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It's called 'infill housing' and Well-planned infill housing helps rejuvenate older neigh- bourhoods' across Canada by adding population and new housing stock. Because the new population is able to use existing - services, public costs are not necessarily increased: "In fact, depending on_ the population that moves in, underused services like schools, libraries and parks may find a new lease on life. These are some of the findings of a new pbulication released by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. New Housing in Existing Neighbour- hoods documents the growth of urban infill housing in Canada, explains its present popularity and advises on proper standards of planning and design. [Infill housing is becoming a common sight in older established neighbo- urhoods. Lots vacant for years are sprouting town houses. Large "'white-elephant" mansions are growing third floor sundecks and staircases, and being converted into apart- ments. Rundown commercial sities are being redeveloped for housing. At its best, infill is a healthy form of urban renewal. At its worst, it can add too many people, overtax services, congest roads and spoil the stablished character of the neigh- bourhood. New Housing in Existing Neigh- bourhoods is intended to help planners, ar- chitects, designers and developers take ad- vantage of infill op- portunities and develop them successfully. According to the CMHC publication, infill housing development does not require the costly services needed by new suburban developments. _ Infill land, however, is more expansive' than suburban land and is usually available in too- small quantities to Crowd pleaser Kitchener-Waterloo is lovely throughout the. year. But in autumm, when splashes of colour transform the leaves, the season becomes a symbol of the contrasts offered by this unique area. From the languorous pace of a horsedrawn carriage, to the noisy fun of Oktoberfest, the region comes alive--as graceful trees don party colours 10 join the celebration. Visit the area around Kitchener-Waterloo, and you may think you've stepped back a century in time. Men- nonite farmers still drive horse-drawn buggies along the side roads. Dressed in traditional dark clothing and wide brimmed black hats, Ontario Mennonites are skilled farmers who live in. their own com- munities. The descendants of Penn- sylvania German set- tlers who arrived in Ontario in the last century in Conestoga wagons, they have retained most of their old customs. Visitors to the area are still astonished by neat rows of horses and carriages lined up in parking lots. Yet in the heart of this serene, pastoral region, ablaze in fall with red and gold maples, you can visit one of the most popular festival in ('anada -the Kitchener- Waterk Oktoberfest. In sha:p contrast with the, pace , of . the Menouites, it reflects the «sufluence of later waves of German im- migrants to Canada-- mainly city-dwellers who arrived in the last few decades. Modelled after the Munich festival held in Germany since 1810, Oktoberfest began in 1969 and has grown to enormous proportions. This year, fro Oct. 7 to Oct. 15, the entire city will get involved. More than 20 festival halls and tents will attract upward of 600,000 visitors. Thies MAG Fed gemutlichkeit, meaning warm fellowship, sets the tone of the festival. The accent is on beer and good food. During Oktoberfest, every hotel and restaurant serves Wiener schnitzel, thick German Sausages, sauerbrauten, kohlrl- den, strudel and other German delicacies. Foaming steins of beer are served by cheerful waitresses in dirndl dresses and waiters garbed in lederhosen. Beer drinkers are rated by their capacity. To become a_ Bier Doktor you must be able to drain a full stein. If half a stein is your maxXimum, you are a Burp Meister. Less than that and you are a Small Schlupper. The theme song is always Ein Prosit. At first note, everyone jumps to their feet and joins in singing. Lock arms with those of your neighbours and sway in time with the music in the customary German manner and you don't have to speak the language to understand the seniment. The effect is contagious. Strangers quickly become friends. Activities scheduled for each day appeal to all age groups. They include a parade of marching bands, decorated floats and horse-drawn beer wagons. There is also a "Bogenschutzenfest,"' an archery contest, and a "Kinderkochfest," or cooking competition, plus an airshow featuring Canadian Armed Forces Snowbirds jet aerobatic teaii:. Other events include Blooming Affair, which is a festival of flowers and fashions, an evening of ethnic dance performances by local proups, and an operetta- -The Gypsy Baron, Throughout the week, local