Czechs get sketchy property
July 7th, 2005
New casino sparks real estate gold rush
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Read members’ comments [15]
Czechs get sketchy property
P.A. Sévigny
Olier and Du Séminaire, contested corner
photo: Joseph Yarmush
Last week, during a routine public consultation for a zoning change in Montreal's Sud-Ouest, borough councillors and residents learned that sooner or later, someone, somewhere, was going to make himself a lot of money.
During the meeting, borough Mayor Jacqueline Montpetit and councillors Robert Bousquet and Line Hamel were surprised to learn that three years ago this August, a group that claims to represent the city's Czech community paid $1 to the Canadian government for a 99-year lease for a 15,000 square foot plot of land along Montreal's Lachine Canal. While the Czech community group, led by Montreal businessman George Syrovatka, originally stated they wanted to build a small community centre on the property, the group now intends to build a 71-room hotel complete with swimming pool and indoor parking on the site. During the meeting, people were also stunned to hear real estate specialist Sam Ralph state that he had several clients who would be ready to offer up to $1-million for the Czech Centre's lease.
"I'm selling land for people who are asking for up to $65 a square foot for land in this area," said Ralph, who is also a chartered accountant. "If you compare that to $3 in Laval or $6 off Notre-Dame Street near Dickson in the east end, it's an expensive piece of real estate."
While the property being discussed is just a small part of the 1,500,000 square feet of land the federal government owns on the north shore of the Lachine Canal, the Czech Centre's 15,000 square feet are situated
on the corner of Olier and Du Séminaire Streets, which happens to be a stone's throw across the canal from where Loto-Québec is planning to build its new casino.
Businessman Chris Cornell, who owns the property next to the one on the corner, was also at the meeting. Four years ago, Cornell was turned down when he offered to buy the property from Public Works Canada, then led by former cabinet minister Alfonso Gagliano.
"Three years ago, the government wrote back to tell me that the land was definitely not for sale," he said. Shortly after Cornell received the government's reply, he heard that the land had been leased to a group that was planning to build a local community centre for the city's Czech community.
Jean-Pierre Leclerc, an artist and local community activist, was more than a little curious about the Syrovatka group's astounding luck.
"If the Czech government was willing to grant a group of Montreal artists 15,000 square feet of prime downtown real estate in the heart of Prague for the equivalent of one Canadian dollar, I wouldn't mind so much," he said. "But we're still waiting..."
Syrovatka, who heads the Czech Centre hotel development project, attended the meeting.
"Four years ago, when we asked for the land, nobody was interested in the project," he said. "Now that the casino is going up on the other side of the canal, everybody is interested."
When asked why his group got lucky with the federal government, he just shrugged and said that he had "simply asked for it."
Syrovatka said that the hotel is the means by which the community centre could support itself without having to always depend upon the government for its subsidies. Others are not so sure.
"It's mad," said Sam Ralph. "This hotel is going to be as tall as the old Northern Electric building on St-Patrick Street and there won't be five metres of space between the hotel and the canal. The basement will be flooded and the sightlines along the canal will be completely destroyed."
Jean Durcak, the president of Montreal's Maison Tchèque, also raised some doubt as to the legitimacy of the Syrovatka group's right to represent Montreal's Czech community.
"Since when does Mr. Syrovatka represent Montreal's Czech community?" he asked. "I represent Montreal's Czech community, and this is the first time I hear about this project."
Lawyer Robert Charlton wants to know why the Czech Centre dossier made its way from Alfonso Gagliano's department over to Sheila Copps' Heritage Department just three months before the deal was signed.
P.A. Sévigny
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A good hearted deed turned dark
vote for this comment
Well the Canadian government decides to do something good for the Czech community and the leaders decide to stab the government and its constiuents in the back. The darkness from the Casino has already started to fill the city and it hasn't even been built yet. Well let's check out the pros and cons for the two businesses.
First the Hotel: It will generate revenues as rich tourists come to visit Montreal and want to be walking distance to a casino. Since the other casino on parc Jean Drapeau is protected green space no developper can build a hotel there (thank God). But Montreal island is not a park so this project is certainly possible. It will create temporary jobs for construction and house cleaning jobs. It will probably be frequented by criminals who now have a place to stay to launder the money into the casino but who's going to say that in favour of the Hotel.
