HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1988-02-17, Page 7Times -Advocate, February 17, 1988
Creating a subdivision takes plenty of money and nerve
Ity ,lint Beckett
When (;ib Dow sold his first lot
. in Dow subdivision in 1961 the
price tag was S600.
With prices of choice lots in
town today ranging from S27,000
to as high as S50,000 Dow points
out the large numbers do not ne-
'ccssarily mean large profits for de-
velopers.
He says requirements have
changedsince the early days when
the only service adeveloper had
to put in was a gravel road at a
cost ofapproximately S4.00 per
ft.
"The P.U.C. installed the water
and hydro and it was paid for over
the years by the home purchaser
on their monthly bill," Dow said.
Now, with sewers replacing sep-
tic tanks, pavement instead of
gravel, street lighting, water
mains, water laterals, fire hy-
drants, concrete curbing, etc. pric-
es have escalated until creating a
subdivision in sm
all community
such as. Exeter is "risky -business"
according to Dow.
"Most of the services including
engineering and on-site supervi-
sion must be paid by the subdivid-
er, and it's not going to change,"
Dow stressed.
Dow, who has created more lots
in Exeter than anyone, feels the
main problem faced by developers
today, particularly in small com-
munities is financing the project.
"It's hard to get financing for a
length of pipe which doesn't have
any serial numbers. Especially
when it's buried 12 feet in the
ground," he stressed.
Buy Your Lot In. Th' pow
APPROVED
SUBDIVISION
• APPROVED FOR OAK • b P OV Rotes
• TOWN -APPROVED
Flea s650 U.
ct►w•+�
W. H. HAPen W' •�
M •+r
A 1961 ad- from the T.A.
Dow feels city developers have
an advantage over those in small
towns. Their lots can be sold im-
mediately, where in a less popu-
lated area the developer might be
carrying a serviced lot for years.
"That's why subdividing in Ex-
eter is a high risk venture," Dow
stressed. Estimated costs for ser-
vicing • a lot are as high as
S13,000. The lack of population
and quick sales in small towns add
thousands of dollars to the cost of
each lot.
Dow feels towhs could help de-
.velopers and benefit in the long
run themselves if they would re-
duce taxes on unsold lots. "If they
would even do this for a five-year
period -it would greatly lower the
cost of carrying the lots from the
time they are developed until they
are sold," he stated.
While agreeing there has been
real growth in sales of lots in the
• past few. years Dow feels there
will be slow periods to offset the
boons times. "It's as much a mat-
ter of luck and timing as anything
cisc," Dow believes. "Thirty ser-
viced lots with no sales can lake a
person down fast," he stressed.
The remaining land in Exeter
owned by Dow is described by
hint as the best subdivision left
between London and Goderich.
Many local people have been
pressing him lately as to exactly
when he will turn the raw land
into Exeter's newest neighbor-
hood.
"I have room for 180 lots, with
many of them overlooking the
river, Dow said.
Dow's past experiences in subdi-
viding have hint convinced it's not
something you would want to
rush into although he hasn't alto
gether ruled out the idea of pre -
selling lots to be serviced and
ready for building at a specified
date.
"If -successful, this plan- would
eliminate the heavy costs of carry=
ing. an inventory of unsold -lots,"
Dow said.
In the meantime, Dow isn't ex-
actly standing -around Waiting for
something to do. He's just about
in the middle of expanding his Ir-
onwoixl Golf Course to 18 holes.
This project has occupied his
time for the past 22 years and is
expected to be completed by
1991.
n
the
Stree
• By Jim Beckett
Our intrepid sports writer Mark Bisset, was in New York last Neck
working on a feature about our own Dave Shaw, a blueliner for the
New York Rangers.
At the time this is being written I have no idea how Mark made out
in the Big Apple but I do know how much it took to get him there in
the first place. You see, Mark has a fear of flying that ranks with the
all-time phobias you could ever think of.
Of course, his friends at tit office did everything possible to case his
fears. Remarks like "Insurance is a very wise investment," and "Due to
budget restraints the T -A is sending you by PLQ Airlines" had our
brave writer on the verge of hysteria.
One comment that almost drove him over the edge was, "Hey Mark,
do you think that deregulation has forced the airlines to neglect routine
maintenance?"
