Suburban Treasures: Is the End of Richmond Hill's David Dunlap Observatory Near?

Urmi in Urban Issues

Ed. Note:  Thanks to a sharp reader for pointing out that the total area of the David Dunlap Observatory Lands is 190 acres, not 90 acres as originally reported.  In addition to the observatory, the site is also home to the Elvis Stojko Arena.

Friday's snowstorm resulted in the postponement of a planned rally in support of the David Dunlap Observatory in Richmond Hill.  But as every school kid knows, snow days can be a good thing.  More citizens now have the opportunity to learn about the pending sale of the observatory and consider joining efforts to save it. 

In spite of the myriad of "save the" efforts taking place across our city-under-renovation any given weekend, it is rare that I can actually feel for - not just think about - the objects in peril.  This is because I spent most of my time growing up in a suburb (or in this case, a suburb masquerading as a town).  The suburbs tend to be littered with public buildings notably lacking in public affection, so it's rare to bemoan the demise of anything out there (the exception to this being nature).

But hearing that the Dunlap was a step away from the auction block made my hard heart stir.  For those of us who grew up in the Hill when its major high schools could be counted on one hand, trips to the observatory were not uncommon.  More memorable than the sanctioned curriculum-filler that was the elementary field trip to the observatory were later evenings on the surrounding grounds.  On dusky evenings, we laid out our picnic blankets, unleashed a smattering of badly-tuned guitars (cue Zepplin's "Friends") and got up to the kinds of things that politicians clumsily find themselves denying years later.  It was that rare suburban species - community.

The observatory has played an even more important role in the scientific community.  Owned by the University of Toronto, it marks the spot where Toronto astronomer Tom Bolton first discovered the existence of what had been a fancy theory only thirty-five years ago - black holes.  The pivotal discovery was made after a determined Dr. Bolton bunkered down in Richmond Hill, not the first time a genius has had to do time in the burbs en route to greatness.

But urban sprawl has claimed another victim.  The encroaching lights of the city are diminishing the gaze of the observatory's powerful tools which include Canada's largest optical telescope (formerly a world-leading piece of technology).  The University is now looking to sell both the observatory and its 90-acre property.  Both are expected to fetch a tidy sum in today's market.  With housing subdivisions long having erased the surrounding farmland, it takes little imagination to see the property's future.

The Dunlap family, which originally donated the land in honour of their patriarch, David Dunlap, a mining executive and amateur astronomer, has had a say in the University's plans.  Under the terms of their original bequest, any non-astronomical use of the land would result in its return to the family.  However, the family has agreed to allow the proceeds of the sale to fund a cutting-edge astronomy and astrophysics centre of excellence at U of T's St. George Campus.

While many accept that the "bread and butter" activities taking place at Dunlap today will no longer result in scientific leaps and bounds, some are disappointed at the prospect of losing the historical landmark and forgoing the opportunity to renew its importance to the community, perhaps as an educational facility and park.  Dr. Bolton, perhaps most justifiably, is one.  This starry-eyed emigrant of the burbs is another.

For more information on the David Dunlap Observatory campaign, visit the Richmond Hill Naturalist's online petition and the Facebook community group.

Urmi Desai is an economic analyst and a freelance writer specializing in urban issues.  She is editor of the Move Smartly blog. Email Urmi

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Photo credit: Save David Dunlap Observatory and Park Petition
 

Comments

[Rod Potter]

Hi Urmi -- I'll happily give you permission to use my photograph in your blog, but I hope you will add (after checking) a couple of points to your otherwise excellent article:

1) the University of Toronto forced the Dunlap's hand to sell by taking them to court. Basically either they had to sell and give most of the money to UofT or the University believed the origianl covenant could simply be overturned (giving the land to UofT outright). Not surprisingly, they settled out of court. One of the 3 heirs, Donalda Robarts, has publicly railed against the "agreement" and U of T. She said she was bullied into signing. See the National Post Story, "Donor Dilema":
http://www.nationalpost.com/todays_paper/story.html?id=220172

2) It is NOT clear how much of the money from the money from the sale will be used to fund Astronomy. After 4 months, the only evidence of the "Dunlap Institute" is in the September press release. Where is the website? Where is the academic plan? Catherine Riggall, UofT's VP Business Affairs stated that the money would be placed in the University's "general endowment fund". In an earlier National Post article, U of T spokesman, Rob Steiner said that U of T will use "part of the proceeds to create the Dunlap Institute". See:
http://www.nationalpost.com/todays_paper/story.html?id=162397

So, UofT will be selling green space into sprawl to enrich it's own campus, leaving behind gutted heritage buildings that they have not properly maintained. Meanwhile they just received an additional 25.6 million in infrastruction funding from the province:

http://www.news.utoronto.ca/bin6/080131-3600.asp

How is it that Canada's wealthiest university manages to keep this gift through the Great Depression, World War II and several recessions. But they need to sell it now? Why?

[Urmi Desai]

Hi Rod -

Thanks for use of your pic to help spread the word on your campaign.

You make some very interesting points. However, it is important to recognize that economic and/or institutional interests are driving every actor in this debate - family legacy, scientific history, green space and university competitiveness all make for worthy causes.

