Read this for the backstory.

A few years ago I had the opportunity to visit this wonderful Canadian city - admittedly, my geography and knowledge of the surrounding area is lacking in nearly every way, but Brantford was quite charming in even my short time there. Particularly, a historical section of the downtown area stood out. Most people will probably only remember the area for its use in the Silent Hill films, but even that will soon be lost as the city blocks are about to undergo demolition, despite resistance.

From the article: Brantford must realize that the position it is in is not unique, but the decisions its councillors and mayor make could set the city apart from others who have traveled the same path.  It is exactly this sort of “dumb and ordinary,” “messy vitality,” to quote two urban visionaries of the twentieth century, Robert Venturi and Jane Jacobs, that we have come to appreciate and cherish in the wake of countless failed experiments akin to the one upon which Brantford seems determined to embark.

(via sabbatical, my long-time friend who has been personally involved in trying to counter the demolition.)