Because I was the person who instigated the trip, it was my job to
make sure Mark was in a decent state of mind for flying. Just when he
seemed to be calmed down, my mouth opened and the words created a
look of fear that I haven't seen since the last time I watched Alfred
Hitchcock's movie Psycho.
All I said was, "Mark, if you don't come back, can I have your Eddie
Shack autograph?"
* * * *
This is a public plea for help in making sure I stand a chance in win-
ning the T -A's first annual battle of the bulge contest.
Please, don't feed me, phone me for coffee, offer me french fries at the.
arena or do anything else that will in any way hamper my quest for
physical perfection. You see, with the big weigh-in on March 1 coming
up I need all the moral support available to stand a chance in fighting
the tremendous weight losses already racked up by Ross Haugh, Mark
Bisset and Dori Smith.
Once again, I'm begging everyone not to offer me anything that con-
tains more than one calorie before March 1... however... being the type
of person who never wants to offend anyone, I'll be happy to accept rain
checks for any time after March 2.
* * *
*
Responses from dog lovers to my remarks last week that a friend buy
a cross bow to solve his canine problems were both strongly -voiced and
mixed. They ranged from "stake the little critter to the ground and put
him in the garbage" to "how could anyone even consider harming man's
best friend?"
* * * *
The American primaries in Iowa last week might have been slightly
interesting to a few of us but not nearly as exciting for the students at
Exeter Public School as the campaign for Students' Council positions.
Representing their classmates this year are: Fred Steciuk, presi-
dent; Mark McDonald, vice-president; Lisa Wareham, secretary
and Jamie Rolph, treasurer.
* * * *
Several Exeter residents who have been fortunate enough to travel
south this year have something in common to talk about when they re-
turn home... for lack of a better name we'll call it the quick -step which
seems to really pick on people in Mexico or the Dominican Republic.
It's hard to imagine any benefits in being afflicted by what is actually
a mild case of dysentry but one local may have invented a new dance as
a result of being hospitalized overnight in one of the Southern paradis-
es.
We've called the dance the "Intravenous Shuffle" and you have to
use imagination tempered with compassion. Picture a person stretched
out on a hospial bed, hundreds of miles away from home, with an intra-
venous tube running to a bag suspended above.
Now, imagine an urgent call from nature. Our patient jumps up and
heads for the facilities. But wait, the intravenous equipment isn't on
wheels.
The next move absolutely proves necessity is the mother of invention
as our patient uses a little old-fashioned Exeter know-how and unties the
intravenous bag from its stationary stand.
The following mental picture we have of our determined holidayer is
him trotting down the hospital hall with the bag held high above his
head clutched in his left hand.
This pose had to be maintained while juggling for position in one of
the world's smallest washrooms. In fact, our friend got to be an expert
on this after repeating it four more times before the night was over.
When you combine all the fancy moves with a little music and the
background story, you could understand why this new dancc craze, "The
Intravenous Shuffle", invented by an Exeter person who had to leave the
country to do it, could possible sweep the nation.
* * * *
Trevor Wilson of Huron Apothecary came up with the names of
four products that would be beneficial to take long with you on any
trips to exotic places.
"Imodium" is available without a prescription and two other prescrip-
tion drugs, "Vibramycin" and "Bactrim", fall under the category of pre-
ventive medication.
Both Trevor and Bonnie of Ellison Travel mentioned the drug
"Lomotil" as the medication of last resort, pardon the pun.
• * * *
Lakeview Homes (Grand Bend) Ltd:, owned by Sue and Scott Da-
vis will be the new authorized dealer in this area for Viceroy Homes.
Their business is located at 15 Main St. N., Grand Bend.
Shut -down threatens development
by Adrian Harte
The Canadian National Railway
is examining ways to cut back on
the costs of servicing its custom-
ers. Unfortunately for the town of
Exeter, One of these cost-cutting
measures is coming a little too
close for comfort.
CN's plans to eliminate a por-
tion of its lint connecting Exeter
directly to London has drawn the
concern of local councils and busi-
nesses. A -14 -mile track between
Centralia and Ildcrton will disap-
pear from the area's transportation
infrastructure forever if the rail-
way's proposals are put into effect.
