Plan to save Newmarket's Housing and Heritage Properties

Watch what we wish for. This Hamilton design does not blend whatever but conforms to laws.

I've written blogs and created a video about my plans to combat developers from using our current laws designed to preserve historic heritage sites and buildings but which are actually being used to cause them to become unusable / livable, and then eventually eliminated.

This is a common problem that many municipalities face, and which the likes of Vancouver has dealt with part of it by legislating in the right to financially punish property owners who purposely allow properties / homes to fall into an unusable state of disrepair and to be boarded up until we grant development or zoning. Right now, developers often use the by-laws as written to do the bare minimum on maintenance - as they do not include any strict watch on the conditions they allow buildings to fall into to cause eventual "natural" destruction or is used to assist them in an application to demolish a home. Often it involves a property with a building not yet declared heritage spot, but on a list to be declared a heritage property, and by speeding up vacating such properties using these LOOPHOLES, they control our planning without penalty.

Call Tom at anytime - 289-221-0928

My plan adopts such penalties but goes even further, asking that we strike up a working group to also tackle those known loopholes and have those loophole changes put forward to our provincial friends be legislated into place. Certainly not an initiative most Councillors would even think of, but none have my ( any?) political experience, knowledge of process nor the will to tackle it.

Expect a more diligent watch on all our assets with Tom Pearson

Such loopholes are not just used by developers but by our governing Councils too. I recall a structure that had been a women's shelter for about 20 people, located on the same property as the current family and men's shelter, that was demolished scant years before it would have been declared a century home structure. Not many know of this, or seemed interested to care to know at the time as I recall. Maybe now they see my point, as more begin to understand the process and how it can be manipulated.

This 'need" was created through demolition

At the time, they claimed that the foundation was no good, yet I had it inspected before they demolished it and found nothing outstanding that couldn't be fixed - albeit I and my construction experienced friend who attended with me are not engineers - however the men's shelter on the same property , then 126 years old, was apparently OK for use. My plan would not allow for the first building to have reached such a state of disrepair, even if indeed that was the case, which would have saved us $ millions in this instance.

That building would have sufficed our "need" for a single women's shelter, and by speeding up that demolition process, they essentially avoided it having that protected heritage designation while costing the Region $10,000,000 and counting to build a brand new one. Meantime that sole focus has men and couples living in our Ward 5 forests.

So its something the status quo likes to use with its knowledge of process, but, as you can see, one they can also use to create "needs" costing taxpayers not in the know and that must stop. It's cost us $10 of million and counting so far and who knows how many lives?

Tom also has a plan to tackle graffiti which includes engaging youth and creating wall art zones

It seems I not only am the only candidate with any practical political experience but also the only one with the will and knowledge to tackle this issue effectively so our townsfolk have better control over its own town and her assets and properties.

Seniors and others were furious at losing Main St.'s last bank. Tom plans to try and attract Credit Union to Main

Most of my candidate opponents also take a safe, sentimental position on the clock tower development, however my knowledge of process - and having actually met with the developers and a town planner - I can tell you they will be allowed to build and more than 3 floors in the end, with deep pockets on a $50,000,000 project, and it will begin costing us to fight them almost immediately, as we're now overdue to respond to their application. I didn't get us here, but we need to deal with it stealthily to avoid it being a costly error. Two roads lead to the same place, one is much less costly.

Only Tom has a plan that will protect us from future unwanted development.Blocks can be emptied boarded up presently.

The Forrest Group's development idea respects the integrity of the tower also, including sight-lines, and actually uses it in its design, so we have to indeed watch what we wish for, as other developers may not be so kind if ever it came to that. I've seen projects in Hamilton that went by the law but don't use the structure as its closed off, and the back drop new building attached right out of place. I think this design respects those things and as well helps support a shopping centre seniors desperately want as well.

Little whispers says to watch this building in the future and Park St.. A plan to extend it through to Riverwalk?

Vote for me if you want a representative of the people - and not the establishment or real estate a certain party. No one else has any plan to end this madness and destruction of our properties, homes, and landmarks but me. I'm Tom Pearson and I really do care. 289-221-0928 Direct.

