HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! A fiscally conservative politician. That's a good one. Why should they be? Afterall, it's not *their* money...

I'm aware the locals are partially shelling out dosh for this. It's governed by the same regulations that revamped, "The House of Lancaster" on Bloor Street, a few years back. But regardless of the amount, I'm not keen on the city putting ANY money into such a project right now. Primairly because of what your previously pointed out: "Timing". They should be leading by example. A great way to start, would be for someone at City Hall to stand up and boldly proclaim. "HEY! Hold on just a second! We have (insert laundry list of financial problems here) to contend with FIRST. Before we do anything else. Let's finish existing projects, and build our reserves to a quasi-safe level before we take on any more plans ". Having said that, we both know that won't be happening.

Miller knows the Province and Federal governments are in the habit of making a ton of promises they NEVER keep (i.e. Giving back when that tax us on.). So common sense should, in theory, dictate he run the city financially conservative for the time being. ESPECIALLY in a serious recession.

Additional note: I've read the article and it appears the local businesses are putting up some of the money. As long as the city doesn't spend any more on the improvement than they would have otherwise spent on maintainance, I don't necessarily have a problem with the redevelopment.

Personally, I've long been dissatisfied with Toronto's downtown. It's either antiseptic and deserted (financial sector) or delapitated and dangerous (everything else). Despite the overt police presence and the ubiquitousness of surveillence cameras, crime is out of control. And if the insane homeless people don't get you, the facades falling off of the buildings onto your head will. Revitalization is needed.

My gripe is with the timing. As you have correctly pointed out, the city already has a number of projects on the go. They call it the "Gardiner Deathway" for a reason. All of those half-built condo developments are a freaking eyesore. And don't even get me started about the flop that was Yonge and Dundas.

And as much as I may despise Mister Miller (and I do), I can't lay all of the blame at his feet. The city of Toronto sends *billions* in tax revenues to Ottawa and Queen's Park, and get almost nothing in return. The local businesses are drowning in a sea of taxation to pay for multi-billion dollar handouts to resource extraction companies like the one awarded to the paper industry today. I can't help but think maybe if the federal and provincial governments reinvested some of the money they have *stolen* from Toronto, some of those unfinished projects might actually get finished.

Makes perfect sense to me. Look at all of the other Harvard-educated economists and the great work they have done.