“Living in the Heart of North Bay; What Happened to King Street”, was a letter to the editor that I wrote voicing my opinion about the apartment building on the corner of King and Cassells and was published in June of this year.
I was surprised by the response it received from the residents of our city. I thought it was only me feeling this way because I live right next door to it. Multiple comments, and it being shared over 300 times proved that wasn’t the case.
See: Living in the heart of North Bay. What happened to King Street?
After voicing my concerns to the City of North Bay and not seeing any results, last Friday, I decided to ask the project manager who is overseeing the construction of this building and is onsite almost seven days a week when all the garbage was going to be cleaned up.
His immediate response was “well, if you weren’t such a c**t about it…”. When I asked him to apologize for using vulgar and vile language directed toward me, he just repeated himself.
I literally felt sickened and disgusted by his tone and his abusive language. I ended this very brief encounter, as I do not tolerate that type of behaviour.
There were people around the area and in the parking lot when this happened and two of them suggested that I tell the owner of the building. Because of my concerns, I immediately emailed the owner and explained what had just transpired. The response I received was "I am not sure why you feel that you need to involve me? I live in Barrie.”.
He goes on to say that I burned bridges with his employee for writing a letter to the editor, voicing my concerns to City Hall, and that I was the abusive one and should not expect to be treated with respect. According to him, I am the one who provoked the situation.
The reality of this situation is this type of behaviour can escalate and become dangerous. The owner believes because I voiced my opinion and spoke to the City of North Bay, I deserve not to be respected. This is what concerns me. If there are no consequences to this type behaviour that was directed toward me, I worried about my safety and the safety of my property.
For what it’s worth, during the first three years of the construction of this apartment building, my conversations with the owner’s project site manager were civil and pleasant. There were no issues with me asking questions about the progress of the work being done; even though the answers I received were only “what I wanted to hear.”
I really tried to remain patient and hopeful that the work that was agreed upon by all parties involved would be done; especially now since there are tenants who just started moving into the building.
Although I will not make excuses for the major developer’s response to my emails, or his employee’s vile words directed toward me; however, I do have to wonder, who’s provoking who!
Is it the major developer and his employer provoking the situation?
Or, is it the City of North Bay provoking the situation for not dealing with the issues brought forth thus creating an environment that is toxic, counter-productive, and bound to encourage disrespect between neighbours?
I tried to address this matter the best way I knew how. I’m just wondering if there was something else that I could have done to make things right or better. I don’t know anymore and I’m at a loss for ideas!
I do know that I pay my taxes faithfully for “Living in the Heart of North Bay" on King St.
Unfortunately, I truly believe that if people don’t understand what it means to have respect for others and the community they live in, it may be impossible to expect them to act accordingly.
To date, voicing my concerns have fallen on deaf ears and the unkempt property on the corner of King and Cassells continues to be an eyesore. See recent photos below taken November 27 and December 1, 2020
Julie R Desgrosseilliers
North Bay,
