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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday June 27, 2007 - 5 Three condominium towers would hold 900 units Continued from page 1 Centre, but was previously owned by both the Holiday Inn and the Howard Johnson hotel chains. The proposed residential buildings would contain about 900 condominium units, while the smaller building would contain about 10,000 square metres in retail, service and office space. The application calls for the development to feature rooftop gardens, indoor recreational facilities and above- and below-ground parking. The site would also feature a centralized park area and a private internal roadway lined with small retail shops. "We're creating a bit of a village effect," said Creekbank president Todd Cullen, who added that a dedicated shuttle bus is envisioned to transport residents to the nearby GO station and to downtown Oakville. He said a shared rental car program within the development could further reduce the need for residents to rely on private automobiles, and added that the company intends to construct the buildings to LEED standards (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). The LEED certification system is an internationally-accepted green building rating system that ranks projects on the basis of their environmental impact. Although the residential units would be sold, rather than rented, Cullen said the aim is to create housing that is "affordable by Oakville standards." He believes the development would have particular appeal to young people, possibly those commuting into downtown Toronto for work, as well as older couples interested in downsizing from larger Oakville homes. Creekbank's development application notes that the proposal is on property already identified by the province as suitable for high-density development, and is near to the GO Station, Oakville Place and local transit opportunities. "This is the urban centre of the suburban Oakville setting," said Cullen. A recent public meeting saw the proposal outlined to a group of nearby residents. Cullen said his company is working to ensure they address concerns about issues of traffic, density and building height. A town-wide public meeting, to gather further input, is being planned for the fall. New lease on life for Palermo schoolhouse The Old Palermo schoolhouse on Dundas Street may soon get a new lease on life. The Trafalgar Township Heritage Society (TTHS) has a dream of turning the historic one-room schoolhouse into a community hub for northeast Oakville, complete with educational and historical programs and public meeting space. The TTHS, which is in negotiations to lease the town-owned schoolhouse, envisions creating a public spot in Palermo where commemorative historical events, art shows and gatherings could take place. Those events would complement daytime use of the facility by school classes taking part in "museum education" programs, as well as adults using the site to participate in various community education programs. It's a five-year dream, according to a recent document filed by the TTHS with the town, but one that earned the approval of town council last week. Council directed staff to begin lease negotiations with the TTHS, which was formed following the 2006 celebrations of the 200th anniversary of Trafalgar Township. The schoolhouse, built in 1942 to replace a school building destroyed in a storm, was designed in a turn-of-the-century style. It remains architecturallysound, and contains original windows, wainscoting, cabinetry and slate blackboards. Some of those features pre-date the actual building, as they were re-used from older schoolhouses that previously stood on the same site. Don't be afraid of dinner. Now you can create delicious and affordable meals in minutes without the frightening tasks of grocery shopping, preparing or cleaning. Make your home or cottage cooking easier with 16 nutritious meal choices every month. To find out more, visit 610 Ford Drive (at Cornwall) or justaddheat.ca