{"id":18513,"date":"2017-10-05T12:33:57","date_gmt":"2017-10-05T16:33:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.newspapers-online.com\/auroran\/?p=18513"},"modified":"2017-10-11T15:39:08","modified_gmt":"2017-10-11T19:39:08","slug":"library-square-could-be-razed-by-november-ahead-of-christmas-market","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newspapers-online.com\/auroran\/library-square-could-be-razed-by-november-ahead-of-christmas-market\/","title":{"rendered":"Library Square could be razed by November, ahead of Christmas Market"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Brock Weir<\/strong><\/p>\n

The former homes of the Aurora Public Library and Seniors\u2019 Centre could be razed as early as November, according to municipal staff.
\nThe comments were made last week by CAO Doug Nadorozny, who said there is the \u201cpotential for demolition\u201d by late November, but that will be confirmed \u201cin a couple of weeks\u201d pending the results of a tender that went out near the end of September.
\nThis clarification of timelines surrounding the development of Library Square came as Council set the wheels in motion on a plan which could see the vicinity of Library Square the scene of Aurora\u2019s very first \u201cChristmas Market.\u201d
\nFloated by Councillor Tom Mrakasas a way to not only bring the Aurora community together in a different way but also give residents a flavour of Library Square\u2019s potential, his motion to task staff with coming up with a feasibility plan for just such an event received the green light.
\n\u201cWe always talk about downtown revitalization and I think that we\u2019re going through some exciting times moving forward with Library Square and the Cultural Precinct area,\u201d said Councillor Mrakas in his pitch to Council. \u201cI think this is an opportunity for us to create a new event that can get in on the ground floor before we get to the development of that area that can, in essence, help showcase the area and get the residents engaged in the area, coming back down and making it that gathering place we have always been talking about and help promote it.\u201d
\nA Christmas Market, inspired by the one which draws thousands annually to Toronto\u2019s Distillery District would be a unique event in York Region, one which would have the potential to spur economic and tourism development \u201cif done right.\u201d
\n\u201cI think with our staff it can be done right,\u201d he said, adding his preferred time for a Market would be after the 2017 Santa Under the Stars parade on November 26. \u201cWhen I look at it, I envision lights. I envision a setup with market booths, hot chocolate being served, maybe a licensed area, kids skating and just everyone having a good time.\u201d
\nThe suggestion of a Christmas Market, or at least the idea of a Christmas Market, was warmly received around the table, with Councillor Michael Thompson stating he was interested to see what staff come back with not only on dates but how it can be put together.
\n\u201cI am really excited about this motion,\u201d said Councillor Sandra Humfryes on what a Christmas Market would mean to Library Square\u2019s future. \u201cI know it is a great start to launch exactly what we have been striving for [over] the last two terms. It is one, but hopefully it will be one of an annual.\u201d
\nAdded Councillor Harold Kim: \u201cIt is a great suggestion and a great way to refocus our efforts in a central part of Aurora, which is Library Square.\u201d
\nAlthough still enthusiastic about the idea, some Councillors tempered their enthusiasm with some logistical concerns.
\nCouncillor Jeff Thom, for instance, said while he was supportive of the concept, he was not fully on board with the Town shouldering 100 per cent of the costs. He said he hoped a future report would address ways Aurora will be able to partner with community groups to make the event a reality to help offset any cost to the taxpayer.
\n\u201cI think there will be opportunities perhaps working with the Farmers\u2019 Market or local restaurants and food vendors, local establishments, as well as some of the churches in the area,\u201d he said.
\nThis was a view shared by Councillor Wendy Gaertner, who said she wanted the report to address ways to ensure area businesses are incorporated into the festivities.
\nShe also said that November can bring about unpredictable weather and an alternative plan to the great outdoors should also be considered. Councillor John Abel was on a similar wavelength, suggesting the historic Aurora Armoury at Town Park would be the ideal venue.
\nThe Councillor went on to offer that the former Fleury Foundry on Wellington Street, just west of Yonge, and now home to Bacon Basketware, would be an ideal location down the road for a permanent, longer-lasting seasonal outdoor market.
\n\u201cThe idea is there is there is not enough time to put in an extensive two or three-week market in this time frame right now, but how we can introduce it and get it to that point,\u201d replied Councillor Mrakas. \u201cThe idea is to have one night this year and grow it.\u201d
\nMayor Geoff Dawe also supported the report but with a reservation unique from the rest of Council.
\n\u201cI am supportive of the concept, [but] I am not supportive of the name because, quite frankly, I don\u2019t feel it is inclusive,\u201d said Mayor Dawe, adding that holding this event in conjunction with Santa Under the Stars might place an \u201cincredible burden\u201d on municipal staff. \u201cI will support the concept, but that is just who I am and how I think.\u201d<\/p>\n\"Facebook\"<\/a>\"twitter\"<\/a>\"mail\"<\/a>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The former homes of the Aurora Public Library and Seniors\u2019 Centre could be razed as early as November, according to municipal staff.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[4,5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18513","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-general_news","category-news"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3D2k4-4OB","publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-08-10 15:49:10","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newspapers-online.com\/auroran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18513","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newspapers-online.com\/auroran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newspapers-online.com\/auroran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newspapers-online.com\/auroran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newspapers-online.com\/auroran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18513"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newspapers-online.com\/auroran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18513\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newspapers-online.com\/auroran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18513"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newspapers-online.com\/auroran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18513"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newspapers-online.com\/auroran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18513"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}