905’ers Find Urban Sprawl Encroaching On Their Territory

For many, moving to suburbia is a right of passage that follows traditional life choices like marriage and raising a family.

Each year in the Greater Toronto Area thousands head out of the 416 and into the 905, where they can still access the city while removed from many of its ills and unseemly features.

At least in theory.

In the past decade places like York Region have swollen considerably into communities that attract new residents every year. There’s only one problem: the city’s growing too, and it turns out there may not be enough room for everyone after all.

Nowhere is this more clearly the case than in the Thornhill Heritage District – the only dedicated heritage space on all 1,900 kilometres of Yonge Street. Because it’s protected, the area’s maintained a sense of community and built some small town appeal.

But there’s nothing “small town” about a condo, and it’s expected plans to have one built on the site are just around the corner.

“ If a high-rise condominium does go there, it will destroy our neighbourhood,” worries resident Valeri Burke.

“There’s an enormous sense of community.”

And she’s not the only one.

“I’ve been here 21 years,” recalls Thornhill Tailors owner Frank Ristuccia. “I know a lot of my customers by name … it’s like a small town.”

The irony is that up until recently building a high-rise in the area was prohibited by law and therefore not even a possibility.

But that was before Markham Town Council approved a five-storey structure on land currently occupied by an old post office.

“Five storeys is very, very big,” said Burke. “It would be like a wall.”

It may be too late to halt the change in Thornhill, but the decision to move in a more modern, urban direction also has nearby communities concerned.

Just 15 kilometres away lies Unionville, where quaint streets draw city folk to live and visit, but town officials have never been convinced to erect any big buildings.

“It’s a functioning heritage district, which is even better than a museum,” said Greg McCormick of the Unionville Trading Post.

And yet there are no guarantees it’ll stay that way. Right now, there’s only one building that’s not heritage protected. And you guessed it: plans for condominiums are in the works.

“We’re finally at the building permit stage,” said planner Jack Valianes. “So I’ll have four condos for sale.”