The community center: It gives a place for young people to play sports, do activities and stay out of trouble. Most kids nowadays are getting too obese playing video games or getting into trouble. Forcing them to goto the gym won't keep them in shape unless they do something fun. What is fun is playing basketball, soccer, tennis, various sports. This will keep them out of trouble, in shape and having fun. The benefits are no monetary but there's no negatives to this project as oppose to the hotel.
Finally the lease was granted to the community in good faith that they'd make a community center, not some hotel. The federal government is just as greedy as the the next person if it owns prime land for sale. But the government is for the people, not the corporation. They did something right by leasing the land. It's funny how the rich elite are now screwing over both. The lease should not be sold. A dollar value cannot be put on a community and it's resources. If your going to sell the land then you should have the courage to tell the kids: Sorry you ain't worth shit. Coz that's what they're actions
Alexander Yu
{6 votes}
July 9th, 2005
Czech-Mate!
vote for this comment
Damn but this sounds like a rather dubious state of affairs. If a lease was decreed to the group under the auspices of building a community center, then this group should really be obliged to follow through on it's initial stated intention. That the focus has been shifted away to something far more corporate smacks of a conflict of interest somewhere which, shamefully though not shockingly, comes as little surprise seeing as how it involves certain familiar names in the Liberal cabinet.
Mark St Pierre
{4 votes}
July 11th, 2005
Dough anyone?
vote for this comment
My parents has a shop on Guy Street and Notre-Dame, and in the past year, the owner has increased rent by 200%. Only recently we were asked to pay some $23,000 for some taxes. I cannot believe this, but we are not the only people who are having the same problem, because who are living in the surrounding areas have been complaining of increased in rent as a way of kicking these people off the land so that they can sell it to investors of the new casino and entertainment complex.
Okay, fine we live in a capitalist society where everyone is out for themselves, but I plea with the people, DO NOT let this happen. We are going for a downfall that we will not be able to crawl out of. So do you really want to be the next Atlantic City. I mean it is terrible, the casinos and hotels are gorgerous, but then if you take a good hard look at the surrounding neighbours they look like something out of Film Noir. Consider the children who are currently living in these neighbourhoods. It is one of the poorest neighbours in North America.
We must under all circumstances not allow this. Keep the casino where it currently is.
Clara Kwan
{5 votes}
July 10th, 2005
Yeah but what happens in 100 years?
vote for this comment
No seriously, it's all nice and dandy that the Czechs got lucky on this deal but what happens in 100 years? It's not that long a timespan... Of course, we won't be here but our children will.
Will the city of Montreal renew the lease? For how much (I doubt it will be for one dollar)? And I'm quite certain it won't be for another 100 years...
It's too bad we won't be around to watch this... Or maybe we'll get to watch it after all, if there is such a thing as heaven!
Natalie Dzepina
{6 votes}
July 9th, 2005
yet again
vote for this comment
Seems like everyday, there's a new dilemma about building houses/buildings/centers/etc.
When will it ever end?
The Czech's got a great deal for that piece of land, and things like that happen.
When people think the value of the land won't increase in the near-future they sell it off.
I'm going to relate this to the start of the Dot-Com boom. When it first started, people went out and bought all sorts of names for VERY cheap, then when the internet got huge, and everyone wanted their own domain, only to find out someone already bought it, they were forced to shell out large sums of money to get that name.
seems kind of similar to this piece of land.
Bought at a cheap price, and will be sold (someday) for a MUCH larger price.
Buy low, sell High!
Jeremy King
{3 votes}
July 9th, 2005
A piece of the tip of the Huge iceberg that our politic is.
vote for this comment
The land isn't for sale, even for 1000000$, but a 100 year lease for a buck, what a deal for the owner.
It doesn't make sense? I'm starting to sound crazy?
The only reason you think I'm crazy is because you and I don't know what's under this, like every other deal made by our governments.
Maybe M.Gagliano and/or others received something interesting for this lease, a little bonus, but if he would have sold it, the million dollars of profit would have been a benifit for the population.
Anyways, there is no transparency anywhere in our great country, neither on the federal, provincial or local side.
I can say that this deal made with the "czech community" is only one out of hundreds where our great governement did a deal for their own priorities and not for the country.
I hope that we, as canadians will wake up before it's too late and make everything needed to change the way things are made.
