th, 2024, I noticed they are beginning to build a new apartment building. There is a lack of affordable housing in our region, as in many regions. Too many landlords, charging bizarre amounts per month and people frustrated trying to find a place to rent. 

March 13th, 2024

March 18th – it's coming along.

April 24

May 15

The apartment building is coming along. There is siding! 

Sept. 2nd – I've been following the build. It is coming along! They've dug under Gore St. to connect stuff, shutting the street and working at night.