Editing David Dunlap Observatory (section)

===Closure, sale, redevelopment and reopening===
[[File:David Dunlap Observatory Observatory Dome inside 2023.jpg|thumb|Observatory Dome inside]]
[[File:David Dunlap Observatory Administration Building foyer 2023.jpg|thumb|Administration Building foyer]]
[[File:David Dunlap Observatory Administration Building Level 1 2023.jpg|thumb|Administration Building Level 1 access]]
[[File:David Dunlap Observatory Administration Building Library 2023.jpg|thumb| Administration Building Library]]
[[File:Clock at Dunlap Observatory.jpg|thumb|Clock at Dunlap Observatory]]
By the mid-1990s, the observatory remained the largest single-mirror site in Canada, but it was considered small by modern standards.<ref name = CBC>{{cite news | url = http://www.cbc.ca/technology/quirks-blog/2008/04/black_holes_the_canadian_conne.html | title = Black holes: The Canadian connection | work = Quirks and Quarks | publisher = [[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]] | date = 18 April 2008 | access-date = 5 July 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080624130535/https://www.cbc.ca/technology/quirks-blog/2008/04/black_holes_the_canadian_conne.html |archive-date=24 June 2008}}</ref> The cutting edge of Canadian university astronomy studies was involved in some of the world's largest observatories: the [[James Clerk Maxwell Telescope]], the [[Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope]], the [[Atacama Large Millimeter Array]] and the Gemini Observatory. None of these telescopes are located in Canada. After the UTSO was closed, in 1998 the [[Canadian Astronomical Society]], a society of university astronomers, published a long range plan emphasizing the study of the origins of structure in the universe,<ref>{{cite tech report |url= http://www.casca.ca/lrp/front-back/en-index.html |title= The Origins of Structure in the Universe |publisher=National Research Council (Canada) |year=1998}}</ref> a task well-suited to cutting-edge telescopes but ill-suited to the DDO.  The long-range plan suggested the future of observatories such as the DDO lay in public outreach programs and training. In 2005 Canadian universities joined a partnership to build the [[Thirty Meter Telescope]], expected to cost more than $1&nbsp;billion.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://lot.astro.utoronto.ca |title=Canada and the Thirty Meter Telescope |website=TMT |access-date=12 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150130044644/http://lot.astro.utoronto.ca/ |archive-date=30 January 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In September 2007, the university stated it planned to sell the DDO property owing to [[light pollution]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Brown |first=Louise |url=https://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/255265 |title=U of T Observatory Likely To Be Sold |newspaper=[[Toronto Star]] |date=11 September 2007}}</ref>

The university's governing council voted on the issue during the week of 1 November 2007, and agreed to sell the site to the highest bidder. The {{convert|75|ha}} of land in the midst of a very large subdivision area was expected to fetch $100&nbsp;million, some of which the university planned to use to found a Dunlap Institute to continue astronomical research. For the purposes of the sale, the land was partitioned into a {{Convert|71|ha|acre|adj=on|abbr=on}} Parcel A and a {{Convert|5|ha|acre|abbr=on|adj=on}} Parcel B (also known as the 'panhandle'), upon which sits the Elvis Stojko Arena and a park with a 200-metre-wide solar system art piece. The land upon which the arena was built was leased to the Town until the Town purchased the 'panhandle' lands in 2012.<ref name="sale-globe">{{cite web|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/u-of-t-to-announce-the-sale-of-the-place-that-helped-prove-black-holes/article4100353/|title=U of T to announce the sale of the place that helped prove black holes|first=James|last=Rusk|publisher=The Globe and Mail|date=2008-07-28|accessdate=2024-10-31}}</ref><ref name="sale-varsity">{{cite web|url=https://thevarsity.ca/2012/10/01/u-of-t-and-the-dunlap-observatory-a-breach-of-public-trust/|title=U of T and the Dunlap Observatory: "A breach of public trust"?|first=Zane|last=Schwartz|publisher=The Varsity|date=2012-10-01|accessdate=2024-10-31}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/richmond-hill-buys-david-dunlap-observatory-panhandle-lands-for-19-5m/article_1de66456-b06d-5c1c-83e2-8a5417c8194d.html|title=Richmond Hill buys David Dunlap Observatory 'panhandle lands' for $19.5M|first=Valerie|last=Hauch|publisher=The Toronto Star|date=2012-07-03|accessdate=2024-10-31}}</ref>