Francois Crepeau
{23 votes}
July 8th, 2005
I am skeptical
vote for this comment
There are obvious social issues about this project. And after seeing all of the things that have become public at the Gomery commision, I am pretty skeptical about this whole idea for a downtown Casino.
These things needs to be more transparent. There is too much hand money changing hands, and I am 100% positive that the federal Liberals are not the only politicians doing this.
Eric Wilson
{7 votes}
July 8th, 2005
Stick to the comunity centre
vote for this comment
Building this hotel is not going to benefit any one except the supposed "Czech" community who's views are slightly obscure. First off, how do you go from building a community centre to building a hotel, quite a big step there. All that building a hotel on this prime piece of property is going to do is promote people to come to the casino by giving then a place to stay just across the canal, and do we really want a casino in the first place? Lets just stick with the community centre shall we, because nobody really wants a hotel nor do they want a new casino.
Ian Irvine
{11 votes}
July 7th, 2005
Gimme a Break
vote for this comment
A single dollar for a 99-year lease for a 15,000 square foot plot of land along Montreal's Lachine Canal? You've gotta be kidding me. A dollar won't even buy you a decent cup of java nowadays... This is yet another story that reeks of corrupt politicians, kickbacks and shady dealings. I'm not very active politically, but doesn't it seem like Alfonso Gagliano's name has been mentionned quite often lately, and in a very negative light?
Alan Huang
{7 votes}
July 7th, 2005
Czech Out This Sweet Deal........
vote for this comment
Right under their noses. No fooling anyone, the Czech Community Centre was going to be built and they had 99 years to think about the details.
Ok, sounds like a great plan and the government officials responsible for leasing the land moved the Czech file to the "Done Deal" pile and moved on to more pressing issues.
The reality that this particular piece of land, at the corner of Olier and Du Séminaire, would become valuable should have been but wasn't examined...not enough by the paper shuffles in Alfonso Gagliano's stable because they're a busy bunch and there's never any underminded intent coming from community groups, now are there?
They (the Czechs) just wanted to find a place to put their cultural effects and sit and talk and...well whatever else you do at a Community Centre.
The last line of P.A. Sévigny's column however, caught my eye.
Why did the Czech Centre dossier go from Gagliano's Department to the Copps Heritage Department 3 months after the deal was signed? Now, come on guys, we know you're so busy, how did you have the insightfulness to move this particular file just before, and so conveniently, the corruption and interest allegations came about?
No, there's something fishy here.
Are there some Czech strippers, inside business partnerships or overseas and under the table handshakes that we should know about?
Steve Landry
{3 votes}
July 7th, 2005
A community center near the casino? Has the world gone mad!!!
vote for this comment
Picture this: a community center where members of the community should have access to meeting rooms, halls, game rooms, a gym, perhaps a small theatre. Members of the commuity come out and spend time socializing and doing collective activities. It is supposed to be a kind of a family thing.
Now Picture a community center next to a casino. Add to this a hotel and wonder, what kind of a community development will we have where there is gambling, fast cash, lots of young women, older men and hotels?
Is it just me or is there something wrong with this picture?
Giuliano D'Andrea
{4 votes}
July 7th, 2005
And so it begins...
vote for this comment
This casino project filled me with foreboding from the start. Is this really the kind of "attraction" we want to have marking our city? Doesn't sound particularly attractive to me at all. As for The Czech organization, their desire to capitalize on this devolopment is understandable, but still it leaves a sour taste in my mouth. If they were basically given this land, I don't think it was to build a hotel! Sure, they can rationalize that the profits will go to the community, but if they haven't even managed to build a community center in three years, on land that they got for a dollar, I'm skeptical that they'll really do anything worthwhile with the money. Exactly where are these profits going to go? And this hotel sounds like a huge eyesore! Yuck! No, I have a very bad feeling about this...
Karen Sollazzo
{10 votes}
July 7th, 2005
News flash!
vote for this comment
Business is business, try not to be too shocked that somebody out there found an angle to exploit. Admit it, if you could do it you'd try to score a piece of the action too. To say that this whole affair looks to be shady as sin is putting it lightly but I live in a world where Karla Homolka has been set free in my backyard, where terrorists just attacked London one day after it won its 2012 Olympic bid and all sort of assorted deaths & crimes happen daily that I dare not get into here...so forgive me if I'm just a little less than surprised or affected by a little blattant greed and crooked business.
