Stouffville mayor has big ideas for downtown
Unsold on library/leisure centre expansion, Altmann looking elsewhere

YorkRegion.com
Feb. 26, 2015
Sandra Bolan

Redeveloping Main Street’s south side from the CIBC to the clock tower is just a “vision that is very new” but something Mayor Justin Altmann is contemplating.

His idea includes finding a developer to buy that portion of Main Street and replace the current businesses – CIBC, Stouffville Fine Furniture, a vacated business, Travelpoint and Turack, Raguseo, Leshi, Gilliant Chartered Accountants – with a project consisting of retail on the main level, professional services on the second floor with two or three more levels reserved for residential occupancy.

There would also be one or two levels of underground parking.

Altmann made this idea public during a Feb. 10 meeting with downtown merchants. The Sun-Tribune, which has an office on Main Street, was not invited to the meeting held at town hall.

The mayor appears to still not be 100 per cent sold on the leisure centre/library expansion in Memorial Park set up by the previous council.

“Take the wealth and disperse it amongst the municipality, not just one place,” he said.

The 2015 draft budget has $1.6 million allocated to the design of the aquatic centre, fitness facility and indoor multipurpose space.

“For me, I see the … expansion as a necessity,” said Councillor Rob Hargrave, who along with councillors Iain Lovatt and Rick Upton also attended the meeting.

Altmann does not like the plan’s proposed sliding roof on the second pool, citing it’s expensive. He also said the town should not go up against private fitness centres.

“They can do it at their cost,” he said.

He also told The Sun-Tribune, former mayor Wayne Emmerson’s idea to re-locate the 55+ Club and Whitchurch-Stouffville Food Bank to the town hall on Sandiford Drive was “the greatest idea”.

“The public owns this building and it’s under-utilized,” Altmann said.

The 55+ Club is currently using Latcham Hall. The proposed leisure centre/library expansion plan has a space dedicated to them.

The food bank remains in the basement of the Churchill Community Church on Ninth Line north of Aurora Road.

By not spending millions of dollars in one place, Altmann said that money could be spread around for things such as a curling club, splash pad or skate park in Ballantrae.

“Just to give the community what they deserve,” he said.

“The northern side of the municipality has been ignored for way too long,” he said.

Other ways the money could be spent, according to Altmann, include bringing back the toboggan hill, constructing a volleyball court and improving trails.

“Very simple, logical activities” that get people out.

“When people ask for simple things, that’s the best thing … that doesn’t cost a lot of money,” he said.

“Both the downtown revitalization and the expansion plans for the leisure centre are going to take vision, determination and leadership from us to make the best decisions that will ultimately benefit the future of Stouffville …,” Lovatt told The Sun-Tribune via email. “As many municipalities can often find, our vision is greater than the financial resources available. The community’s input will be invaluable to us during this process.”

Altmann is still fleshing out his plans for Main Street and the leisure centre/library expansion but wants to make proposals during budget deliberations, which start March 10, 9 a.m. in council chambers. It is open to the public.