* Astronomy

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RE: David Dunlap Observatory

Blobrana · L

There's fresh hope for Richmond Hill nature lovers and astronomy buffs who fought the University of Toronto's sale of the David Dunlap Observatory and its grounds to a developer last year.
The provincial Conservation Review Board has recommended that much of the 77-hectare site be designated a cultural heritage site.
In a 61-page report released last week, the board offered a thorough, building-by-building rationale for its recommendations.

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In a Solomonic judgement, the province's Conservation Review Board has ruled while the entire David Dunlap Observatory site may not be worthy of heritage designation, the vast majority of it is.

"It could be argued that few sites across the province warrant provincial involvement more than the DDO site," the ruling states.

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The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, Toronto Centre and Metrus Development Inc. feel that Earth Day is an appropriate moment to celebrate the imminent return of one of Canada's most beloved astronomy landmarks to active service.
Canada's largest amateur astronomy club has come to an agreement with Metrus to ensure that the David Dunlap Observatory remains an active, vital part of the Richmond Hill community.

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This is the story of an observatory that could.
After months of upheaval, the saga of the David Dunlap Observatory and surrounding lands now sits at a crucial juncture. The fate of the 77-hectare parcel in south Richmond Hill is in the hands of the provincial Conservation Review Board, which has two months to decide how much of the site is worthy of a heritage designation.

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Metrus, the company that purchased the sprawling David Dunlap Observatory lands from the University of Toronto last year, has finally publicly revealed which parts of the property it's prepared to see preserved from development.
An architect with the company took the stand yesterday afternoon in the sixth day of a provincial Conservation Review Board hearing that will determine how much of its 77 hectares should be designated a cultural heritage site.

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The case for preserving the David Dunlap Observatory site is finally before a provincial Conservation Review Board.
Board chairperson Peter Zakarow and colleague Karen Haslam will hear arguments and then recommend how the town should write its heritage protection by-law.
The fate of 190 acres of prime Richmond Hill land is at stake.

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The Canada Science and Technology Museum has stepped into the middle of an ugly dispute over a historic Toronto-area observatory.
The David Dunlap Observatory Defenders is one of two groups fighting to save the observatory in Richmond Hill from the wrecking ball. The observatory belonged to the University of Toronto, which recently sold it to a developer who intends to tear it down.

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Blobrana · L

Dunlap Observatory closing
Tom Bolton is a long-time professor of astronomy and astrophysics, who has explored the heavens using Canadas largest telescope since 1971. He is the first astronomer to present irrefutable evidence of the existence of a black hole. On July 2nd, the University of Toronto sent him an e-mail giving him 10 days to get off the premises. In November, the university voted to close the observatory and sell it to the highest bidder, and redirect the money from the sale back into the schools astronomy program. Yesterday it confirmed it has a firm agreement with a buyer and its looking to close the deal by month-end. It did not disclose the buyer or the price.

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David Dunlop Observatory