Pedro Eggers
{9 votes}
July 7th, 2005
Thicker than sand and water.
vote for this comment
First step:
Inhale slowly, hold that breath sleightly, exhale and say the first word that comes to mind. after you perform this vital exercise, then you can see how the lines converge involving the bid on land along lachine canal.
As the forces of opportunities gathers and conspire to create that endless money-pot, many hands are being fed. the word 'corruption' could be used but i don't believe that word becomes proper. instead, in using the aforementioned exercise, i will offer another word to be considered in association with the move made by czech wundermind george syrovatka:
Paradigm.
A paradigm represents a system of thought created to explore the vast potential of other systems of thought given license and breath to exist. in this situation, syrovatka and other interested parties have created a paradigm designed to generate the vast potential of capital come courtesy of loto-quebec's and cirque du soleil's paradigm on creating the casino-of-the-gods with a price tag over one billion dollars. therefore while there exists the expected backlash and resistance against the proposed casino-of-the-gods, the logical thinking here would be that power will prevail.
Power based upon the understanding that paradigms supported and seen through their conclusions will manifest into the situation where loop-holes are used by those with an obvious long-term interest in hyper revenues created by the casino-of-the-gods paradigm of loto-quebec and cirque du Soleil. the money paradigm will continue to overturn those 'proper' routes within any government because the appeal of revenue that the federal government can gain access to will allow these 'proper' routes to always be overturned.
Therefore, suspicions needs to be replaced with the wisdom of the serpent's intent. realising that revenues generated by this current paradigm of real-estate development will bring depth and functionality to any resistance invoked. the wisdom of the serpent needs to be applied.
Gary Womac
{3 votes}
July 7th, 2005
Developers rule
vote for this comment
This certainly does look sketchy, particularly when the plans for a useful community centre that would fit the area are turned into a massive hotel plan. Then again, regardless of ethnicity, the sort of people who stand up and claim to lead a community are often schemers looking to line their pockets. You always have to check and make sure that there is really a community behind them.
Let's hope this whole misguided casino plan falls by the wayside, and maybe we'll end up with the community centre after all.
Max Webster
{3 votes}
July 7th, 2005
New casino sparks real estate gold rush
Write a comment on this article !
Read members’ comments [15]
Czechs get sketchy property
P.A. Sévigny
Olier and Du Séminaire, contested corner
photo: Joseph Yarmush
Last week, during a routine public consultation for a zoning change in Montreal's Sud-Ouest, borough councillors and residents learned that sooner or later, someone, somewhere, was going to make himself a lot of money.
During the meeting, borough Mayor Jacqueline Montpetit and councillors Robert Bousquet and Line Hamel were surprised to learn that three years ago this August, a group that claims to represent the city's Czech community paid $1 to the Canadian government for a 99-year lease for a 15,000 square foot plot of land along Montreal's Lachine Canal. While the Czech community group, led by Montreal businessman George Syrovatka, originally stated they wanted to build a small community centre on the property, the group now intends to build a 71-room hotel complete with swimming pool and indoor parking on the site. During the meeting, people were also stunned to hear real estate specialist Sam Ralph state that he had several clients who would be ready to offer up to $1-million for the Czech Centre's lease.
"I'm selling land for people who are asking for up to $65 a square foot for land in this area," said Ralph, who is also a chartered accountant. "If you compare that to $3 in Laval or $6 off Notre-Dame Street near Dickson in the east end, it's an expensive piece of real estate."
While the property being discussed is just a small part of the 1,500,000 square feet of land the federal government owns on the north shore of the Lachine Canal, the Czech Centre's 15,000 square feet are situated
on the corner of Olier and Du Séminaire Streets, which happens to be a stone's throw across the canal from where Loto-Québec is planning to build its new casino.
Businessman Chris Cornell, who owns the property next to the one on the corner, was also at the meeting. Four years ago, Cornell was turned down when he offered to buy the property from Public Works Canada, then led by former cabinet minister Alfonso Gagliano.
"Three years ago, the government wrote back to tell me that the land was definitely not for sale," he said. Shortly after Cornell received the government's reply, he heard that the land had been leased to a group that was planning to build a local community centre for the city's Czech community.
Jean-Pierre Leclerc, an artist and local community activist, was more than a little curious about the Syrovatka group's astounding luck.