York Region Transit Needs Grass Roots Input

York Region Transit Needs Help

York Region Transit has been missing the mark for far too long and the last thing they needed was more routes to manage, however with the completion of Davis Drive finally on the horizon we can look forward to that very possibility, after somehow miscalculating the time and costs by 10's of millions of dollars. Tally-Ho. $300,000,000 and counting @ $1 million dollars per bus shelter.


That said, what to do with what we do have, especially since the government's plan to push people out of their cars and into transit seems to be failing, or at least is extremely premature. That's what happens when a town is being lead by a Region which acts conditional to ( Ont / Fed) funding and which is calling the shots on what's actually getting built locally. Did anyone even realize that the terms "sustainable growth" and all of that ilk come from the UN's 2030 plan? Well it does and as we blindly follow it, it's apparent were far to early to keep up with the UN plan of rolling out transit in 2016-17 as well as more "sustainable" "intensification" and "sustainable development".

Meantime what can we do to contain the costs? Trim the fat is a start! York Region Transit has the worst connecting buses I've ever seen, having used it fairly extensively during my campaign, thinking it would be convenient for door to door flyers delivery, but that was a mistake!

Regular Bus route to Main and Water St only runs once per hour and stops at 8 pm

Routes claiming to run every hour actually running every hour and 15 which then made riders miss connecting buses was common thus a run that should take 10 minutes taking an hour and a half at times. Also jumping out at me was the dual service on Davis drive with the new Viva 404 route running virtually the same route as the 55A. 

With one stroke I'd propose to the transit eliminate $300,000 and that's based on brief observation of an obvious flaw - I could look over to the other also fairly empty bus en-route.


I think a board or a committee that includes grass roots riders and drivers should be struck to better service the routes or fine tune some as I believe there are multitudes of savings more to be had.

Add in some Bike Share at these shelter points as well and that may assist with closer connections instead of a person waiting an hour to travel 10 minutes by motorized vehicle. family and day passes should also be made available as not everyone can afford monthly passes nor want to jump through welfare hoops to get access.

GO Bus / train service still seems a confusing intermix with York Transit, often causing people to pay extra fares to go the same distance within the transfer system from one system to another seems confusing for most and and needs rectifying.

Even if the add GO Train service at Mulock Drive as is being sought at this time, that will not eliminate the YRT users who need get there still and also those looking tio travel to the north part of Toronto use the Go so the dilemma will continue.

Amalgamate the system and stream-line it because right now its a waste case losing millions of dollars annually likely!

Tom Pearson

I Really Do Care

Seniors Needs On Main St. Newmarket

As I've traveled the streets during my door to door campaign, I've noticed that the concerns are quite varied, and depending on the resident's personal situation, that usually dictated what their main concerns were.

Seniors

With seniors living near Main St. South for example, the feeling was exasperation when the last bank closed up.

An older gent almost literally stumbled upon me as I stood outside what used to be the Bank of Montreal before stopping and realizing it was no longer there!

Geez this is terrible. Where do they expect seniors to go? There's nothing on Main St anymore for seniors and I've had to move away. No doctors office, no place to shop what do they expect seniors to do? Then I have to find a ride..." his voice trails off.

So what about the seniors? there are a fair number within walk shot of Main but with less and less reason to come and a budget for many they need catered to as well. transportation costs savings alone are a big deal for some.

So I'm hearing seniors want grocery shopping, doctors offices, a bank. Well the latter may be tough, but perhaps a credit union could be sought and little whispers tell me a grocers may be going in where the Bank Of Montreal is moving out of which would be good. 

I'd love to see fruit markets spring up along with the grocers and see know reason something can't be coordinated. My plan promises that I would be proactive to seek out good fits for Main St and this would be one such endeavour should the grocery store no pan our as well as look into the possibility of doctors offices or drop in clinics.

I've been know to fight for the rights of seniors and the disabled in the past and have no plans to turn my back on anyone should I be elected.

In addition, to help keep a grocer in business I will at ways of introducing a home grocery delivery service system for local area seniors, using a model of a successful running program in Quebec.

I'm Tom Pearson and....

I Really Do Care.

2016 Ward 5 By-election Voter's Dates and Locations

Oct 12 for this seniors building - Seniors want a grocery store, bank, and doctors offices on Main St.

