Earlier tonight the Second Planning & Environment Committee voted to allow PenEquity clear a massive 4.2 hectare woodlot with the promise of 1,200 jobs. There won’t be 1,200 jobs coming to this massive monstrosity of a shopping plaza south of the 401, behind the Costco and Gold’s Gym. Here’s why. Let’s assume that 1,200 jobs does not include construction jobs. For comparison’s sake, let’s take another proposed development over at Wonderland & Wharncliffe (1,300 retail jobs, 690 construction jobs) to task, which has similar job number projections. Electricians, plumbers, brick layers, pavers, etc. Many of those people are already employed by the contractors that will be bidding on the work to be done building the plaza. These are not new jobs. And not all of the buildings are going to go up at the same time, so the same contractor and workers may end up working on multiple buildings (especially the electricians and plumbers). This is actually work for contractors that already employ these construction workers. So out of 600 “new jobs,” you’re probably looking at more like… 50? 100 tops. And while I’m happy to see those contractors get more work, it’s all temporary. Now what about the 1,200 permanent jobs in the plaza itself? I worked in retail. I know what it’s like. High turnover, low wage, part-time work without benefits. So a lot of people are going to be debating driving out to the middle of nowhere (or maybe taking the 30 Newbold bus from White Oaks Mall) for a job that pays $11 an hour, slightly more if you’re in management. But wait! There’s more. The 30 Newbold only runs from 6:27am to 9:17am, and again from 2:24pm to 5:49pm. It also doesn’t run on weekends! It’s clearly designed to help dayshift workers get in and out of the industrial area between Wellington and Highbury, not for retail workers. So… 1,200 new jobs? Who exactly is going to be applying for these jobs? To be honest, mostly people who have been out of work for awhile, and have given up finding work in their field because they’re debating selling their car just to make ends meet. It’s funny… most businesses look at the workforce available in the cities they’re looking to set up shop in. I wonder how many businesses will actually bother showing up in PenEquity’s new monster plaza after they realize all of the above? And don’t look to the LTC to put in extra hours on the 30 Newbold. Fontana’s made sure that won’t happen with his desire for 0% tax increases (which, in reality, he has yet at all to achieve thanks to assessment growth). So, how about them trees?