"If the Czech government was willing to grant a group of Montreal artists 15,000 square feet of prime downtown real estate in the heart of Prague for the equivalent of one Canadian dollar, I wouldn't mind so much," he said. "But we're still waiting..."
Syrovatka, who heads the Czech Centre hotel development project, attended the meeting.
"Four years ago, when we asked for the land, nobody was interested in the project," he said. "Now that the casino is going up on the other side of the canal, everybody is interested."
When asked why his group got lucky with the federal government, he just shrugged and said that he had "simply asked for it."
Syrovatka said that the hotel is the means by which the community centre could support itself without having to always depend upon the government for its subsidies. Others are not so sure.
"It's mad," said Sam Ralph. "This hotel is going to be as tall as the old Northern Electric building on St-Patrick Street and there won't be five metres of space between the hotel and the canal. The basement will be flooded and the sightlines along the canal will be completely destroyed."
Jean Durcak, the president of Montreal's Maison Tchèque, also raised some doubt as to the legitimacy of the Syrovatka group's right to represent Montreal's Czech community.
"Since when does Mr. Syrovatka represent Montreal's Czech community?" he asked. "I represent Montreal's Czech community, and this is the first time I hear about this project."
Lawyer Robert Charlton wants to know why the Czech Centre dossier made its way from Alfonso Gagliano's department over to Sheila Copps' Heritage Department just three months before the deal was signed.
P.A. Sévigny
Write your comment on this article!
and win tokens
A good hearted deed turned dark
vote for this comment
Well the Canadian government decides to do something good for the Czech community and the leaders decide to stab the government and its constiuents in the back. The darkness from the Casino has already started to fill the city and it hasn't even been built yet. Well let's check out the pros and cons for the two businesses.
First the Hotel: It will generate revenues as rich tourists come to visit Montreal and want to be walking distance to a casino. Since the other casino on parc Jean Drapeau is protected green space no developper can build a hotel there (thank God). But Montreal island is not a park so this project is certainly possible. It will create temporary jobs for construction and house cleaning jobs. It will probably be frequented by criminals who now have a place to stay to launder the money into the casino but who's going to say that in favour of the Hotel.
The community center: It gives a place for young people to play sports, do activities and stay out of trouble. Most kids nowadays are getting too obese playing video games or getting into trouble. Forcing them to goto the gym won't keep them in shape unless they do something fun. What is fun is playing basketball, soccer, tennis, various sports. This will keep them out of trouble, in shape and having fun. The benefits are no monetary but there's no negatives to this project as oppose to the hotel.
Finally the lease was granted to the community in good faith that they'd make a community center, not some hotel. The federal government is just as greedy as the the next person if it owns prime land for sale. But the government is for the people, not the corporation. They did something right by leasing the land. It's funny how the rich elite are now screwing over both. The lease should not be sold. A dollar value cannot be put on a community and it's resources. If your going to sell the land then you should have the courage to tell the kids: Sorry you ain't worth shit. Coz that's what they're actions
Alexander Yu
{6 votes}
July 9th, 2005
Czech-Mate!
vote for this comment
Damn but this sounds like a rather dubious state of affairs. If a lease was decreed to the group under the auspices of building a community center, then this group should really be obliged to follow through on it's initial stated intention. That the focus has been shifted away to something far more corporate smacks of a conflict of interest somewhere which, shamefully though not shockingly, comes as little surprise seeing as how it involves certain familiar names in the Liberal cabinet.
Mark St Pierre
{4 votes}
July 11th, 2005
Dough anyone?
vote for this comment
My parents has a shop on Guy Street and Notre-Dame, and in the past year, the owner has increased rent by 200%. Only recently we were asked to pay some $23,000 for some taxes. I cannot believe this, but we are not the only people who are having the same problem, because who are living in the surrounding areas have been complaining of increased in rent as a way of kicking these people off the land so that they can sell it to investors of the new casino and entertainment complex.
Okay, fine we live in a capitalist society where everyone is out for themselves, but I plea with the people, DO NOT let this happen. We are going for a downfall that we will not be able to crawl out of. So do you really want to be the next Atlantic City. I mean it is terrible, the casinos and hotels are gorgerous, but then if you take a good hard look at the surrounding neighbours they look like something out of Film Noir. Consider the children who are currently living in these neighbourhoods. It is one of the poorest neighbours in North America.