This information is being brought to you by Tom Pearson, Ward 5 Candidate for the 2016 by-election in Newmarket, Ontario, Canada. Call Tom @ 289-221-0928

For TP's Profile profile click here.

The Newmarket By-election vote day is announced as Oct 17 however there are also advanced polls that can be voted at, and to that end it's important voters are made aware of those opportunities.

Below is some info and addresses for voting in the upcoming by-election.

What seniors have told Tom 

"We have to travel everywhere for everything now. It's ridiculous. We have to have rides sometimes or take transit for groceries, for doctors appointments and now no banks. It's ridiculous" Ward 5 Senior

Where To Vote?

Advance Vote Dates

These advance vote opportunities will be available to to all Ward 5 residents:

​Date	​Time	​Location
​ October 8, 2016	​ 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.	​ Community Centre, 200 Doug Duncan Drive
​October 15, 2016	​​12 p.m. to 4 p.m.	​ Municipal Offices, 395 Mulock Drive

Advance Vote Opportunities will also be available to building residents at the following apartments and condominiums on October 12, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.:

• 20 / 40 William Roe Boulevard;
• Founders Place, 540 Timothy Street;



Fairy Lake Gardens votes Oct 12

• Fairy Lake Gardens, 468 / 474 Eagle St.

Voting Day

​​​On Voting Day, October 17, residents of Ward 5 can vote at either of the following locations:

• ​Rogers Public School, 256 Rogers Road;
• Newmarket Seniors Meeting Place, 474 Davis Drive. 
• Special voting opportunities will also be available for residents of Eagle Terrace Nursing Home and the Newmarket Health Centre and Armitage Gardens on Voting Day.

Tom Pearson has helped youth and entertainers gain footholds for over 20 years in Newmarket

Tom's plan to reduce graffiti includes engagement and the creation of Graffiti art areas

Youth in Newmarket have no legal outdoor area to skateboard. It's been suggested we're running right youth out of town.

While Main St's B.O.M. closed, this one opened on Yonge St. Seniors around Main St tell me it's outrageous

Tom Pearson has been hosting neighbourhood events for over 15 years. He's a community and bridges builder.

Affordable housing is coming and 10% of all new development proposals as "affordable" is being legislated.

Tom Pearson plans to expand the car show while adding hundreds of parking spots - at no extra cost to taxpayers.

TP plans to expand the Multicultural Festival to include area restaurants. This train could also serve as shuttle for parking.

Tom's plan revisits Heritage Bylaws / Act designed to preserve heritage spots but used to empty then slowly destroy them

This iconic farmhouse and barn have been allowed to run into disrepair paving way for developers. Tom plans to strike a committee to look at proposing legislation to close loopholes in our Planning Act and Heritage Acts.

Closing loopholes in our Heritage and Planning Acts will help towns better control their buildings and official plans.

An experienced events organizer & promoter, Tom Pearson has plans to make Main St more relevant during Jazz+ Fest

You're not alone, Click here for more details of my platform and background. I Really Do Care.

Newmarket is the lone hold out for after-hours and weekend emerg service to reptiles and feathered friends

Car! Tom Pearson is an Events Specialist - Critical for Ward 5

No more parking woes for an even expanded Main St. Father's Day Sat Car Show if TP is in!

If you're a classic / car fan from the area, you may be familiar with the various car shows in and around town. The Highway 11 Cruisers Car Club host the bulk of them, including a Father's Day Saturday event held in a parking lot at Yonge and Mulock where one of their event sponsors, Parts Source, sits, while on Main St., on Father's Day Sunday, the Newmarket Car Club has previously featured the cars for the show there - however the number of cars in the smaller club limits Main St.'s event somewhat in size and subsequently out of town attendee numbers.

Highway 11 Cruisers C.C.'s Upper Canada Mall show got too big for the Mall to host

I'm a Bridge Builder

Having been acquainted with both Car Clubs for a number of years now, and having promoted Cruisers' annual New years Eve bash particularly, I believe I'm just the guy that can broker having them all together on one street - Main St - for the area's biggest annual car show and attraction the town has ever hosted - on Fathers Day weekend no less! Did I'm mention I'm trained in Group Facilitation by C.M.H.A.? I knew it might come in handy one day. Ha.

