Minchau blacksmith bldg gone

The Minchau blacksmith building is nothing more than a pile of rubble.

It is rumoured that the landowners have already had for many years City approval to build a high-rise on the spot. If that is so, it was the granting of that permit that signed the death warrant for the old building.

It strikes me that a change in zoning allowing such a higher level of the land is a windfall for the owner. A piece of woodland out in the countryside is changed from being zoned for farmland to heavy-industrial. Immediately the owner bulldozes the trees and puts up a for-sale sign. He obviously reaps a windfall profit.

Why could not a government reap something of that value? This would relieve the burden on taxpayers.

Perhaps the government could charge half the windfall profit of such a zoning change.

Thanks for reading.

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