At the end of June 2008, the university completed the sale of both parcels of the property to Corsica Development Inc., a subsidiary of Metrus Development Inc. for $70&nbsp;million, a lower price than expected. Observatory staff were laid off and faculty reassigned to the downtown St. George campus.<ref name="sale-globe" /><ref name="sale-varsity" /> The Town of Richmond Hill planned a hearing with the Conservation Review Board of Ontario to argue for protection of the western 48% of the property including the observatory buildings under the [[Ontario Heritage Act]]; at the hearing, the Richmond Hill Naturalists argued for 100% designation of the property, all the buildings and their contents,<ref name = CBC/><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.rhnaturalists.ca/ | title = Richmond Hill Naturalists | access-date = 3 February 2008 | archive-date = 31 May 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080531104405/http://www.rhnaturalists.ca/ | url-status = dead }}</ref> and the Observatory Hill Homeowners Association argued for the protection of the heritage woodlots and arboretums.  Corsica Development Inc. was also represented before the CRB.  Preliminary hearings took place on 3 September and 15 October 2008. Corsica Development Inc. is administered by Metrus in conjunction with The Conservatory Group and Marel Contracting.<ref>{{cite news |last= Fleischer |first=David |url=http://www.yorkregion.com/News/Richmond%20Hill/article/79345 |title=Metrus took 10 months to secure David Dunlap land |publisher=Richmond Hill Liberal |date=7 August 2008}}</ref> At the same time, the RASC-TC were selected over the DDOD to manage and operate the observatory.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.yorkregion.com/opinion-story/5212195-group-took-direct-action-to-save-observatory/ |publisher=Richmond Hill Liberal |title=Group took direct action to save observatory |date=18 December 2014}}</ref>

The Conservation Review Board hearing to determine the extent of the Cultural Heritage Landscape designation to be afforded to the Dunlap site took place in Richmond Hill between 15 and 23 January 2009, and the Board recommendation was published on 4 June.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.richmondhill.ca/documents/ddo_conservation_review_board_report.pdf |title=Re: Intention to Designate the Property known as the David Dunlap Observatory, 123 Hillsview Drive, Richmond Hill (CRB File 2007–12) |publisher=Conservation Review Board |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927144414/http://www.richmondhill.ca/documents/ddo_conservation_review_board_report.pdf |archive-date=27 September 2011 }}</ref> The Board recommended preservation of the observatory buildings and up to 80% of the property as a cultural heritage landscape.  On 29 September 2009, Richmond Hill Town Council voted unanimously in favour of the designating by-law.<ref>{{cite web |title=Minutes of Richmond Hill Town Council meeting |date=29 September 2009 |url=http://www.richmondhill.ca/documents/meetings/council/9_29_2009_19_30/meeting_9_29_2009_19_30_minutes_council.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927144512/http://www.richmondhill.ca/documents/meetings/council/9_29_2009_19_30/meeting_9_29_2009_19_30_minutes_council.pdf |archive-date=27 September 2011 }}</ref> The Town proceeded with a number of public meetings and reports in late 2009 to craft guidelines for the conservation, planning and design of the property.  Corsica Development Inc. undertook an archaeological survey of the property.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=Observatory Hill |url=http://www.observatoryhill.ca/news.php |title=Draft Phase 2 Archaeological Report |date=26 May 2010}}</ref> On 15 April 2010, stemming from an incident on the property in November 2009, Corsica Development Inc. pleaded guilty in York Region court to 17 counts of cutting a tree without a permit and was issued a fine of $44,880.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=Town of Richmond Hill |url=http://www.richmondhill.ca/subpage.asp?pageid=david_dunlap_observatory |title=What is the DDO?| date=28 July 2022 }}</ref> The company also planted 100 new trees on the property as part of the judgment.<ref>{{cite news |publisher=Post City Magazines |url=http://www.postcity.com/Post-City-Magazines/June-2010/Replanting-of-removed-trees-begins-on-DDO-site/ |title=Replanting of removed trees begins on DDO site |date=June 2010}}</ref>

