CUDDY SHARK
INDEPENDENCE DAY
OUR VIEW
EXPECT DIFFERENT CANES SEASON PAGE B7
NEW HOUSING HELPS DISABLED PAGE B1 LIVE WITH DIGNITY
INDEPENDENT PROBE NEEDED ON WINT CAS CASE PAGE A6
THE ERA
FORD FUSION ENERGI
NEWMARKET
Publicationmail agreement #40051189
$1 STORE SALES / 34 PAGES
■
Thursday, June 2, 2016
■
yorkregion.com
Get up to
102 MpG! 18001 LESLIE ST,
905-853-8888
(South of Greenlane) Newmarket
905-853-5000
TEAM AMAZING EMILY
HOUSING - AN IN-DEPTH SERIES
This could be war GTA real estate a relatively safe investment gamble, experts say BY CHRIS SIMON
I
csimon@yrmg.com
f you’re planning to buy a house in the Greater Toronto Area, be prepared to go to war. As demand in the local housing market increases substantially on an almost monthly basis, so, too, does the number of bidding wars. Graham Jones, a Re/Max Hallmark agent who has worked in the industry for 25 years, just sold a house in a bidding war that netted his clients a substantial profit. Their Richmond Hill bungalow was listed for $899,000. There were nine bidders and the property sold for $1.43 million. He compares the sale to “winning the lottery” for his clients. “It was underpriced a little bit to set up the bidding war, but still, it set records all over the place,” Jones said. “We had three bidders that were just beating the living daylights out of each other. We didn’t know where they were going to stop. It’s a nice home, but it’s a 65-year-old, 900-square-foot bungalow on a 50-foot lot. They (sellers) are so happy. I can’t even begin to tell you. They’re retiring and going to buy a piece of property up north and build a house.
They got way more money in their pocket than they expected. They’re absolutely thrilled. Every deal I’ve done in the past two years has been multiple offers.” It seems this story is becoming commonplace. The Toronto Real Estate Board reported a 12.6-per-cent increase in home selling prices in April, when compared to the same period last year. The average home sold for $766,472 in Toronto in April, compared to $690,658 in April 2015. Throughout the rest of the GTA, average prices also increased from $605,336 in April 2015 to $724,235 this year. The increase is blamed on several factors. Interests rates are at or near record lows, the Canadian dollar lags behind other world currencies and, historically, GTA real estate is a relatively safe investment gamble.
BUSINESS
We’re renovating The York Region Media Group’s headquarters at 580B Steven Crt. in Newmarket, home to The Newmarket Era/Aurora Banner/ East Gwillimbury Express/Vaughan Citizen/ Markham Economist & Sun/Richmond Hill/ Thornhill Liberal and King Connection, is undergoing renovations. The office will be closed to the public while construction workers are on site, starting 9 a.m. tomorrow (June 3) and will re-open 9 a.m. Wednesday, June 15. To minimize disruption, and for your convenience, our phone lines will be operational during this time and staff will be working remotely and available via email. Deliveries can be sent to 250 Industrial Pkwy. N., Aurora. Advertising representatives will visit clients as usual and our reporters and photographers will be out in the community during this time. Please call the main office at 905-853-8888 for any inquires and we will be happy to assist you. We appreciate your patience and support during this time period and we look forward to returning to our fresh new office soon.
See page A3.
Staff photo/Mike Barrett
The 40th edition of the Upper Canada Mall Easter Seals Run/Walkathon attracted hundreds Sunday at Riverwalk Commons in Newmarket. Since its inception in 1976, the event has raised more than $3 million for Easter Seals Ontario and money raised has benefitted local children. Team ‘Amazing Emily’, friends and family of Emily Kerr, celebrate the achievement. For the story and more photographs, follow this link: bit.ly/1P5tIuW
LOCAL ECONOMY
Town seeks downtown parking solutions Old fire hall to remain intact, more spaces sought BY CHRIS SIMON
M
csimon@yrmg.com
ain Street’s old fire hall will remain standing for a while longer. It appears Newmarket will not demolish the aging Main building. