Those who have caught a glimpse of this project from the inside, know that anyone with real expertise and vision, has been perceived as a threat to the beautiful legacy that those within the core leadership of the project seek to build for themselves.
Other renowned architects, engineers and financing experts who have offered help, have been rejected. Ask within Majandusklubi.
This bubbling, toxic mix of egos and nepotism will not make for a strong Estonian future in Canada.

Ehvert: “I have maintained that the Madison site is not suitable for the functions that are currently performed at the Estonian House - because of size, difficulty in access by car, parking, etc. Also, the cost of construction due to limitations of the site and the adjacency to the subway station make it an expensive location to build a large development.” From an engineering perspective Ehvert also indicated “that the design of the curtain wall in the shape of the country of Estonia (is) expensive and the U -shape created large surfaces which would be large heat loss surfaces and that there were other ways of bringing natural light into the space. Although I like the aesthetics, the design of the space appeared at first glance to be quite expensive.”

My heart bleeds for the Estonian community in Toronto. I don't need a legacy building in congested downtown Toronto. I need a home for all of my community's members. Family doesn't leave family members in the cold as the Madison build leadership has done, we need to become an inclusive community again.

Tõnu, this is an excellent article, well argued and logical.

Why did the Madison project leadership reject Vello Ehvert? He is an accomplished expert in his field. He should know if the project will be too rich for the community's pocketbook, as he seems to indicate.

Could it be because the Madison team has already invested millions in their present plans and now feel it would be too embarrassing to turn back? So it's full steam ahead?

Here is a video about Vello Ehvert and his company:
https://vimeo.com/62377754

... and another Ehvert video:
https://vimeo.com/51608291

What a depressing article, but better to know than not to know.

I've known Vello on and off for almost 50 years myself and his track record speaks for itself. His offer to donate his company's resources is an incredibly generous one and his idea of creating a development corporation to support re-development of our properties sounds like a brilliant one!

Is seems like an incredible opportunity has been missed here and I'm already mourning what could have been. What a sad story this is turning into.

Readers should visit the Eest Elu web site, where they can read about the Ants Toi and Glen Leis families pledging $100,000 to the Estonian Centre development on Madison Ave.
These people are examples to us all!
How is it that such news isn't reported in the EWR? Here, only read Allan Meiusi's allegations of incompetence and malfeasance, none of them, substaniated.
Jaak Järve often reinforces them with cynical comments alluding to our gullibility.
As often as not, a reader expressing doubt or rebuttal, has his comment erased!
It's disgraceful!

Most if not all articles about the Madison Project that are in E.Elu are on EWR. There is a protocol that E.Elu follows before those articles are released to EWR, and so they usually appear slightly later on EWR. The question remains is why Eesti Elu does not include "Lisa Komentaar /Add a Comment" to articles related to the Madison Project. Perhaps the M.P. supporters (4 Orgs ) are afraid to let the uhiskond hear the truth and how people really feel.

probleeme.

In Estonian and English from
Värskeid tuuli Tartu College’is
Eestlased Kanadas 25 May 2007 Elle Puusaag

“Komitee jälgib, hindab ja annab soovitusi TC majandusliku juhtimise ja projektide osas . . . .

Jaan Meri sõnul leiab AMC (Asset Management Committee), et „cash on kuningas“. Seda põhimõtet rakendades ongi juba saavutatud kokkuhoidu. Ta selgitas seejärel pikemalt TC juurde kuuluva parklaga seotud probleeme, mille osas on tekkinud linnaga vaidlus. Praegu kehtiva lepingu alusel tahab linn parkla enda valdusesse saada, mis talle võiks anda potentsiaalset sissetulekut 150.000–200.000 dollarit. Asjaajamiseks on tulnud palgata kõrgema kvalifikatsiooniga advokaate, mis on väga kulukas. Asi võib isegi minna kohtusse.

Teiseks soovitab AMC asuda renoveerima garaazhi, kus esineb korrosiooni. Selle töö maksumuseks on hinnaguliselt $300.000. Umbes sama palju võib maksma minna soovitatav fuajee ja peakorruse büroo renoveerimine. Ka VEMu ehitamise mõtet pole maha maetud, hr. Meri näitas selle eskiisi.

Läbirääkimiste osas selgitas Elmar Tampõld Välis-Eesti Muuseumi rajamisega seotud probleeme, öeldes, et „vaip tõmmati alt ära“, viidates parkimisplatsi murele. Meelt ei tasu aga heita, sest hr. Tampõld töötab selle projekti viienda variandi kallal!"

According to Jaan Meri in 2007 the newly formed Tartu College Asset Management Committee “finds that ‘cash’ is king”. Applying this principle has already brought about savings. He explained at greater length problems related to the parking lot attached to TC, over which a dispute has arisen with the City. Under the terms of the current agreement the City wants to take possession for itself of the parking lot, which could bring it a potential income of $150,000-$200,000. Dealing with this has required hiring lawyers with higher qualifications, which is very expensive. The thing may even go to court.