In January 2009, Corsica published the website observatoryhill.ca describing the property, stating, "[We] are in the process of looking for an astronomy club to occupy the observatory and welcome proposals for consideration."<ref>{{cite web|website=ObservatoryHill.ca |publisher=Observatory Hill |url=http://observatoryhill.ca/property.php |title=Future |date=17 February 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090217224142/http://observatoryhill.ca/property.php |archive-date=17 February 2009 }}</ref> On 22 April 2009, Corsica and the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada announced an agreement allowing the RASC to provide public education and outreach programs at the observatory, and to operate the 1.88m telescope.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.casca.ca/ecass/issues/2009-ss/brief/ddo/ddo.htm |title=Re-opening of the David Dunlap Observatory |publisher=Canadian Astronomical Society |accessdate=2024-10-31 }}</ref> On 14 June, the RASC Toronto Centre published the website www.theddo.ca,<ref>[http://www.theddo.ca Welcome to the David Dunlap Observatory] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100113032440/http://www.theddo.ca/ |date=13 January 2010 }}, David Dunlap Observatory website.</ref> to make tickets available for public astronomy nights at the observatory starting on 18 July.  Astronomy events at the observatory continued, such as [[Perseid meteor shower]] events that drew high attendance and media coverage.<ref>{{cite web |website=Royal Astronomical Society of Canada Toronto Centre |url=http://www.theddo.ca/ |title=Thanks to the more than 2000 people who brought their lawn chairs, blankets, binoculars and enthusiasm to our Perseid Meteor Night |access-date=28 June 2009 |archive-date=13 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100113032440/http://www.theddo.ca/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> These new operations continued through 2016, combined with opportunities such as use of the observatory for location shoots of the [[Syfy]] (formerly Sci-Fi Channel) series ''[[Warehouse 13]]'' and the [[NBC]] television series ''[[Hannibal (TV series)|Hannibal]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theddo.ca/AboutUs/DavidDunlapObservatoryintheCommunity/tabid/71/Default.aspx |title=In the Community |website=The David Dunlap Observatory |access-date=12 February 2015 |archive-date=6 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151106081006/http://www.theddo.ca/AboutUs/DavidDunlapObservatoryintheCommunity/tabid/71/Default.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In May 2013, after continued debate and appeals for mediation between the town of Richmond Hill and Metrus/Corsica, the [[Ontario Municipal Board]] handed down a decision to support official plan amendment 270, the mediated settlement that set aside 56 percent of the site's land to residents for a future public park.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=Richmond Hill Liberal |url=https://www.yorkregion.com/news-story/2546783-update-legacy-forever-says-mayor-of-observatory-site/ |title=UPDATE: 'Legacy forever,' says mayor of observatory site |date=2 May 2013 |last=Beck |first=Marney}}</ref> Corsica would be allowed to build 530 homes on the eastern portion of the site. Combined with the previous purchase by the Town of Richmond Hill of the Elvis Stojko Arena and surrounding land for $19.5&nbsp;million, a total of 11 acres of the original 189-acre property is owned by the town.<ref>{{cite news |publisher=Richmond Hill Liberal |url=https://www.yorkregion.com/opinion-story/4586189-have-ideas-for-david-dunlap-observatory-park-bring-them/ |title=Have ideas for David Dunlap Observatory Park? Bring them}}</ref> A further legal appeal by the Richmond Hill Naturalists to preserve the entire site from development was launched in August 2013<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.yorkregion.com/news-story/4057535-new-challenge-mounted-to-observatory-deal/ |title=New challenge mounted to observatory deal |publisher=Metroland Media}}</ref> and was ultimately unsuccessful.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.yorkregion.com/news-story/5593505-richmond-hill-naturalists-sound-alarm-may-be-forced-to-pay-developer-court-costs/ |publisher=Richmond Hill Liberal |title=Richmond Hill Naturalists sound alarm; may be forced to pay developer court costs |date=30 August 2013 |last=Beck |first=Marney}}</ref> The group was eventually ordered to pay some of the developers' court costs in September 2015.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.yorkregion.com/news-story/5923667-richmond-hill-naturalists-told-to-pay-developer-court-costs-over-observatory-battle/ |publisher=Richmond Hill Liberal |title=Richmond Hill Naturalists told to pay developer court costs over observatory battle |last=Zarzour |first=Kim |date=21 September 2015}}</ref>

In November 2014, the David Dunlap Observatory Defenders group chairperson and founder Karen Cilevitz resigned from her position after being elected to be local councillor for the region's Ward (Ward 5). The organization then formed a new group, the Friends of the David Dunlap Observatory Park, to function as the public stakeholder entity for site advocacy, public engagement and community outreach.<ref>{{cite news |publisher=Richmond Hill Liberal |url=https://www.yorkregion.com/news-story/5150441-richmond-hill-observatory-preservation-group-changes-leadership-approach/ |title=Richmond Hill observatory preservation group changes leadership, approach |last=Zarzour |first=Kim |date=21 November 2014}}</ref> In response, in December 2014 both the RASC-TC and the DDOD published editorial letters in the Richmond Hill Liberal, both claiming to be the "true" parties responsible for upkeep and operation of the Observatory.<ref>{{cite news |publisher=Richmond Hill Liberal |url=https://www.yorkregion.com/opinion-story/5180657-we-re-the-real-friends-of-the-observatory/ |title=We're the real friends of the observatory}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |publisher=Richmond Hill Liberal |url=https://www.yorkregion.com/opinion-story/5212195-group-took-direct-action-to-save-observatory/ |title=Group took direct action to save observatory}}</ref>

In April 2015, Corsica (having changed their name to DG Group) announced plans to transfer ownership of the observatory buildings to the RASC. Despite RASC-TC's status as a registered charitable corporation, some parties to the 2012 five-party OMB settlement argued that the donation placed the future of the observatory in doubt, because RASC was not a government agency.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.yorkregion.com/news-story/5569499-richmond-hill-observatory-donation-by-developer-raises-concerns/ |publisher=Richmond Hill Liberal |first=Zarzour |last=Kim |title=Richmond Hill observatory donation by developer raises concerns |date=21 April 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.yorkregion.com/news-story/5603157-richmond-hill-council-mum-on-observatory-discussions-/ |publisher=Richmond Hill Liberal |first=Zarzour |last=Kim |title=Richmond Hill council mum on observatory 'discussions' |date=5 May 2015}}</ref> In March 2016, the dispute was resolved through transfer of ownership of the property to the town of Richmond Hill.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.yorkregion.com/news-story/6372190-disputed-richmond-hill-observatory-buildings-now-belong-to-town/ |publisher=Richmond Hill Liberal |last=Zarzour |first=Kim |title=Disputed Richmond Hill observatory buildings now belong to town |date=2 March 2016}}</ref>

On 20 July 2016, the RASC-TC declined to continue negotiations to lease the property for exclusive use and to continue to provide outreach programs at the heritage site.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.yorkregion.com/news-story/6787885-latest-wrinkle-on-richmond-hill-s-dunlap-observatory-sends-shockwave-through-star-gazing-community/ |title=Latest wrinkle on Richmond Hill's Dunlap observatory sends shockwave through star-gazing community |last=Zarzour |first=Kim |date=29 July 2016 |publisher=Richmond Hill Liberal}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.yorkregion.com/news-story/7761574-space-camp-public-viewing-education-future-of-david-dunlap-observatory/ |title=Space camp, public viewing, education future of David Dunlap Observatory |last=Latchford |first=Teresa |date=30 October 2017 |publisher=Richmond Hill Liberal}}</ref> This led to the Town inviting proposals from 35 organizations to continue programming and maintenance of the site. Five applicants submitted proposals, including the York Region Astronomical Association (members of the RASC-TC who had been using, maintaining and programming the site),<ref>{{cite web |url=https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/5e495e_c27892a3143340c0aeab2464752d0e13.pdf |title=Response to the Town of Richmond Hill EOI-30-17 Expression of Interest}}</ref> the RASC-TC, and the DDOD.

In October 2016, the Town of Richmond Hill approved a master plan to turn {{Convert|40|ha|acre}} of the Observatory lands into a "destination park", for astronomical outreach programs, while adding recreational amenities such as walking paths, 4 tennis courts, an amphitheatre and a low-light level "Star Path" self-illuminating pathway. A feasibility study for a planetarium on the site was also intended. The project is expected to cost $54&nbsp;million over 15–20 years.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.yorkregion.com/news-story/6888162-richmond-hill-gives-go-ahead-to-destination-park-/ |publisher=Richmond Hill Liberal |first=Kim |last=Zarzour |title=Richmond Hill gives go-ahead to 'destination park' |date=3 October 2016}}</ref>

In October 2017, the Town announced it would pursue a joint partnership with the RASC-TC and the DDOD to continue to provide educational and public outreach programming, ending the interim programming provided by the YRAA.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.yorkregion.com/news-story/7761574-space-camp-public-viewing-education-future-of-david-dunlap-observatory/ |title=Space camp, public viewing, education future of David Dunlap Observatory |date=30 October 2017 |first=Teresa |last=Latchford |publisher=Richmond Hill Liberal}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://ddod.ca/ |title=David Dunlap Observatory Defenders |date=24 October 2017 }}</ref>