Traffic Calming Raises Property Values !

Traffic study after study, categorically details that adjacent property owners are the immediate Pecuniary Beneficiary of safer streets.

These studies also continually imply that the more bi-pedal friendly neighbourhood becomes the more attractive it becomes for potential property owners (residential, retailer & small commercial).  There is a direct correlation between people friendly streets and augmented retail sales. IE: Small things matter, like short blocks work better for a mixed use ensemble than long blocks. The Le Plateau area of Montreal is living proof of how a true working class neighbourhood can have a very positive metamorphosis by advocating enhanced bi-pedal travel.

There is really no reason to look further than the picturesque vintage lakeshore villages of Oakville, Burlington, Niagara on the lake or the bucolic country villages of Creemore, Erin, Fergus & Grand Valley for vivid reminders of the power of positive collective community thinking.  For Example, rustic bikes painted in different hues with flowers spilling from their handlebars, Verdant flowers pots hanging graciously from posts, matching Christmas lights, plus vibrantly painted homes & an eclectic mix of home based retail units. These little things plus sincere local support, make things happen.

The quaint but thriving Town of Orangeville is another perfect case in point. The implementation of the by-pass 4 or 5 years ago has created a real renaissance in culinary & boutique retail within the old downtown. Just visit the Town for the fall colours and experience the revival first hand. Guaranteed the shop & restaurant owners are gregarious & most helpful.

If these facts and nearby neighbourhood examples are indisputable, one wonders why it takes Years to have the most meager of safety measures implemented in many of the villages of Caledon.  One of the attached articles details the 15 year quest to have a tiny portion of the Trans Canada  & Credit Valley Trails located just north of the Village of Inglewood made safer for equestrian & Bi-pedal traffic. This overdue concept would be boom for all local businesses and augment property values throughout the reign. Just pledge your support to make this a reality.

Sadly, Caledon appears to be the town most noted for its dead mail drops.  Redundantly even the most simple of measures have either been repeatedly ignored or only begrudgingly granted after notable years of solicitation.;  Yet the unassailable impression permeates the district, in that almost every multigenerational farming family lives on a recently engineered & well paved road with wide shoulders.

The most blatant reminder of thinking inside the box, involved the ubiquitously requested moving of the South bound 40 km & the 60 km northbound speed limit signs to the real & natural northern edge of the village of Inglewood. Grudgingly these signs were moved a mere 30 yards north. Basically hoping from one side of McColl Drive to the other, where children still congregate for their morning & afternoon bus rides.

This hard won tip of the hat, has done absolutely nothing to deter wanton speeders from entering the Village at speeds equivalent or greater than those posted on Highway 10 or notably accelerating as they visually acknowledge the 60 km sign while adjacent to Bethel house, the old school, the tennis court & the new playground. Ironically the Village struggles to hold on to the 4 or 5 remaining local businesses (inclusive of the post office).   Please contact your local councillor or village group to request that the town implement these most affordable of road safety changes.  Your neighbours, family, friends will all thank –you but most importantly your wallet will be a little thicker for your input.

Simply encouraging people to think of Inglewood as a hub for the 7 plus trails that run thru or near the valley would be a fine start.  Making these trails & the village streets safer would be an excellent catalyst to this aspect of positive thinking.