In fact I've spoken to both the downtown B.I.A. Chair Glenn Wilson and to the Highway 11 Cruisers President Danny Fachini in the past about adding the latter club to the Main St. mix since their two shows are so close together as they kind of compete against one another, so it would make sense if possible to do just one big show and that is exactly what I've been working on! And they are both receptive to the idea.

Imagine 300 plus cars on and around Main St and Sponsors

So much so in fact, the Cruisers could be willing to stop holding their Parts Source show that same weekend and bring 300 cars to Main St. to make it one of the biggest car show attractions in the G.T.A., if not the biggest, also drawing from all over York Region, Barrie, Brampton and the G.T.H.A.. Imagine a car show on Main with over 300 cars, entertainment and booths! The patios and shops would rock!

On top of that, I've even configured a way to add more parking! How?

Bill Nadeau live performance

The Cruisers end-of-season Sept show attracts up to 1500 people, and it's grown so large they were told they'd have to move from the Upper Canada Mall parking lot where they'd been for a number of years and so moved it to the Go parking lot on Green Lane. But, filled with cars for the show there is then limited parking. So what to do?  

They created a shuttle service provided by one of their sponsors - a car dealership in town - and this is exactly what we'd do for an event on Main as excess parking could be added by shuttling people from the HUGE Tannery Mall parking lot on Davis Drive which sits empty mostly on weekends and evenings. Light bulb moment!

Tom Pearson id proposing to bring sponsors and show to Main instead

Yes, that's right, in one fell swoop, and no extra $, I've just added hundreds of additional parking spots and dollars to the event for Main. We could even have the Tim Horton's Train making additional shuttles along Tom Taylor Trail which would make for a short but fun and scenic ride to the edge of Riverwalk Commons where visitors can easily walk over to the event.

I, in fact, see the car show getting so large and renowned, it may be wise to add Riverwalk Commons to the mix for cars and booths, as I'm sure their various event sponsors including Parts Source, Maple Leaf Sports and New Roads would love the opportunity to be included for more exposure there. In past big shows the Cruiser's have brought attractions like the Toronto Rock (M.L.S.) and other goodies to their shows along with their spectacular variety of cars and this show would become

a flagship town and Main St. event for years to come attracting hundreds more to Main St from out of town.

Cruisers at U.C. Mall in 2014

I'm very excited about this and am itching to make it so. These types of special events are right up my alley, having put on dozens of events myself including 20 in the past 10 years at Riverwalk and Fairy Lake and also at Canada's largest (Toronto) convention centre. Danny knows it and he is excited about the possibility too, and it sure sounded like their numerous club members are too when I addressed this at a recent Tues Cruise Night. And we can then look forward growing it each year, adding much needed extra revenue to the town coffers and the businesses and which is attractive to young and old alike!

Monday Madness meets Motor Cars

Danny and I also discussed the possibility of once a month car shows on Main St. that would again include live street entertainment, like Bill Nadeau, which we could run on an off night such as a Monday or Tuesday to bring additional business again onto Main through the summer. We can only propose it but I think it too would fly!

Cool vendors too

I'm Tom Pearson, I'm running for Ward 5 Councillor in Newmarket and if you put me in, there is no doubt I will use my experience and connections to create more business for Main, and for entertainers, restaurants and shops like you have not seen! I'm a doer, not just a talker, and my track records speaks to that. And I really do care.

Just remember to vote Oct 17 (or before) and let's get these parties started!

Watch for some cool cars to adorn my campaign fundraiser and kick- off party on Mon Sept 12...Staytuned for the Main St locale! Click here for more of my platform and ideas.

Happy New Year!

Main St. Newmarket - Movies Location and More

Nearby movie production location sees beautiful sunsets over Newmarket

Back portion now empty...how about a  Doctor's office?

Main St Newmarket has come a long, long, way for those who have been around to remember. In fact, at one time it was considered somewhat of a dive some years ago before the beautification process began, but she is now well on her way to being a beacon of pride for the town - but we cannot rest on our laurels.

Our Main St has even been featured in a number of feature films including Tommy Boy, the remake of Carrie and most recently Regression with Emma Watts and Ethan Hawke, but they have been few and far between which I believe, through diligence, we can increase that frequency - provided the town doesn't lose its Town Clock which acts as the connector for dating films made there.

