A downtown Oshawa museum says it has been fined nearly $3,000 by the city over nuisance-related concerns linked to unsheltered individuals gathering near its property, adding to mounting costs the non-profit says it cannot absorb on its own.
The Canadian Automotive Museum has accrued seven nuisance fines totalling $2,750 since mid-September, including two issued this week. Executive director Alexandra Miller-Gerrard said the museum received a municipal bylaw order last June and has since made changes to address the city’s concerns, but the fines have continued.
The fines fall under City of Oshawa bylaw 65-2009, Sec. 3.1, which covers loitering and nuisance issues. Miller-Gerrard said the city’s justification cites large groups of unsheltered individuals frequenting the property and causing problems including loitering, fighting, screaming, yelling and littering.
Oshawa Regional Councillor Rick Kerr, who represents Ward 4 where the museum is located, said he personally would have preferred to see a compliance order rather than fines, but noted the situation has been ongoing for about a year and a half. Kerr pointed to the nearby Back Door Mission for the Relief of Poverty, located across from the museum, as a factor drawing unsheltered individuals to the area, and said police and bylaw officers have spent considerable time responding.
Mounting Costs Beyond the Fines
Beyond the fines themselves, Miller-Gerrard said the museum has faced other financial setbacks over the past 18 months, including replacing three broken windows and an HVAC system that was damaged when someone attempted to remove copper from it, at an estimated cost of about $15,000.
To comply with the city’s requests, the museum has also invested in security cameras, improved exterior lighting and new signage. Miller-Gerrard said visitor feedback in recent months has included reviews noting discomfort getting out of vehicles downtown because of the situation.
Parking Revenue Down Sharply
The museum also generates revenue by renting out a parking lot to local businesses and workers in the downtown core, in addition to grants, donations and admission fees. Miller-Gerrard said parking revenue is down by about 34%, and cited one recent case where a new renter cancelled after feeling uncomfortable in the area.
In a news release, the museum called for what it described as “practical improvements” to improve downtown safety, including better lighting, access control, proactive security and bylaw support, and closer coordination with the city. Miller-Gerrard said the museum is a small charitable organization that cannot reasonably address the challenges on its own.
Kerr said the city has forward plans but declined to give specifics, noting the municipal election campaign currently underway.
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