Quote:
Originally Posted by HAMRetrofit
With all due respect to Ancaster, the town center does have some of the oldest heritage buildings in the province. I think every measure should be taken to preserve them. They deserve preservation and appreciation for their role in Ontario's history. The town center needs some guidelines on how to preserve and enhance these features.
I would not be so harsh on the big boxes. All of those stores can be found at Younge and Dundas, yet arguably the corner still maintains 'somewhat' of a unique identity. I really think that it is the format of them that is the problem. Consumers are the main drivers in subsidizing spaces to form like this. If communities are not demanding better formats for these developments the 'everywhere Ontario' is the result.
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your points are well said...arguing the merits (or lack thereof) of big box sprawl has been done at great length in the discussion about new power centres, centre mall and mountain plaza mall.
This discussion is about people in Ancaster complaining about 4+ storey buildings being built in the exact area photographed above. It would be laughable if isn't wasn't so sad and embarassing.
Maybe the citizen groups should focus their attention on whats left of their 'heritage main street' before it ends up with more drive thrus and big box Fortinos stores. Although even that may be a lost cause. its' not a well-defined collection of historic architecture like you'll find in Dundas. Ancaster has more parking lots and strip malls in it's 'historic downtown' than you'll probably find in all of Dundas.