Controversial Condo Issue Still Unresolved Members of Aurora Council Are Unable to Form an Owners' Associ- No Further Ahead in Reaching Ation
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Sean Herbinson Your Aurora Your local source for... “HOUSESOLD” Insurance NAME Investments Wealth Management 905 727 4605 905 www.hsfinancial.ca 727-1941 Representing Aurora’s Community Newspaper York Group Realty Inc. Vol. 3 No. 20 Week of March 11, 2003 905-727-3300 Controversial condo issue still unresolved Members of Aurora Council are unable to form an owners' associ- no further ahead in reaching ation. agreement with the developer of Resident Thomas Keates the controversial residential con- appeared before council last dominium at the corner of week to express his concerns Wellington Street East and the about the delay in registration and Industrial Parkway than they were the effect on the legal rights of the a week ago. tenants. He said he had spoken While some agreement had with both planning and leisure been reached at the previous staff and they were cooperative in meeting regarding alternative providing information. plans for the rooftop gardens, the He said he could only speak for issue of the fencing to screen the himself and he was satisfied with parking lot and the "building enve- the alternative proposal for the lope audit" (structural engineering rooftop gardens and the town's report) were still outstanding. suggestion to screen the parking Council had deferred the ques- lot and hoped they could soon tion of registration to give staff resolve outstanding issues. and the developer more time to Planning Director Sue Seibert resolve the outstanding issues. said she had nothing to report Until such time as the condo- and there had been no contact minium is registered, occupants with the developer. Plaqued are required to pay rent rather Director of Leisure Services Tom Ntoulas puts the finishing touches on the installation of a plaque, designating what than pay down their mortgage. Allan Downey said he had sent a some believe to be the oldest house in York Region. Tom, who will open a new restaurant In addition, until the condo is fax to the developer regarding the called Oakland Hall in the renovated house, has maintained much of the flavour of the 158- registered the residents are fence but had no response. year-old building (inset), commonly known as the Red House. Located east off Yonge Street, just south of the St. John's Sideroad, the new establishment is expected to open in early April, with a grand opening planned about three weeks later. Tom has managed to Briefly take advantage of the building's natural cold room in the basement. It will be the location of a 1,000-bottle wine cellar. Presentation of the plaque was made to Tom last week at an Aurora Council meeting. Auroran photo by Ron Wallace Sign of Spring It may be too cold to think Spring, but maybe this will help. The annual maple syrup festival, held at Sheppard's Bush Home Depot under construction Conservation Area, with pancakes cooked by members of the Aurora Lions Club is only a little more than a week away. Construction of the huge Home The time interval was to provide erty. It runs on the weekends, beginning Saturday, March 22 and end- Depot store near the corner of existing competitive stores an Officials said they wanted to ing April 6, at the bush located in Aurora's east end. Bayview and Wellington can now opportunity to prepare for the remove the topsoil and grade the In addition to the pancakes, there are nature trail walks, horse- begin. arrival of the box-store giant. property, in preparation for this drawn wagon rides and demonstrations. Council gave its approval for Council's decision was made month's construction start. The event is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the designated week- work on the building to begin at after a three-hour public planning As all conditions required by ends. last week's meeting. It was meeting. council, staff and the residents' approved with only one dissent- Residents of the Bayview- association had been met, coun- ing vote. Wellington Neighbourhood cil approved the topsoil removal Senior Centre site During the summer of 1999 Association expressed concerns request with opposition from Home Depot made application to about the impact the store would Councillor Ron Wallace who has The Aurora Historical Society thinks this month's meeting will construct a store at the site, just have on the value of their proper- opposed the construction of the be so appealing, it has taken over the Aurora Seniors Centre to south of the existing Zellers ties, increased traffic on residen- box store since it was first intro- accommodate the crowd. store. The