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Shioppers want more p-arking and variety ini the do nTô,wncu re, Chamber of Conuerce is told Eý44 Vol. 14, No. 43 Wednesday, October 24, 1-984 32 Pages w w w = "'The Subject wa1s Rosés" Nuala FltzGerald, Carl Ritchie and Larry Solway are seen here in a scene from "The Subject was Roses" the production currently being featured at the Marlgold Dinner Theatre. "The Subjeot was Roses" i8 the story of a young man' who returns home after World War Two to fade the ups and downs, of post-war family l1f e. In his review, Free' Press reporter Marc Vincent has nothing but praise for the production. His- comments can be found onpage 16. The Free Press would also like to take this op-, portunity to announce that beginning next week, Larry Solway wiII be the star columnist in our new featuré "Advise and Dissent" which wiII be found opposite the editorial page. Solway promises that'his articles will range from the funny-to serlous. He's one journalist who's not afraid tokickatýa few sacred cows. We hope our readers will erijoy.his comments. Whitby's downtown new and exciting era, the Whitby Chamber of Commerce was told ai its meeting last week. Over the next four years, $450,000 will be spent on major im- provements to the ares in an effort to make il not only more attractive but to help preserve ,Whitby's identity as a community according to, Ed Buffett;» chairman of the Whitby Downtown Board of Management. Buffett used the oc- cassion to anftounce the results of three surveys conducted by thei down- town board during, the summer months which will be used to help plan how the money will be spant. Ail. three surveys, Buffett said, showed that the downtown coreps major problem is lack of parking. In the consumer survey, 3289 par cent of the respon- dents- said they, would shop downtown more of- ten if there was more parking facilities. The merchants them- selves leel "that a lack of accessible parking, was the- downtown's major disadvantage..". In the public survey it w as learnt' that almost 40 Par cent of the' respondents '"felt. that parking- in the down- town was,'very:poor'."1 Buffett -pointed .out, t4iat.accordingto, Town of Whitby, projections, this co munltywill be- home to, 60,000 people by. the year 2000.-', "'This 1will hav e .a profound effect on this community and wil present ý a significanit chall enge 'for the preservation of our identity, " he said. Now is the time to preserve and revitalize the downtown core. "We have to build an attrac- tive and thriving down- town core." Buffett noted that in other simiiar' areas, such as the Bloor West Village in downtown Toronto,, the merchants' "have. come to realize' they cannot compate with the shopping mails head-to-head." They have to create something different. In. Bloor West, they have created an "aàt-_ mosphere that 15 ex- tremely different from the shopping mail and more friendly." i & In this sse Fail auto. and' car ecare gude As part of this week's edition, the Whitby Free Press presents itsannual fail Auto and Car.Care Guide. It is ful of previews, of the new cars being introduced to the market by both the domestic' and foreign car makers. Sprinkled-throughout are some handy hints and advise in how to keep the family car on the road for a few more years. The Auto and Car Care Guide is a pull-out feature and can be kept for-future reference. and loan package from the provincial gover- nment, will be used to create a theme for the downtonw. Buffett poin- ted out that 71 per cent of the merchants who responded to the survey wanted to see a theme -incorporated into the downtown development scheme. I Buffett also noted that respondents in both the consumer and public surveys wanted to see a greater variety of shops and services in the- downtown core. Some even thought that con- sideration should be given to bringing a major department store to the downtown. Shoppers also want to see store hours co- ordinated and many said they shop in -the core because it 15 con- vemient. Some 30 par cent of respondents. to the consumer survey said they shopped down- town because they liked the stores.* The vast majority of merchants said that they' have regular costumers. The are also in- terested in.developing a long range, promotional scheme usngsuch ad- vertisfing media, as newspapars, 'radio, anld 1 32 Pages But Buffet also said that it is not enough that the merchants --unçier- take this project. The people ,iving in the to wn, espaciaily new residents, have an obligation to help sup- port it. "lIt Ws not'sufficient to obtain these, objec- tives," Buffett. s aid, "There is an'obligation, (on the par.t of Whitby residents): to spend a reasonable portion of their ,,hard 'earned money in* their own community.", He also took the op-, portunity to press for a local -prefeancepolicy on the part '0f local and , -regional coundils., ýýýIf al 'things a 're e'qual and the price .charged' for a go'vernrnent' con- trac .t by a local'busines is only a few parcentage higher, then council should support . local business. . Coundil, he -added, "'has* an obligation to adopt.this practisez", "Purchasing >,goods* and -services .locally must become'the rule rather than the excep- tion." a à azmp