Posted on March 7th, 2010 by Zeeshan Hamid
I recently watched a documentary on ancient civilizations. One conclusion I walked away with is this: take a community’s people away, and its buildings and infrastructure will turn into ruins. Leave its people and they will build another town, often better.
Municipalities spend a lot of time talking about infrastructure. But what about its people? Economic growth (and resulting property values) is directly tied with a community`s ability to retain its residents.
Are people paying a premium to move into your community or are they there because they cannot afford a home anywhere else?
One of my main goal is to make Ward 8 (West Milton) the most desirable part of Milton. People should not move here for cheap houses, they should be willing to a premium to be here.
Posted on November 12th, 2009 by Zeeshan Hamid
My list of what makes a community great place to live, work and play.
Milton’s Negative
- Can those with skills and education find well-paying jobs within the community?
- Can the community retain young people by providing them with adequate job opportunities? Living quarters?
- Does the municipal council represent the diversity of its citizens?
Milton’s Neutral / Mixed
- Are there enough healthcare professionals to service the community? [despite the sorry state of the Milton Hospital]
- Do they have access to a variety of learning modes (college, university etc)?
- Does the community have a distinct culture and heritage (that it’s maintaining)?
- Is the community dependent on a handful of employers or sectors?
- Is there a development plan for the community that the community adheres to?
- Is there a good balance between new ideas and tradition?
- There is good transit within the community and to neighbouring communities?
Milton’s doing well:
- Is your community safe?
- Does the community provide access to health and lifestyle facilities? [yes, yes, despite absence of squash courts :)]
- Does it engage in sustainable lifestyle?
- Provides adequate (for its size) access to arts, culture, libraries?
- Is there adequate access to high-speed internet?
- Do citizens have access to quality elementary and highschools?
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