PAGE 6, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 1982, WHITBY FREE PRESS LETTERS TOTHE EDITOR Reader says town shouldn't become a developer Dear Sir: I note the Social Planning Council of Oshawa-Whitby has suggested that the Town of Whitby set aside town owned land for the development of non-profit housing. Actually, Brian Evans suggests that the town get in- volved in building the units, saying that Federal funds would be available for such a project. I think the tax- payers and ail citi- zens of our town should be consider- ed. Just imagine, the elected town council would ac- tually turn over this valuable land which belongs to the citi- zens. I don't think they were elected for the purpose of liquiding the assets of the town, which is owned by all citizens. Secondly, the Roman Catholic Churches HOLY FAMILY ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST Saturday Masses at St. Paul's School 903 Giffard St. 668-3676 200 Garrard Rd. Sunday Masses at Anderson Collegiate, 400 Anderson St. MASSES(just above Dundas St.) 576-2098 Saturday, 7 p.m. MASSES Sunday, 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 12:15 p.m. Saturday, 7 p.m. Sunday, 9 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 11:15 a.m. "Know that I am with you always; yes to the end of time." VALLES OPEN FRUIT MARKET LTD.l THIS WEEK'S SPECIALS Specials good Wednesday to Sunday only, except on dairy products. 2 litre bag ?% MILK 2 Bags Per .99 Family Purchase j: White or Red GRAPEFRUIT Doz. M79 Humpty Dumpty 200 g POTATO CHIPS Buy 1 Get 1 2BagsPer Famly Purchase R Case of 24 Cans COCA COLA 2 Cases Per Family Purchase 5.89 P.E.I. POTATO ES 10 lb. Bag w98 Hwy. 12, just north of Taunton 655-3867 town should not be- come involved in building or in admi- nistration of a muni- cipal low cost hous- ing project. That is the job of the build- ers. It is generally known that all these vario'us municipal housing projects in Toronto and else- where has turned out to be a burden on the people. The proper way to do this is to lease the land to any builder on long term basis, the yearly land rent to be established for, say, a three or five year period. This ad- iustment in rent is to take care of the increase value to the land as munici- pal services deve- lop and in this way the builder doesn't have to pay out large amounts for land and the citi- zens are getting re- venue for the lease of community creat- ed values, which would be lost if the land was donated. This is not a new idea, it has been done by many cities and towns ail over the world. Actually, the town of Arden, Delaware, leases ail the town owned land for housing and there is no bud- BORED? CERAMIC CLASSES STARTING WEEKOF APRIL5 LARGE SELECTION OF GREENWARE & SUPPLIES WHITBY CERAMICS 1450 HOPKINS STREET, WHITBY 668.6941 IN'FOR A-UP SPRING TUNE UP ~ 95 4CYL. $34a95 GM CARS VANS 6 CYL. LIGHT TRUCKS $45,95 8 CYL. PARTS EXTRA GMCARS - VANS - LIGHT TRUCKS NURSE CHEV OLDS WHITDY 668.3304 Hwy. 2 and ThicksonRd. EXPIRES 30/04/82 get worries or debt. The land. rent pays for ail municipal operations and there ls no tax what- ever on the homes or any improvement the owner would make. Contrast that with conditions in ail cities and towns in our province. Of course, if one would inquire, it would be revealed that ail provinces west of us allow cities and towns to use a different rate of assessment on land and improve- ments, example: Regina, Sask. gran- ts a 70 per cent exemption on im- provements, which places heavier assessment on land, vacant or im- proved. This idea discourages with- holding land from the market for spec- ulative gain. In On- tario, the land spec- ulator is encour- aged while those citizens that invest in the community are penalized. In tax reform cir- cles, Ontario is con- sidered a paradise for the land specu- lator, to the detri- ment of ail its people. I don't have to point out what is happening surely. Our group has ap- proached Queen's Park several times with briefs showing what other cities have done by having the power to tax land at a higher rate than improve- ments, but received only vague replies. Of course it is well known that Premier Bill Davis is very friendly with the "developers", as they are called. The N.D.P. says he is in their pockets. I hope the citizens of Whitby and Oshawa would give a little thought to the pre- sent situation and protest the land give-away. The Whitby coun- cil should turn this project down and if they are requested by a builder inter- ested, then rent the land, Bill Davis has no power to prevent it. W.J. Cartile, Green St., Whitby. EDITOR'S NOTE: Mr. Cartile is a member of the Henry George Insti- tute that is devoted to developing and promoting means of incentive taxa- tion. He has sent a copy of this letter to Regional Councillor Tom Edwards ln the hopes that Whitby Town Council will discuss the matter. LA CONTESSA HAIR SALON * SALES * MONDAYS ½ PRICE PERMS FOR ALL THE FAMILY TUESDAYS & WEDNESDAYS. INTRODUCING SUSAN BOLDUC OUR NEW HAIRSTYLIST ½ PRICE ON EVERY HAIR SERVICE AVAILABLE INCLUDING PERMS 668-9262 1 "WOg%%o i