We must under all circumstances not allow this. Keep the casino where it currently is.
Clara Kwan
{5 votes}
July 10th, 2005
Yeah but what happens in 100 years?
vote for this comment
No seriously, it's all nice and dandy that the Czechs got lucky on this deal but what happens in 100 years? It's not that long a timespan... Of course, we won't be here but our children will.
Will the city of Montreal renew the lease? For how much (I doubt it will be for one dollar)? And I'm quite certain it won't be for another 100 years...
It's too bad we won't be around to watch this... Or maybe we'll get to watch it after all, if there is such a thing as heaven!
Natalie Dzepina
{6 votes}
July 9th, 2005
yet again
vote for this comment
Seems like everyday, there's a new dilemma about building houses/buildings/centers/etc.
When will it ever end?
The Czech's got a great deal for that piece of land, and things like that happen.
When people think the value of the land won't increase in the near-future they sell it off.
I'm going to relate this to the start of the Dot-Com boom. When it first started, people went out and bought all sorts of names for VERY cheap, then when the internet got huge, and everyone wanted their own domain, only to find out someone already bought it, they were forced to shell out large sums of money to get that name.
seems kind of similar to this piece of land.
Bought at a cheap price, and will be sold (someday) for a MUCH larger price.
Buy low, sell High!
Jeremy King
{3 votes}
July 9th, 2005
A piece of the tip of the Huge iceberg that our politic is.
vote for this comment
The land isn't for sale, even for 1000000$, but a 100 year lease for a buck, what a deal for the owner.
It doesn't make sense? I'm starting to sound crazy?
The only reason you think I'm crazy is because you and I don't know what's under this, like every other deal made by our governments.
Maybe M.Gagliano and/or others received something interesting for this lease, a little bonus, but if he would have sold it, the million dollars of profit would have been a benifit for the population.
Anyways, there is no transparency anywhere in our great country, neither on the federal, provincial or local side.
I can say that this deal made with the "czech community" is only one out of hundreds where our great governement did a deal for their own priorities and not for the country.
I hope that we, as canadians will wake up before it's too late and make everything needed to change the way things are made.
Francois Crepeau
{23 votes}
July 8th, 2005
I am skeptical
vote for this comment
There are obvious social issues about this project. And after seeing all of the things that have become public at the Gomery commision, I am pretty skeptical about this whole idea for a downtown Casino.
These things needs to be more transparent. There is too much hand money changing hands, and I am 100% positive that the federal Liberals are not the only politicians doing this.
Eric Wilson
{7 votes}
July 8th, 2005
Stick to the comunity centre
vote for this comment
Building this hotel is not going to benefit any one except the supposed "Czech" community who's views are slightly obscure. First off, how do you go from building a community centre to building a hotel, quite a big step there. All that building a hotel on this prime piece of property is going to do is promote people to come to the casino by giving then a place to stay just across the canal, and do we really want a casino in the first place? Lets just stick with the community centre shall we, because nobody really wants a hotel nor do they want a new casino.
Ian Irvine
{11 votes}
July 7th, 2005
Gimme a Break
vote for this comment
A single dollar for a 99-year lease for a 15,000 square foot plot of land along Montreal's Lachine Canal? You've gotta be kidding me. A dollar won't even buy you a decent cup of java nowadays... This is yet another story that reeks of corrupt politicians, kickbacks and shady dealings. I'm not very active politically, but doesn't it seem like Alfonso Gagliano's name has been mentionned quite often lately, and in a very negative light?
Alan Huang
{7 votes}
July 7th, 2005
Czech Out This Sweet Deal........
vote for this comment
Right under their noses. No fooling anyone, the Czech Community Centre was going to be built and they had 99 years to think about the details.
Ok, sounds like a great plan and the government officials responsible for leasing the land moved the Czech file to the "Done Deal" pile and moved on to more pressing issues.
The reality that this particular piece of land, at the corner of Olier and Du Séminaire, would become valuable should have been but wasn't examined...not enough by the paper shuffles in Alfonso Gagliano's stable because they're a busy bunch and there's never any underminded intent coming from community groups, now are there?
They (the Czechs) just wanted to find a place to put their cultural effects and sit and talk and...well whatever else you do at a Community Centre.
The last line of P.A. Sévigny's column however, caught my eye.
