Residents get glimpse of possibilities for Aurora's cultural precinct

Yorkregion.com
Nov. 28, 2015
By Simon Martin

Downtown Aurora was abuzz Saturday morning.

Cars lined Victoria Street as residents meandered into the Trinity United Church Christmas bazaar. Across the road, at the Aurora Cultural Centre, the Aurora Community Band hosted its annual Holiday Market. A block down the road, the hum of a circular saw filled the air around Town Park as workers toiled away in the cold building the Wells Street Lofts.

It’s against this backdrop Aurora hosted Culture Quest, a chance for residents to discover some of the possibilities for the town’s vision to establish a cultural precinct.

The precinct is considered the area bordered by Yonge Street to the west, Larmont Street to the east, Metcalfe and Church streets to the south and Mosley Street to the north. What makes it stand out is the number of mixed uses, including residential, institutional - such as churches - and municipally owned properties such as the armoury, the Aurora Cultural Centre, Town Park, the Aurora Public Library and the buildings that comprise Library Square. The three-block area also possesses the largest number of heritage and cultural landscapes in the downtown core.

“It’s a day of discovery for residents to think about what this space will turn into,” Aurora parks and recreation director Al Downey said.

Residents braved the cold to learn about some of the potential options for the area.

Heather Masters has lived in Aurora for 50 years. While at first she didn’t like the idea of changing the area too much, she has come around a little.

“I see the concept now,” she said. “I’m fascinated to learn about the plan.”

Participants walked to different stations with a passport to learn about some of the ideas in each locale.

Sarah Millar stood in front of the Aurora Cultural Centre with a Santa Claus hat on flanked by two poster boards. She works for FONTENN, who put together a design concept for the precinct that council viewed last week.

In talking with residents, Millar said there is a need for more space at the Aurora Cultural Centre. One concept, moving forward, would be to demolish the 56 Victoria Street building along with its neighbour, at 52 Victoria,  to put an expansion on the Aurora Cultural Centre and add more indoor space for things events such as concerts. The expansion could be funded through the addition of residential units to the area to attract entrepreneurs and senior citizens.

FONTENN project director Michael Stott said the precinct could bring a large population together in a small area.

“It is a unique opportunity to create something that celebrates the history of the area while bringing more activity,” he said.

Other parts of the design plan include a walkway pedestrians could use to get to Town Park from Yonge and distillery district-style condominiums with professional use on the ground level.

Stott envisions the precinct could become a hub of artistic innovation and creation that is also connected to the existing community.

In 2010, Aurora Town Council approved the promenade study with the aim of developing a plan to revitalize the town’s downtown core and along its Yonge Street and Wellington Street corridors. The study identified a number of unique areas, including a cultural precinct, according to Downey.

Four consultations have been completed, so far, including asking town staff what they think should be included in the concept design, and feedback has been collected from 42 members of the public who attended a culture walk through the designated area being considered and an online survey, Millar said.

Town staff expressed an interest in a concept that is more pedestrian friendly, includes information signs and hosts programming throughout the entire year.