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AS Tie Era Newmarket Aurora Keswick Wed April 1977 DOWNTOWN AURORA Can wn shopping be revi View from downtown parking lot Heritage spokesman sees hope for Aurora Former post office a landmark AURORA Nestled comfortably along the longest street in the world Aurora has retained some of the character which once set it apart from small towns across Ontario which once drew people out of their way for a Amid the neon promises of Mr Submarine and plastic fronts of banks and department stores is the unfulfilled old municipal building vacant for the past year old post office and down the street stands the historic Hillary House now recognized for its link with the past As a boy Bob Philips executive director of Heritage Canada to Aurora with his family on the way to cottage areas further north They came to shop at the former Bakery and while here the family pursued other in terests finishing their stay with a stop at the Queens Hotel now replaced by the TorontoDominion Bank This was a town with a heart Mr Philips told a crowd of more than 130 citizens and businessmen here April at a meeting on the future of Yonge St I wonder if my parents were alive today if they would still pause in Aurora Almost in Aurora theres no there there commented the director stealing a line from Gertrude Stein The main street is losing its character in a continuing slate of absence of minds For instance Mr Philips stayed at a motel in Richmond Hill last week because there isnt a single place where you can stay in Aurora Still he praised the potential of the little com munity Aurora is to be enormously envied for what it has retained the director said Theres still some kind of human proportion that hasnt been scarred by In this society Aurora has retained buildings that will never be built again The problem is now to rectify the mistakes of the and 70s Mr Philips said And Heritage Canada is willing to commit con siderable funds lo rejuvenating towns such as Aurora matched by provincial or local funds Lets have sidewalks out there again where people can walk he urged Heritage Canada will Initially finance half the cost of a feasibility study to determine the ploential of redevelopment If an independent study proves revilatization can succeed can make money for town Heritage Canada will assist in financing projects Preservation makes economic sense according to executive director who negated the logic that it is the unjustifiable selfindulgence of old ladies in tennis shoes While the majority of travel to a community is to visit relatives and friends fully 27 per cent of tourism motivation in Canada is an escape to heritage conservation areas Aurora is one of few places able to cater lo that human tendency lie noted But heritage conservation is not blanket preser vation of old buildings it takes the best of the past and unites it with the best designs of Ihe present for the best future Mr Philips said Walkway to parking lot Photos andstories by Carol Furniture store renovated recently Thousands of dollars available for projects AURORA Thousands of dollars are begging to be used to remake downtown shopping areas of communities such as Aurora In addition to Heritage Canada an independent agency the provincial government is interested in financing redevelopment projects representatives told more than 150 Aurora citizens and businessmen at a meeting here April The Ministry of Housing will loan up to twothirds the cost of a specific project expecting a per cent recovery on its investment over years according to of the community renewal branch The central core reflects the life of community noted Mr and its failure to thrive can threaten the entire community Decay of a central business district causes a fall- off of investment in the town loss of confidence in the co mm buildings which eventually leads to business failure and erosion of the tax base While traditionally the downtown area was the prime retail shopping area this life has been threatened by the emergence of convenient shopping centres on lowcost land at the periphery of towns provinces downtown revilatization program was enacted to help municipalities reverse trend of deterioration and to rejuvenate downtown areas After revitalization of St area in Toronto business increased percent Mr said The governments only requirement is that the project pay lack its investment and that of the municipality This investment can be recovered through purchase and eventual sale of land leasing increase in property taxes and a share of in creased income he said Under Ontario Heritage Act the heritage ad ministration branch of the Ministry of and Recreation is also interested in aiding municipalities in rejuvenation Douglas Koch of that agency suggested Aurora appoint a steering committee to identify environment features worth protecting Steps in redevelopment include identifying a heritage area as a goal under the plan and passing a bylaw of intent The OHF offers financial assistance to pay for a consultant in creation of a heritage conservation district Redevelopment can enhance urban charm commented Mr Koch who noted Aurora is endowed with generous architecture Vitality in a centre core comes from a mixture of uses ho said He recommended lots of small places for pedestrians to stop and rest and buildings which complement each other Old municipal building vacant Auroras Yonge St