Why did the Czech Centre dossier go from Gagliano's Department to the Copps Heritage Department 3 months after the deal was signed? Now, come on guys, we know you're so busy, how did you have the insightfulness to move this particular file just before, and so conveniently, the corruption and interest allegations came about?
No, there's something fishy here.
Are there some Czech strippers, inside business partnerships or overseas and under the table handshakes that we should know about?
Steve Landry
{3 votes}
July 7th, 2005
A community center near the casino? Has the world gone mad!!!
vote for this comment
Picture this: a community center where members of the community should have access to meeting rooms, halls, game rooms, a gym, perhaps a small theatre. Members of the commuity come out and spend time socializing and doing collective activities. It is supposed to be a kind of a family thing.
Now Picture a community center next to a casino. Add to this a hotel and wonder, what kind of a community development will we have where there is gambling, fast cash, lots of young women, older men and hotels?
Is it just me or is there something wrong with this picture?
Giuliano D'Andrea
{4 votes}
July 7th, 2005
And so it begins...
vote for this comment
This casino project filled me with foreboding from the start. Is this really the kind of "attraction" we want to have marking our city? Doesn't sound particularly attractive to me at all. As for The Czech organization, their desire to capitalize on this devolopment is understandable, but still it leaves a sour taste in my mouth. If they were basically given this land, I don't think it was to build a hotel! Sure, they can rationalize that the profits will go to the community, but if they haven't even managed to build a community center in three years, on land that they got for a dollar, I'm skeptical that they'll really do anything worthwhile with the money. Exactly where are these profits going to go? And this hotel sounds like a huge eyesore! Yuck! No, I have a very bad feeling about this...
Karen Sollazzo
{10 votes}
July 7th, 2005
News flash!
vote for this comment
Business is business, try not to be too shocked that somebody out there found an angle to exploit. Admit it, if you could do it you'd try to score a piece of the action too. To say that this whole affair looks to be shady as sin is putting it lightly but I live in a world where Karla Homolka has been set free in my backyard, where terrorists just attacked London one day after it won its 2012 Olympic bid and all sort of assorted deaths & crimes happen daily that I dare not get into here...so forgive me if I'm just a little less than surprised or affected by a little blattant greed and crooked business.
Pedro Eggers
{9 votes}
July 7th, 2005
Thicker than sand and water.
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First step:
Inhale slowly, hold that breath sleightly, exhale and say the first word that comes to mind. after you perform this vital exercise, then you can see how the lines converge involving the bid on land along lachine canal.
As the forces of opportunities gathers and conspire to create that endless money-pot, many hands are being fed. the word 'corruption' could be used but i don't believe that word becomes proper. instead, in using the aforementioned exercise, i will offer another word to be considered in association with the move made by czech wundermind george syrovatka:
Paradigm.
A paradigm represents a system of thought created to explore the vast potential of other systems of thought given license and breath to exist. in this situation, syrovatka and other interested parties have created a paradigm designed to generate the vast potential of capital come courtesy of loto-quebec's and cirque du soleil's paradigm on creating the casino-of-the-gods with a price tag over one billion dollars. therefore while there exists the expected backlash and resistance against the proposed casino-of-the-gods, the logical thinking here would be that power will prevail.
Power based upon the understanding that paradigms supported and seen through their conclusions will manifest into the situation where loop-holes are used by those with an obvious long-term interest in hyper revenues created by the casino-of-the-gods paradigm of loto-quebec and cirque du Soleil. the money paradigm will continue to overturn those 'proper' routes within any government because the appeal of revenue that the federal government can gain access to will allow these 'proper' routes to always be overturned.
Therefore, suspicions needs to be replaced with the wisdom of the serpent's intent. realising that revenues generated by this current paradigm of real-estate development will bring depth and functionality to any resistance invoked. the wisdom of the serpent needs to be applied.
Gary Womac
{3 votes}
July 7th, 2005
Developers rule
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This certainly does look sketchy, particularly when the plans for a useful community centre that would fit the area are turned into a massive hotel plan. Then again, regardless of ethnicity, the sort of people who stand up and claim to lead a community are often schemers looking to line their pockets. You always have to check and make sure that there is really a community behind them.
Let's hope this whole misguided casino plan falls by the wayside, and maybe we'll end up with the community centre after all.
Max Webster
{3 votes}
July 7th, 2005
posted by Association du Lac Clyde at 1:24 PM
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