So what's wrong with the West Harbour?

We've heard so much about what's wrong with whatever location the Ti-Cats want that we really don't talk about what's wrong with the West Harbour location.  And don't get me wrong here.  In the right hands it could be a beautiful thing, but there are still disadvantages to the location.

Here's what I think is wrong with the West Harbour as a location for the new stadium:

• Visibility - The stadium would not be visible at all from any major highway because it's too far away from the QEW and it is completely hidden from view on the 403 because it's on the wrong side of the Burlington Heights.  The contention of visibility is naive at best.
• No Direct Highway Access - Burlington Street in that area is no highway, Bay Street doesn't have enough lanes and since the Parimeter Road project is dead in the water, there won't be any direct highway access any time soon.  The location is tucked away.
• Parking  - Yes, parking is everywhere but where it needs to be.  So there's parking a walk away from site.  And will the Tiger-Cats get the money for that?  Didn't think so.  But the city will apparently bend over backwards for the NHL.  So bend over backwards for something that may never come and screw the guys who are here already.  Not a good idea.
• Nice Spot but... - We see visions of stadia on a lakeshore or by a major river.  What's wrong with the West Harbour?  What's the major feature of the harbour?  It's an inland harbour.  Nobody's going to see from the lake.  All the other waterfront stadiums can be seen on a river, at the bayshore of San Francisco, or even at the shore of the lake, but an inland harbour is a different story.  It is only visible from Burlington and nowhere else.  What's the point in having a nice jewel if you don't have something to show it off with?
• RESIDENTIAL LANDS! - People's home are getting torn down over this.  Is it worth it?  Furthermore, why are we building a stadium in a residential area anyway???  Do we need another Ivor Wynne Stadium?  The problems with Ivor Wynne Stadium are not just with its age, but with its location.  A stadium in a residential area will not enhance their property value.

We have been left with a few choices here.  Build close to a residential area, to find out that Paradise is lost and that the Tiger-Cats will not be there, build in a growing commercial area, to end up promoting sprawl or build in an newly established commercial district where employment growth is apparently happening to seemingly trade a stadium for jobs that may or may not be there.  These are the choices we have right now.  They are not easy ones, fraught with ifs, whens, withertos and wherefores.  But these options should also have an endorsement by the Tiger-Cats who will have a soccer team in place as well once the deal is done. 

We look to the wisdom of those in charge to do what needs to be done to get all the parties to agree on a deal that works for the stakeholders.