{"id":34841,"date":"2024-07-18T14:50:35","date_gmt":"2024-07-18T18:50:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.newspapers-online.com\/auroran\/?p=34841"},"modified":"2024-07-25T17:29:14","modified_gmt":"2024-07-25T21:29:14","slug":"machells-alley-returns-as-community-gathering-space-in-downtown-core","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newspapers-online.com\/auroran\/machells-alley-returns-as-community-gathering-space-in-downtown-core\/","title":{"rendered":"Machell\u2019s Alley returns as community gathering space in downtown core"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The grand opening of Aurora Town Square might still be two months away, but another community gathering space in Aurora\u2019s downtown core is now ready to welcome guests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lights have been hung, picnic tables have been placed, and umbrellas have unfurled on the east side of Yonge Street, just south of Wellington Street, signalling the return of Machell\u2019s Alley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Located on the site of a vacant lot between Old Town Hall and the Clocktower building that once served as Aurora\u2019s post office, it is hoped that Machell\u2019s Alley will once again serve as a focal point for people in the core, and also as a venue for live music and other attractions this summer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Machell\u2019s Alley, the name of which honours early founders of what is now Aurora, has been resurrected in partnership with the Town, the Aurora Economic Development Corporation, Downtown Aurora BIA, Aurora Chamber of Commerce, Explore Aurora, Central Counties Tourism, and property owner Yonge Developments Inc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The space, according to Lisa Hausz, Manager of Economic Development and Policy for the Town of Aurora, has value in supporting local business and, of course, being complementary to Aurora Town Square, just metres down the street.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe value is in place-making in the downtown and supporting Aurora Town Square and the businesses in the local area, having a gathering space that is open air and casual for people just to come in and enjoy the space and downtown,\u201d she says. \u201cThe other value in revitalization is our future streetscape design and how it can incorporate parking and gathering space with businesses in the downtown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c[This year] we had the opportunity of working with the owner and it took some time to really decide if we\u2019re going to be able to do it this year or not. We tried to get it open for Canada Day, we did, and we\u2019re pretty pleased about that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since the launch of Machell\u2019s Alley in previous seasons, Joanne Russo of the Aurora BIA says she\u2019s been encouraged by the uptake from local residents and employees in the business community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt was just a significant place of gathering,\u201d says Russo. \u201cPeople were ordering dinners, having their dinners at the table, cars driving by\u2026were always looking at the space. It brought some livelihood to the area and [brought] a place of gathering. I thought it was a great success.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adds realtor and BIA Board Member Mauro Bucci: \u201cAll these business owners want different ways to get people down here and this is following their request. This supports what they are looking for, so we\u2019re trying to get people in downtown Aurora [like] families. I think it is great. They can come and sit and have a meal or just be downtown.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Representing the Town on the Board of the BIA are Councillors Ron Weese (Ward 1) and Rachel Gilliland (Ward 2). Councillor Weese says the Town has \u201calways been interested in the revitalization of this area\u201d and the return of Machell\u2019s Alley is a step in the right direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is one part, a start of the process in doing that,\u201d he says. \u201cIt\u2019s not going to be done overnight; you have to start somewhere and this is a great place to start.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adds Councillor Gilliland: \u201cI attended a lot of the events when we had Machell\u2019s Alley before and saw how successful it was. I do feel the community did get an idea of what\u2019s going on in this space: it created that curiosity in what is going on downtown. I think it creates excitement and that\u2019s what we want. We want people walking, stores bustling, we want people to get excited being down here, and we want the businesses to thrive. Residents like to walk and shop, and socialize, and I think that\u2019s what we\u2019re really trying to do. We do have Town Square right down the road, so I think it is good connectivity between that, Town Square, Town Park and our markets. I think it brings it all together.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the factors that made Machell\u2019s Alley a success in the previous seasons were live music performances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hausz says her office has received interest from performers and artists to once again activate the space going forward this season and interested parties can reach out through the Town\u2019s Engage Aurora platform at engageaurora.ca or to Hausz directly at LHausz@aurora.ca<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By Brock Weir<\/strong><\/p>\n\r\n\"Facebook\"<\/a>\"twitter\"<\/a>\"mail\"<\/a>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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