I tend to agree that R. Hill's need for green space is rather pressing at present. I am also inclined to agree with long-time observer David Teetzel, who suggests that citizens and their reps have to come up with more than 'no fair' this time around:http://www.erabanner.com/Opinion/Columns/article/59313

I hope that many more will be encouraged to get involved. Good luck to you and your fellow naturalists!

[Rod Potter]

Thanks again your article Urmi.

You and David Teetel are right -- we need to come up with something better than "no fair". In fact, citizens are working on several plans. ObservatoryPark.ca is one approach. But many of us feel the need for green space and the desire to preserve scientific and cultural heritage must trump simple monetary interests. And, of course, as lowly citizens, we need more than a lousy 3-months to put together a credible multi-government plan for the DDO. The University's RFP was tailored to suit the needs of developers with deep pockets. We don't think asking UofT to at least postpone the sale is too much to ask. Their own RFP contains a clause that would allow them cancel it at any time.

Here is an amusing thought: if we are really so bankrupt that we need to fund our university's by selling the land beneath our feet, let's at least do it equitably. Let U of T expropriate (and sell) 1 acre of land from 200 cities and towns across Ontario. I'm sure the people of Richmond Hill will donate an acre or two.

Although U of T pretends to try to run itself like a business, it is more than that. Over the past 72 years thousands of Richmond Hill students have helped build that institution by contributing millions in tuition and donations. So, when U of T turns around and TAXES the citizens of this town by selling off a large urban park, of course people cry "no fair". In addition to the loss of natural capital, developing those lands will cost Richmond Hill and York Region. We'll have to borrow even more money to expand water and sewers, widen roads, build and maintain schools and hospitals. This is a huge cost that will largely be borne by citizens -- not by U of T or the developer who buys the land.

Ok -- I promise not to rant any further about this in this space! I hope you come to the rally this Saturday.

[Toomas (Tom) Karmo]

Dear Urmi,

Thanks for your passion and clear-headedness.

We should correct one factual error: the land area is actually not 90 acres, as you state in your article, but around 188 acres.

Readers may also be interested to know what the envisaged Dunlap Institute is going to look like. There does not seem any place to put it except the basement of the Dept if Astron and Astrophys, in other words, in the basement of the former Nursing Building (an assessment that I arrived at on my own, but checked with a former Chair of Dept of Astronomy). Of that basement, one third is already slated for the astronomy library, to be moved out of the Burton Tower, and the vacated space in the Burton Tower is slated for occupation by the existing Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics rather than by the envisaged Dunlap Institute. (These facts I have checked with a relevant senior staffer.) So the envisaged Dunlap Institute can hope to get at most TWO THIRDS of the old Nursing basement. Admittedly, this would be enough for what is likely to be needed - a cleanroom, I speculate, and a conventional optics lab, and an electronics workshop, and a small row of offices. We would then surrender up here at DDO the old DDO optics labs (one big, one tiny), the old DDO telescope-testbed in the Admin-building central dome, and the old DDO electronics workshop, plus the metalworking and woodworking shops (plus, of course, the rest of DDO, notably the 1.88 m telescope). DDO does not at present have a cleanroom, though one could surely be shoehorned into the vicinity of the current unused DDO chemical-photography darkroom, in the very spot in which, as a private person (see concluding remarks, below) I am typing these words.

Eventually, there may be a building that accommodates the envisaged Dunlap Institue in style, AND accommodates the Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics, AND accommodatese the Dept of Astron (or, as it is now officially designated, the Dept of Astron and Astrophys). But where is that building going to go? Is there any space left for construction on the St George campus? Could something perhaps be built or bought south of College, for some appropriately high price? What's the budget?

It is discouraging that the Deptof Astron and Astrophys has, in the rather firm belief of the former Head whom I ever-so-carefully consulted, had no formal discussion of plans for accommodating the envisaged Dunlap Institute.

All these remarks I make in my capacity as a private person, not in my capacity as a UofT employee, and I have the 2007-09-16 written assurance of Dean Pekka Sinervo that I can say or act in any way all without UofT disciplinary consequences provided I remain within the law and proceed as a private person.

Sincerely,

Toomas (Tom) Karmo

[Urmi Desai]

Rod and Toomas:

Many thanks for sharing your considerable knowledge on this issue - and for setting us straight as needed.

The entire Dunlap Observatory Lands are indeed greater than I realized at 190 acres in total. The Town of Richmond Hill's staff have pulled together great aerial shots at
http://www.town.richmond-hill.on.ca/homepage.asp?section=meetings
(scroll down to the Nov 26 presentation)

It was poignant to see that the area in question includes the Elvis Stojko Arena. As a student of the elementary school next door, I remember after-school "free skate" being the hang-out of choice. To date, the Town has expressed interest in bidding on this portion of the Lands, but have asked for time to do so.

As mentioned, this issue is intriguing because it is multi-layered. For those of us not engaged in the scientific professions, it is easy to forget that behind the stars and test tubes are thorny public issues that should be open to debate.

The rally for the Dunlap Observatory and Park has been rescheduled for Saturday, February 9th at noon. For more details, please visit the Richmond Hill Naturalists website at http://www.rhnaturalists.ca/

Thank you again to our readers for giving Move Smartly special insight into this debate.

Urmi