I'd like to see more productions shot on Main St

Having been involved with films for a number of years (Film School Grad) including being an award winning documentary Film Maker myself and an Associate Producer of feature films - raising $1,000,000 for productions over 4 years - and including back end credits on feature family films like Super Cross, Hansel & Gretel ( Howie Mandel, Taylor Mumsen) and Miracle Dogs shot at the famous Cleveland Clinic which went # 1 on Animal Planet Channel USA, I feel we need to be more pro-active in attracting Producers to our town for use as a location while adding much needed dollars to the coffers of the town and businesses.

This studio and animals just outside of Newmarket used for movie Night of the Museum with Ben Stiller

I plan to put more than just bugs in Production and Locations Managers ears to get them to consider us - which includes making them aware of additional studios we have available in the area should they need, such as the location at the end of Vivian Road which had scenes from The Titanic including the infamous love scene with DiCaprio and the "top of the world!" scenes as well as Night of the Museum, not to mention the video game Tomb Raider which flew 50 people in from around the world to play in a live version for its launch! Big, big money!

Click to See my short video featuring pics shot during the movies!

This studio was actually built just for the Titanic Movie

Through TPE I can connect prospective productions to this location which boasts 100+ acres, a 5 bedroom house and 20,000 sq feet of studio space including additional kitchen facilities for in-house craft services need be. In fact I've been involved in a number of productions at this locale over 2015-16 and am excited about the prospects of making our local "North Hollywood North" productions more plentiful, adding much needed work for local film production crew workers and talent. Contact me if interested.

More productions would mean not just more work for local crews, but local restaurants and caterers as well

But Main St. also needs to mind its units upkeep, such as when a business fails or closes we need to fill the gaps, and not with just anyone, and be proactive to get the right fit which I've mentioned we need do in my platform, and with VR Business Broker training and experience, I think I'm just the man who can do that. If you've read any of my blogs on Main St. previously over the years you will find that is a common theme of mine. Why wait for a business to try their luck when we can be proactive and work from a wish list of businesses / services we'd like to see on Main that will attract visitors? No offense, but tarot card reading sites or more used clothing places are not what we need there to attract more business. Art gallery types, studios, doctors office to name a few fits.

Former Tequila Club 185 closed - TP has set up the owners with a qualified interested party

Proactive

Two weeks ago I found out the Tequila 185 Club location had closed down beneath Made In Mexico. The next week I had a qualified potential new club owner meeting up with the building owner and looking at the empty spot. He's now asked to see the lease offer already knowing some particulars so that is good and my experience has me ensuring to qualify any potential business or tenant before setting up a meeting and that is what I've done here. I don't like to waste anyone's time, including mine, as I'm very busy.

Whilst walking along Main later that same day, a senior approached where the bank recently moved out and was quite verbal about his disgust.

TP wants to add Highway 11 Cruisers to the Main St. show along with Newmarket Car Club, making it the areas largest!

"Where do they expect seniors to go to bank?", he'd asked, " all these restaurants on Main now, but what about seniors? We have to travel everywhere for anything and get a ride or pay for transit which is terrible here, and its just outrageous", he continued, mentioning doctors offices also as a deterrent for seniors living on or near Main St.

Which got me thinking - doctors offices! I may not be able to convince rich banks to remain but yea, why don't we have any doctor's offices on Main St? And if we did, where would any go? Light-bulb moment - What about the empty food bank location that is now becoming available?

Apparently the developers plan to reveal its history underneath...

I believe we need make a "wish list" of businesses ( see my 2014 blog) and services we'd like to see on Main and not only pursue them, but offer some sort of rebate for the first year or two to ensure they have a better opportunity to survive the start up stages.

If you weren't lucky enough to catch these guys on Main recently don't despair..I plan to make Main more atmospheric

I'm Tom Pearson, I'm running for Newmarket's Ward 5 Councillor, and I believe if people really take the time to have a look at my political experience, combined with my community building initiatives success, business experience, and ideas, they will choose me. I didn't just show up in the ward election time, I've been there for years. And I've not just been "fingering the pulse of the community" but been up to my elbows in it for 20 years, making it better. Because I really do care.

This business owner welcomes my idea to art up this wall and its opposite to help curb Graffiti