Living in Aurora, Town of Aurora, Ontario » Strategic Plan

Aurora Strategic Plan, Focus On How, Less On What, Hint Do Heritage Retrofits

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 07:18:52 +0000

Sometimes it is easier to start from scratch rather to continue with the existing system. In my mind I think we as the community really need to focus how we are going to make our Aurora a better place to live in the next 20 years and it is up to the town to lead the project and provide us with the results of the strategic plan that is going to be implemented.

The idea of the strategic plan is a wonderful idea. Too many ideas for the strategic plan are not. It is easy to say we want this and that, but how we to do it is the hardest job.

Hillary House, Aurora

I wrote this post couple of weeks ago, Sheppard House Green Face Lift, Home To Windfall Ecology Centre. Let me talk about this again in the Aurora Strategic plan context. The Sheppard House is one of the heritage houses in Aurora and currently is undergoing a heritage retrofit program to reduce its energy consumption by about 75% while preserving its heritage aspect. The project is led by the Windfall Ecology Centre, the environmental non profit organization who is also residing in the Sheppard House.

I have educated myself more on their heritage retrofit program reading this excellent detailed 25 page assembled Guidebook.

On the side note, in this guidebook in addition to the Sheppard House photo (the model work), there is a photo of the Hillary House, a primary suspect for my recommendation.

Hillary House, Aurora

Aurora has a very rich history that needs preservation and regular maintenance. Aurora needs to fully engage the mentioned above heritage retrofit program. This item is a must for the Aurora strategic plan.

The recent two sad stories hovering in the town, the George Browning house potential demolition plan (a must read post 100 Watts : The George T. Browning House by Chris Watts) and Hillary House potential six hundred thousand refurbishment costs. The Hillary House was a total surprise to me. I hope these numbers are not just guess-estimated.

Hillary House, Aurora

Well, the strategic plan does not starts tomorrow. We must think about it now. Unfortunately, this written now will be yesterday’s now, and we are already a day behind.

Not sure if the George Browning house has a future, unless it is relocated but then the true heritage aspect will be broken. However, the heritage retrofit program would be excellent for Hillary House. But then would that be an additional cost to the six hundred thousand? Something I don’t know.

You can read the guidebook document yourself because underlines lot of excellent environmental benefits, not to mention the key message – it will preserve and conserve. Technologies are available and program is available. It may be experimental but I believe it is doable.

Hillary House, Aurora

So going back to the beginning of this post. It is always easy to start something from scratch, but of course if there is nothing in place. However, if we do have something in place such as heritage building and we up to for demolition (example Browning House), we often forget to think about or completely ignore the fact how much energy and resources it takes to demolish the old and build new standing structure.

Now we have an option, the retrofit program. It is now or tomorrow up to Town of Aurora to engage and may be offer additional incentives to the heritage building owners to drive the encouragement.

Aurora Strategic Plan, Sustainable Communities, How? High Density Housing

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 03:52:59 +0000

Building sustainable community in the Town of Aurora, a community that promotes sustainable living by reducing use of Earth’s natural resources, is my next topic for the Aurora’s 2031 Strategic Plan.

We all know that the idea of sustainable community or living is not new. With all the buzz of climate change around the world (too hot or too cold), we know that change must take place as soon as right now. We all must act together, but remember the sustainable living starts at home and then spreads out.

The Ridgewood, Aurora

In 20 years I will be 60. My goal in 20 years is to go back to even more sustainable living, as far as back to my early childhood years where my sole means of commuting was walking. Walking to school, to store, to church or to a bus station as far as 3 km away from home. Even biking wasn’t an option – it was always the eldest child who was granted a bike, and it wasn’t me.

I read an article in the Auroran yesterday, Wells Street facade is utmost priority school owner says [The Auroran, Week of November 22, 2011, pg 1,8] about future of the Wells Street Public School.

Wells Street Public School, Aurora

The local newspaper reported: ‘Joanne Birch … form Wells Street Schoolhouse Lofts, told The Auroran that the new owners were attracted to the heritage building both for the beauty of the building itself and the opportunity to build in Aurora as a well known community. Aside from the building itself and the Town in which it stands, Ms. Birch said her company was also attracted by additional amenities including the proximity to Yonge Street shopping, GO Transit, and being so close to the idyllic Town Park.’

Good start. Good thinking. A first step to sustainable community living on the Wells Street. We need more builders or developers to think like that.

We have 20 years to build and we also have data from the past to work with. A perfect example is the closing of Foodland store on the St. Andrews plaza on October 29, 2011 and leaving local residents with no other grocery store close by, especially elderly that commute by public transportation.