request failed to fly. tial streets and traffic safety. duced. Because 2003 is Railway Sesquicentennial Year for Aurora in Two years later, council Approval of the application with Last week, council members particular--head of rail in 1853--and Ontario in general, the group approved the application with the the 2003 construction date was approved the signing of the site is bringing in Derek Boles, who will talk about the history of rail- stipulation that construction adopted by a 7-1 vote after a pre- plan agreement and agreed to ways in the Greater Toronto Area. could not start until the spring of vious motion to delay approval remove the holding designation Mr. Boles is involved with a group of railway historical bodies 2003. until Aurora reached a population on the lands with Wallace again working toward the establishment of a museum in the old John Based on an estimated con- of 55,000 was defeated 4-4. in opposition. Street roundhouse in Toronto. struction time of two years, the In October last year council Councillor Nigel Kean said The meeting is slated for the Seniors' Centre on Victoria Street, store was scheduled to open in approved a Home Depot request Home Deport would be a good Wednesday, March 19, at 8 p.m. 2005. to remove topsoil from the prop- Please see page 12 30% off “absolutely everything” in the store (this is not an “up to” sale) 1 week only! Expires March 22, 2003 OFF 30% SSALEALE EVERYTHING 11 WWeeeekk OOnnllyy STORE HOURS MON-THUR 10 - 6 FRI 10 - 9 • Lighting Fixtures • Lamps & Shades • Mirrors & Accessories SAT 10 - 5 TOREWIDETOREWIDE (905) SS 15570 Yonge St., Units 2 & 3, Aurora, Ont. L4G 1P2 Tel: 727-7347 2 - AURORAN, Week of March 11, 2003 Coming Events In Aurora CONTINUING MARCH 30 driver is provided) along Yonge Street. Call Rachel at 905- Visit Trinity Anglican Aurora at 7 p.m. to hear the 75-voice 853-6355 for information Queen's York Rangers Army Cadet Corps offers camping, Tri-City Gospel Chorus as they present an evening of inspi- canoeing, target shooting, first aid, orienteering, in two, rational gospel music. JUNE 1 three and six week summer camps. Open to males and Booths are selling fast for the Eighth Annual Aurora Street females 12 to 18. Call 905-726-8600 for further information APRIL 5/6 Festival. If you plan to rent booth space, you should know . Maplefest at Sheppard's Bush. Aurora Lions Club cooked the festival is already 25 per cent sold out. Activities will MARCH 14 pancakes 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. open to the public at 11 a.m. and continue to 5 p.m. Call the Skate Break, a skateathon for all ages, 2 p.m. Aurora Chamber office at 905-727-7262 to book a booth. Community Centre, Rink 2. Four members of Canada's APRIL 13 World Figure Skating Team will be there. Tickets $15 Second Annual Bob Hartwell Runner's Challenge Half unless pledge sheets top that amount. Registration 1 p.m. Marathon, Half Marathon Relay and 5K Race. For more information, or pledge sheets, call 905-841-3977 or 1-866-345-0183, ext. 0. APRIL 25-27 * * * * The Aurora Chamber of Commerce 2003 Aurora Home Hot Spot celebrates St. Patrick's Day, 7.30 to 10 p.m. and Lifestyle Show featuring food and wine at the Aurora Aurora Lions Hall. Admission $4. Prizes for best green Community Centre. • Specializing in decks & fencing clothing item or accessory. Call 905-717-1002 for further • Professional Home Improvements & Renovations information. APRIL 26 Get a team together for the Heart and Stroke Foundation Call for FREE ESTIMATE MARCH 16 Big Bike Ride for Stroke in Aurora. It's a fundraising event Tel: (905) 726-3735 Fax: (905) 726-9306 Celebrate St. Patrick's Day at Hillary House with the fid- where teams of 29 get together to ride the 30-seater bike (a Serving Aurora & Area dle-playing Turrets, modern day Celtic musicians. Homemade refreshments and tours of the historic home will be available from 2 to 4:30 p.m. Cost for adults is $5 HOME OF THE WEEK and $2 for children under 12. MARCH 19 Guest speaker for the regular monthly meeting of the Aurora Historical Society is Derek Boles, Chairman of the Toronto Historical Railway Society at 8 p.m. at the Aurora Seniors Centre. The Toronto group is working with an Aurora group in planning the 150th Celebration to com- memorate the arrival of the first steam train in May 1853 in Aurora from Toronto. MARCH 22 It's Orchestral Fireworks at Trinity Anglican Church, Aurora, with the York Symphony Orchestra featuring guest pianist Elissa Miller-Kay. Call 416-410-0860 for ticket infor- mation. $294,500 SOUGHT-AFTER NORTHWEST AURORA ON QUIET CRESCENT! MARCH 22/23 Terrific floor plan...approx. 1900 sq. ft.! Great kitchen/family room layout! Master bedroom has Maplefest at Sheppard's Bush.