.The Crown corporation cites fi-
nancial losses in keeping the track
in operation and the fact there are
no railroad customers along the 14 -
mile stretch. The New Life mill at
Denfield is the only major busi-
ness in the arca, and it ships every-
thing by road.
Losses for operating the track in
1986 were estimated at S139,583.
CN believes all rail traffic to Lon •
-
don from Centralia, Exeter or I len-
sall can travel as most of it does
now: north to Clinton and south
through Stratford.
"We are concerned about the long
range plans," said Joe Rider, plant
manager of Nabisco Brands in Ex-
eter. "It puts us at the end of the
line."
Nabisco claims to use as many
as100 cars a year on the line.
Rider thinks that running the line
northwards to Clinton still pro-
vidcs a good level of scrvicc, but
"what happens in the future, I don't
know," he said.
• Andy Imansc of 1lcnsall's Gener-
al Coach isn't concerned about the
proposed cutbacks in rail service.
Ile says his business used to use
the rail line for importing lumber
and exporting the finished product
in the early 1970s, but rising costs
have changed all that.
"We can't be competitive • with
our product if we use the rail," said
Imansc. "The cost is unreal."
General Coach still uses the rail
line for the odd shipment to distant
parts of Canada once in a while,
otherwise everything goes in and
out by truck.
"We would certainly make use of
it if it were competitive," said
Imansc, adding, that his company's
beginnings were -closely tied to the
availability of rail scrvicc. •
"One of the reasons they built
this place here is because the rail •
was here," Imansc pointed out,
"but don't forget that was. the
1950s."
Grant Kine at Big 'O in Exeter
said his company sent out about 30-
40 cars a year on the line and he
hoped that amount would increase
along with production.
"We support the town," said
Kine. "It's a concern of ours," he
said, but he thought the northern
route to Clinton would meet the
company's requirements for the fore-
seeable future.
"It appears it's not going to affect
us right now," Kinc said.
Exctcr reeve Bill Micklc•has pre-
pared a report to send to CN appeal-
ing the proposal to close the Cen-
tralia-Ildcrton line. The report
outlines the town's opposition to
closing the line on the grounds it
will harm the area's economic devel-
opment. Other arca councils have
placed their support behind the re-
port's conclusions and requests.
"The arca they arc proposing to
close is a vital link to the markets
for this arca," said Micklc. "The
throe grain ,elevators in Hensall,
they arc big users."
His report to the National Trans-
portation Agency requests. a public
licaring to discuss "the present and
future status of the railway lint.
"We want to make sure the ser-
vice .is kept up," said the reeve,
-hoping at the very least that CN
would stake public its agenda con-
cerning_ the future of rail service in
the arca.
"In order for this town to grow,"
said Micklc„"we may need the rail-
way." Ile suggests that while
present industries and grain eleva-
tors are happy with the current rail
service, businesses seeking to locate
in the area might require something
different altogether. This may in-
clude the need for the Centralia-
llderton 1 -
I thing .,,sway's in bad
shape, to be ...,est,” noted Mickl,
about the present status of the cor-
poration, but he hopes that the road
to recovery for CN docs not include
the elimination of potentially useful
trackage.
Itlickle's report quotes an article
stating that 90 percent of CN's
business is hauled over only one-
third of its track. Under the guide-
lines of the 1988 Transportation
Act, CN i permitted to close four
percent or its lines every year.
Micklc is asking if, in addition to
closing the Centralia-1lderton line,
the rest of the area's lines will find
themselves within that lour percent
in years to come. "At present we do not see any fu-
ture long -tern commitment to the
retention and active service 011 the
balance of the line," reads the re
port. "11'e feel this is an important
requirement that must be clearly de-
fined."
Should a severely decreased or
nonexistent rail service to southern
Huron County dim the area's future,
then, warns 11ieklc `'we have.10 re
direct our thinking of what this
town has to other.
It's
Your Business
•
Bill Tickle
L
}
4
FADING AWAY - Will the vital rail Zink to Ontario markets from south Huron County become a, thing of the past.
CN seeks to cut some of its unprofitable litres from the area. Will others follow? Not if Exeter can help it.
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