This is supposedly justified by the local city council because some other neighboring retail properties have historic architectural features. Many have been redesigned and modernised in the last 100 years.

Once an area is designated within a heritage overlay, than it is extremely difficult for property owners to make modifications. And of course, they need to get council approval by submitting plans and paying them for a permit.

This particular city council already includes 36 regions in its heritage overlay. Surely not each and every single property is a historic gem.

But I see another theme here too.

When it’s not your money, it’s so much easier to demand expenditures. No one on that board cared about Mr. Zarlenga’s expenses as much as Mr. Zarlenga. So why not require him to spend more? Yes, he “owns” the property, but their sensibilities were more important than his property rights.

And he’ll find the money, right? When it’s someone else’s money and effort, there’s always more, right?

It’s actually a recapitulation of the national trend. “Government” should fix that! Where does “government” get its funds? Whose effort does “government” appropriate? Who’s working the first four months of every year simply to make down payments on programs which will require their children to work five?

Millions become billions become trillions. Easy to spend, cause it’s not ours. We sure about that?