In addition the AMC recommends getting going on renovating the garage, where there is corrosion. The cost is estimated at $300,000. About the same amount would be required for the recommended renovations of the foyer and main floor office space. Nor has the idea to build VEMU been buried, Mr. Meri showed the sketch.

In discussion Elmar Tampõld explained the problems related to founding the Museum of Estonians Abroad (VEMU), saying „the rug was pulled out from underneath it“, referring to the concern about the parking lot. It is not worth despairing, though, since Mr. Tampõld is working on the fifth variant of this project!“

https://www.eesti.ca/varskeid-...

Tartu College Asset Management Committee (above) vs. Community Development Corporation:

"Rather than sell Eesti Maja to an outside developer, an Estonian community redevelopment corporation could redevelop Eesti Maja and use the operating cash flow and/or development profit from Broadview to finance the purchase of land adjacent to Tartu College and redevelop that property on a smaller scale."

Sounds like an excellent idea, in light of all that we've learned about urban development and the needs and potential of the Estonian community. Certainly worth considering.

Are we getting the choices we want?

Who exactly has had a say in the matter at strategic points along the way?

I can only hope once Madison is up and running that we can bid farewell to the likes of Vaino, Ingrid, Jaak, and all the others who have absolutely nothing useful to contribute anymore. The project's completion will provide a much needed and welcomed community enema.

The families of Ants Toi and Glen Leis have each pledged $100,000 to the Madison Ave. development.
I wonder why the "Estonian World Review" has made no mention of this magnificent example of generosity?Could Allan Meiusi have a role in this oversight?

I wonder how much Allan Meiusi is willing to pledge?

Interesting response. Professional curating has been a boon. Disturbing complications have come about through outright amateurish "fundraising".

The Madison Steering Committee discredits itself re Naelapea. Ehvert has reportedly said no to selling Estonian House to an outside developer. This is a crucial point of difference, shared all along by others. His offer and proposal represent an expert challenge to the whole ‘Estonian Centre’ model of construction, design, and funding - another possibility - and as such, a decisive Estonian response to the common situation of urban pressures on community and urban potential. Respect is warranted.

Response: “The Steering Committee of the Estonian Centre Project is aware that there are alternative initiatives which profess to be ‘contingency plans’ should the Madison project not proceed. However, for groups and individuals to actively campaign against the Madison project or to advance unlikely alternatives contradicts the mandate expressed by Estonian House shareholders.” We know of one alternative initiative that is a “contingency plan” (thank goodness) but the discussion of alternative initiatives has all along been discouraged. This 'leadership' felt there was no need for discussion before it rapidly pushed through its "mandate", and its appeals to unity are a mockery under the circumstances it has itself created.

The English-language ‘response’ from the Madison project should be attached to the existing English-language article by Tõnu Naelapea, so readers can judge for themselves its adequacy. Eesti Elu (Estonian Life), consistently, in print and online, should do the right thing.

Incredibly comments are not allowed. More accurately and emblematically, in a language other than the one in which the piece was written, the only response to Naelapea allowed is from the Madison Steering Committee.

http://eestielu.com/et/organis...

The relationship of Tartu College and Eesti Elu/Estonian Life is a critical test for the community. Such a clear example of exploiting rather than responding decisively to a situation is the failure to maximize bilingual access, rather than exploit gaps, to community-focussed materials including signed and publicly stated diverse points of view, as well as appropriately labelled press releases, letters to the editor, true reporting, and comments. For all the best efforts under the circumstances, some kind of investigation is needed as the vehicule seems on examination to have veered more than a little from normal expectations. (Madison Steering Committee to Naelapea, etc.).

“This is a well written article”? Unfortunately, IMHO the 5Ws have not been answered!

This article is most certainly is a testament to the accomplishments of Vello's parents, Tiiu and Sven Ehvert. Perhaps I did not read the article correctly, as I didn't see examples of Vello's accomplishments nor his contributions to the Estonian community in Southern Ontario during the past 2 or even 3 decades. That's probably just a mistake by the the writer.

As, “This is a well written article”, I was also surprised to the fact that there was no connotations as to when Hr. Vello Ehvert was approached for making monetary contributions to Madison Avenue or as to to when he was approached to make a “contribution” of his firm's time and resources to upgrading the facilities at Eesti Maja?

I'm sure that I am NOT the only one to be surprised that Hr. Ehvert nor his firm was consulted during the previous THREE outside consultations for the advancement or upgrading of the facilities at 958 Broadview Avenue. Why might that be? I for one can only surmise is that Hr. Vello Ehvert might be a bit slighted. Perhaps I'm wrong as, “this is is a well written article”?

Just as a sidebar to & Väino V. Keelmann, perhaps it just me, but your posts are a tad incoherent, please stop or at least TRY to clarify....

All the best!
Fox Mulder

Remember all you naysayers and conspiracy theorists (JJ, Meiusi et al) I Want to Believe and/or "The truth is out there"