I write regarding the proposed development at 11 Tiffany Lane. In my letter on Bryn Mawr, published in The Telegram of Aug. 25, 2020, the headline was “Tiffany Lane already has a larger concentration of senior citizens than anywhere else in St John’s as we are constantly reminded by the sirens of the ambulance.”
The “heritage” house on the property had never been designated heritage but, due to public pressure, St. John’s city council applied that designation. When occupied, this house required repair and maintenance inside and out. Now derelict, any appraisal would indicate that the value is in the lot it sits on, thus indicating the original proposal of 28 lots of quality homes surrounded by ancient tree and shrubs was an agreeable development. Council made a serious and costly mistake.
This is dangerous and will get worse with extra traffic.
If they are trying to mitigate this mistake by allowing an enormous concentration of buildings for the extra taxes and ignoring the traffic problems created they will, in fact, compound the mistake and bring down the value of existing buildings.
Tiffany Lane is a cul-de-sac ending at Kenny’s Pond. It has no actual access except Mount Cashel. Traffic is constantly using the school parking lot to Torbay Road. This is dangerous and will get worse with extra traffic.
Baird’s Lane, with access to Portugal Cove Road, is pedestrian only, and enters into a busy intersection controlled by lights. The entrance to New Cove Road in the new proposal only goes to the in-house parking and is not a through lane.
Tiffany Lane is narrow and frequently has cars parked on both sides. We have problems now with the movement of any large equipment and an accident of any kind blocks movement. Mount Cashel is also in peril with extra traffic. Any approach by council to improve the flow by designating them as “No on-street parking” would be unacceptable to all present owners.
Any chance of the original 28 or more houses would be preferable.
Elizabeth Winter
St. John’s