arts and crafts are demonstarted. But not all festivals in Ontario are as rambunctious as the one staged in Kit- chener-Waterloo. In the surrounding rural areas and in small towns and villages throughout the province, fall fairs offer a more relaxed form of entertianment. The fall fair, which in Ontario has a long and honourable tradition dating back to 1792, was originally just a place where farmers and their wives gather to gossip about crops, the weather and local in- terests in general. But in recent years fall fairs have broadened in scope and now attract thousands of visitors. Even if you don't know one end of a plough from the other, a fall fair is interesting to visit. In addition to the livestock competitions which have always been a major attraction, you may now see pony and harness racing, dancers and musicians, beauty contests and cheerleaders twirling batons. There are even contests for pie-eating, pounding nails into wood and (for wives only) throwing rolling pins. And there is always a midway with games of skill and chance, shooting valleries and rides. The contrast between show biz glitter and local "vents is enough to the family. Fall fairs are always fun in Ontario. attract the large developer. It is the small developer in- terested in building from one to half a dozen units, custom designed and usually privately financed, who sees the opportunities of infill building. Infill housing tends to be expensive and at- tracts profession people- singles or © cou pr lve ts -- and older "empty- nesters'? who wish to leave their large homes but remain in an established nighbou- rhood. It offers the benefits of new housing as well -as all the amenities of an older community - parks, trees, good tran- sportation, established services and so on. Infill CMHC ts high onit: report can take the form of a single-family house, but it is more likely to be a multi-unit project. Infill housing was one of the few kinds of construction to continue druing the past recession. Its popularity will probably continue to grow as municipalities reap the benefit of its economies and actively encourage its increase. This may require some changes to density and other regulations. If the character of established neighbo- urhoods, which is what attracts new develop- ment, is to be preser- yed, infill housing projects must be carefully planned and designed. Often, the sites available in older neighbourhoods are not the best. They are odd- shaped or otherwise difficult to build on. Very often there is little room for street fron- tage, parking and outdoor living spaces for the new tenants. Often buildings of a higher density than others in the neigh- bourhood -- will be required because of site and financing restrictions. New Housing in Existing Neighbour- hoods draws attention to the problems of infill development and shows how they can be over- come. It explains how to make the best use of restricted sites for multi-unit projects without abandoning the amenities of access. It emphasizes the need to maintain the character of the existing neighbourhood but shows how new. units can be allowed their own identity at the same time. It is a book of practical advice on infill opportunities proper drawings across Canada off-street parking, outdoor living spaces and convenient pedestrian and vehicle and development. It contains over 147 and photographs from cities that show how infill housing can be used creatively and imaginatively to provide housing for the needs of the 80s. It is available from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. Price: $6. ce ee ew asst Maida. Ponies on display ha Animals and livestock are always an important prt of a rural fall fair, and Midland's rain-soaked fair was no different. This was the scene at the pony judging competition held at the fair on $8,306-60 1983 DEMO REDUCTION 1983 DODGE OMNI 5 dr hatchback, 2.2L, front wheel drive, auto., ps., pb., console, defrost, instrument pkg., styled steering wheel, stereo. *7,471.50 MIOLAND 723 King St., Midland 526-3777 "a Saturday. These ponies are always a delight to the visitors to the fair. --Photo by Andy Wicksted Final Act and pursuant to B 1983. tax bills should enquire Telephone 526-4275. taxpayer from payment late payment. G Town of Midland 1983 Municipal Taxes Billing In accordance with the provision of The Municipal } y-law No. 83-3". the final instalment.of Realty and Business Taxes for 1983 will become due and payable on September 23rd, All tax bills have been mailed prior to September Ist, 1983. Ratepayers who have not received their at the Municipal Office or Failure to receive tax notice does not relieve the of taxes nor liability from -M. MORRISON, A.M.C.T. TREASURER Wednesday, September 21, 1983, Page 15