Photos by Barry Wallace
With the ongoing commercial development in Schomberg, centred on the intersection of Hwys. 9 and 27, plus on both sides of Hwy. 27, south of Hwy. 9, one wonders if there is a fundamental shift happening in the village of Schomberg, where the things that are at the heart of a community, are inexorably changing. Pictured above is the new McDonald's and Petro Canada on the south-east corner of Hwy. 27 at its intersection with Dr. Kay Drive and Dillane Drive, with the Trisan Centre in the background. Diagonally, at the north-west corner of the same intersection, billboards announce a new retail plaza in the near future.
The photo below shows a heritage building on Main Street that began its existence about 140 years ago as the business of druggist Alfred Eastwood. After a number of commercial retailers have come and gone here, today it is a real estate office. Other historical villages in York Region, like Kleinburg and Unionville have transformed themselves into glamorous and ultra-commercialized tourist attractions. Could that be the future for Schomberg? Or is Schomberg's Main Street a place to be the heart of a community, with commercial outlets being just one part of the many factors that contribute to a broad spectrum of civic pride and interest?
Schomberg's separate Main Street has something that neither King City nor Nobleton have. How long will Main Street's heart beat strongly?
Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace
Main Street is and always will be the "Heart" of Schomberg!
ReplyDeleteThe happenings on Hwy 27 are incedental and ugly!