This is the letter I plan on sending. I will be sending it after I have confirmed all the correct details and will share the information VIA my page.

Dear Members of the Ontario Land Tribunal,

My name is Maria Papaioannoy, and I have lived in Cobourg since 2016. I chose to make Cobourg my home for many reasons, but one of the biggest was its respect for its history and the people who built this community.

One of the coolest things about Cobourg is that the names you see on our streets, in our parks and even engraved on the walls of our churches belong to families who still live here today and these our my neighbours. You don’t see that kind of connection to history so easily in other parts of Ontario.

I’m sharing this because I am disgusted by the proposed eight-storey development at 202 Second Street. But what troubles me even more is the feeling that the people who live here are not being heard. You folks will ultimately decide whether this development moves forward, and before making that decision, I want you to understand what Cobourg’s heritage means to someone like me,  who call’s it home.

I hope that by the end of this letter, you feel uncomfortable with the thought of making a decision that could permanently change a town you do not call home. For you, this may be another file to close. For us, it’s our home, and we will be living with the consequences long after you’ve moved on to the next case.

In the early 1970s, Victoria Hall was almost demolished. The building had fallen into disrepair, the cost of fixing it was enormous, and there were people on Cobourg Council who thought tearing it down and replacing it with a parking lot was the answer.

But one woman disagreed. Her name was Lenah Field Fisher, a Cobourg councillor who was the only one to vote against demolishing Victoria Hall. She helped rally the community, and in 1972, a group was formed to save Victoria Hall. It took more than a decade and millions of dollars, but they saved it.

Lenah knew history and character of our downtown are worth saving, even if that value doesn’t show up on a developer’s balance sheet. Sadly, Lenah died in 1980, three years before Victoria Hall reopened. She never got to see the results of what she fought for, but the rest of us get to enjoy it every day.

And here we are, more than 50 years later, fighting to protect the area around the very building she helped save. I wonder what Lenah would think about an eight-storey development going up so close to Victoria Hall. I can’t speak for her, but I am sure she would have a few things to say.

Originally, the developer wanted nine storeys, with 196 residential units, commercial space and parking. After considerable opposition, the proposal was reduced to eight storeys. One floor. I am not sure how removing one floor is supposed to address the concerns residents have raised about the size of this building.

We are talking about putting an eight-storey building next to one of Cobourg’s most important historic landmarks, Victoria Hall, in a downtown where most buildings are a fraction of that height. How does that make sense? Its clock tower and architecture are part of what makes Cobourg recognizable. Now imagine an eight-storey building competing with it for attention. Not only would it change the view of Victoria Hall, but it would also change the feel of the streets around it and the views from our waterfront.

And then what? If eight storeys are acceptable here, what’s stopping the next developer from asking for the same thing down the street? At what point do we stop calling Cobourg’s downtown historic if we keep allowing buildings that don’t fit? Once they’re built, there’s no turning back.

I’m not against development. We need housing, we need businesses and we need to grow. But surely we can do that without sacrificing what makes Cobourg special. Supporting housing shouldn’t mean having to accept every building a developer wants to put up, regardless of its size or location. And there are still real questions about parking, traffic and how this development would affect the people and businesses already downtown.

But here’s what really bothers me. Residents have attended meetings, written letters, asked questions and spoken up. We’ve followed the process, given our time and tried to make our concerns heard. Nobody is paying us to do this. We’re not going to make a profit if this development is rejected. We’re doing it because we care about where we live.

I understand that you have planning laws and regulations to follow, but the people who live in a community should hold the same value in decisions about its future. Imagine this happening in your own neighbourhood, someone proposing a building that you believe would permanently change the place you love. You attend meetings, you write letters, you raise concerns, and in the end, you feel like none of it matters. How would you feel?

And if you want another example of why residents feel powerless, look at what’s happened with the parking lot at 202 Second Street. For years, the Town leased that property to provide downtown parking. In September, we learned that the property owner, Balder Corporation, wanted more money. The Town made a counteroffer, which was rejected, and now the parking lot is scheduled to close on November 14.

I understand it’s private property, and the owner has every right to negotiate a lease. But given everything happening with this development, I find the decision petty and immature. The developer controls the property and can afford to take the Town to a provincial tribunal and remove access to parking which will hurt the businesses around them.  Are these the actions of people who want to be part of a community?

To me, this is another example of people with money wielding their power over the people who actually live here. And frankly, I’m tired of it.

I am asking the Tribunal to seriously consider whether an eight-storey building belongs in this part of Cobourg. Not just whether it can be built, but whether it should be built. I hope you will listen to the people who know this town, love this town and will live with the consequences of your decision.

I’m asking you to come to Cobourg, look at what is being proposed and listen to the people who live here. Lenah Field Fisher fought to save Victoria Hall. We’re asking you to help protect the historic downtown around it. I would welcome the opportunity to attend the hearing and tell you that in person. Cobourg is our home. It is not simply someone else’s investment.

Sincerely,

Maria Papaioannoy
Cobourg, Ontario

 

Information that I know so far: https://northumberlandwomen.com/2026/11/05/info-for-olt/