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economist suntribune development issues saturday aug 24 2002 markham centre will set standards for smart growth town assures residents bymikeadler staff writer when the town of markham first asked residents for opinions on markham centre its longsought downtownstyle community planned south of hwy 7 between kennedy road and warden avenue it was 1991 but what has become the most care fully arranged development the town has ever seen and probably the most important is still capable of scaring some people their chief fear is traffic people in unionville worry cars will cut through their neighbourhood to reach markham centres 988 acres which will house 25000 people and be the place of work for 17000 at a town workshop this week how ever markham planning commissioner mary frances turner assured 30 people the development will set a standard for smart growth and suggested it will have a road grid and transit service worthy of the worlds great cities in order to have a downtown you have to be able to move people quickly and easily she said its about having choices if you dont have a car you dont need a car engineer arup mukherjee said markham centres transportation plan aims to change the carfirst culture long imbedded in suburban towns like markham quite frankly we cant afford not to do that he said york region signed a publicprivate partnership deal june 27 to build an as- yetunknown form of rapid transit along the hwy 7 corridor with markham centre providing a link south to the sheppard subway line the town will use rodick road and birchmount road extensions over hwy 407 and extensions of sciberras road enterprise drive and clegg road yorktech drive and riverside drive to give commuters a choice and disperse traffic engineer arup mukherjee said markham centres transportation plan aims to change the carfirst culture long imbedded in suburban towns like markham it may even build midblock cross ings over hwy 404 as ways around increasingly congested intersections on hwy 7 and 16th avenue in smaller groups of workshop par ticipants unionville resident david mcbeth said hes not impressed this is doing nothing to the north- south traffic problems that already exist on kennedy road and warden avenue he said more intersections on hwy 7 mean more signals which mean more traffic problems mr mcbeth argued but basil boutakis who lives north of the proposed development wasnt worried about traffic infiltration from the south the new roads in markham centre will move cars in and out quick ly he said mr boutakis said the rapidtransit line must go right into markham centre once people know it will do that property values there will double mr boutakis predicted go and buy a house on sheppard avenue along the new subway now two years ago you couldve had it for 300000 now half a million another group talking about markham centres biking and walking paths said they wanted them to be welllit connected to other neighbour hoods and safe to use any time and in any weather the 630 pm sessions at the civic centre conclude tuesday with a dis cussion on markham centres public spaces and wednesday on green infra structure which covers the develop ments stormwater control a man- made lake and the spaces that would serve to protect the rouge river from polluted water runoff town staff plan to host a one- day markham centre conference sept 28 an event they hope hundreds will attend for more details or to post your own comments go to wwwmarkham- centrecom ilize yoiir tastebuds friday sept 6th 2002 at 730 pm sample awardwinning wines from ontario s famous wine regions enjoy gourmet foods prepared by some gall 9052944576 for your tickets today inurr entertainmentspoitsori jolla 1 yu hsbc z r vjarr i concord wea mm cat on a hot tin roof a piag fnf tiewtessee william november 13 16 2002 l trivial comettiffariunrioivr people by oscnr wilde mis february 12 is 2003 nurse jane goes to hawaii afaree by allan slrattan april 23 26 2003 p ijforward or fax to markhara theatre 171 town centre boulevard markham ontario l3r 8g5 hmake cheque payable to markham theatre no postdated cheques please box office 905305show fax 9054157538 iihhhhrladdre postal code phone day evening jcashq cheque q visajtj american expressq mastercardq credit card expiry date previous subscriber qj new subscriber q too inumber of subscriptions 6630each tnd gst theatre handling charge of s1070 jpiease indicate day wed thurs fit or sat and seat orchestra balcony box or wheelchair preference jtf you wish to include a donation to mit backstage please enter the amount here nb plays arc subject to change without notice subscribed seats may be changed byarrangernentwiththethiatre box office 9053057469 thank you for supporting markham little theatre