Isn't the Downtown Barrie group getting a little ahead of the process here with their advertisement in your March 26 issue?

Brightstar Corporation has in fact applied for bylaw changes that would allow them to build above the current existing 30-metre height restriction for waterfront development. Their request is vague in that it is for 47-m excluding an indefinite amount for rooftop mechanical. That in all probability puts it to over 50-M or approximately 170 feet high.

The project does not meet the visionary "Master Plan" if that reference is to the Xenos plan. The height of the two buildings in the Xenos plan for that location was eight storey and 10 storey with a three-storey building between.

The 400 parking spaces referred to in the ad are not public parking spaces. They are spaces designated for the hotel guests and the condo owners plus 40 spaces for convention centre. The public loses over 100 spaces that currently allow parking in close proximity to Heritage Park.

The downtown has also recently lost two very good businesses. The closure of a steak restaurant and the moving of a high-end lingerie store to the south end are unfortunate.

If the BIA could work on getting downtown retailers to maintain standardized hours of store operations business would improve markedly. No one knows who is open when, so they go to the malls.

The BIA should stick to facts, not wishful thinking. Maybe we will have a dramatic performing arts centre on that location. It would be a much better fit with keeping the waterfront for the people.