Foodland, Now Closed, Aurora

If you note my first paragraph, I said sustainable community and not communities. Yes, I want to see in 2031 for the Aurora to be one sustainable community, an integration of sustainable sub-communities or a network of sub-communities. We need to all work together.

The best part comes is how do we achieve this. It will not happen overnight, so we must act now. Even with the Strategic Plan in the horizon, the change must start. We don’t want to start building the sustainable community in 2031, we want to be sustainable community then.

Hollandview Trail, Retirement Community, Aurora

What I have in mind is to introduce (for future developments) more of high-density housings and putting limit on the population growth to secure more green space. I am not asking for sky scrapers, but something that will reduce the residential footprint leaving us with more natural land around.

Some may argue that it may increase traffic on the roads, but not if residents get access to the basic amenities within a walking distance.

For example, a grocery store, a medical/dental office, a restaurant/food court, a bus station, more bike racks, access to walking /hiking /biking paths, all must be part of the residential development project. Stores can easily be build underground as they are above. The idea is not to attract visitors from outside especially those who drive. Residents must have an option to commute to work/school by bus, bike or even walk. Many of them may even work within their living community.

I know, I know – we already have few similar places in Aurora but they are just shops – how many times will I need a wedding gown compare to a bag of milk. Just once in a life time for the gown but – milk every week. You tell me what is more beneficial.

The Ridgewood, Aurora

The message is clear that we need rules, by-laws and plans implemented to build future Aurora sustainable community. It may not be possible with current developed Aurora, but there is still lot of potential land to be developed and I hate to see being carelessly filled.

Aurora Strategic Plan, Plant The Innovation Seed, Promote Business Growth

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 03:57:29 +0000

Aurora Strategic Plan for 2031 is a very nice concept. I think it is really good to plan for the future or to have long term goals. However, I just hope that we do not go under the spell of writing this great list of things to do and never achieve them.

Mural, Wellington Street

What I have seen for now, the Aurora Strategic Plan is just a shell design, no substance yet. String of words do sound very flowery for now, but will they bloom like that 20 years from now in 2031. My suggestion – have few solid ideas and keep them simple.

It is nice to see that Town of Aurora is getting local public involved. Since this is a strategic plan, I think information should be conveyed in the same manner. I don’t need to see draft material. Current draft presented is a typical process outline. Do we need to see this? I don’t know, seems incomplete and not professional. Even the forums are not taken seriously by the residents.

I don’t know may be I just have different or odd way of thinking, but I don’t understand why do we need separate website just for the strategic plan. It should have been part of the current Aurora site. It is nice that communication department is trying to communicate every detail but why spend extra taxpayers money on such. Why are we branding the Aurora Strategic Plan? I cannot see the purpose.

If the Aurora Strategic Plan team thinks that more and complicated is better, boy they are wrong. Even websites need to be strategically planned to convey the information.

Mural, Wellington Street

The Aurora Strategic Plan execution gives me something to think about though. So once in the blue moon I will be presenting some ideas I have.

Well, 20 years is lot of years. In 20 years you can get nice grown tree, therefore, this may be the time to plant the seeds. I am not really talking about growing real trees here, but this will be a topic of mine later because we definitely need more shade trees.

We need to plant the innovation seed. We need the schools, businesses and town to be involved in more scientific and engineering fields. Let me explain as simple as possible.

Mural, Canada Arm, Wellington Street

Science and engineering fairs sponsored by the local businesses and the Town of Aurora for the Aurora schools.

Sometimes we underestimate young minds and little initiation for innovation from businesses would help to surface some great ideas students may have and give economic benefit to everyone.

This is my train of thoughts.

Town of Aurora and local businesses together collaborate and organizes annual science and engineering fair.

Students from Aurora schools pick a business to work with.

A project idea is assigned to student(s) by the business.

End result new product, enhanced product, efficient process etc – project ideas can be endless.

Participating students are rewarded for their accomplishments.

Since the business provides all the tools for the student(s) to work with, business owns the idea.

If the idea is sound, then it is implemented.

Business grows. Student(s) may have future summer jobs or full time jobs with that company.

Business grows, Town of Aurora is happy.

There is no restrictions, Town of Aurora can participate with their projects too.

I think these are self explanatory steps to drive more business or business growth. We need business that will stay. I was driving on the Industrial Parkway the other day and there are just too many signs for lease. Just too many buildings empty.

So I thought I will present one of my crazy ideas to push the business growth forward. I like long therm growth and this process may be something good to start today.

Mural, Wellington Street

This may also be good for students and their future. Start early introduction to real work, keep them out of trouble. Kids always look for challenge why not give them more.

We do it with art, why not do the same with the science. Something to think about.

Mural, Wellington Street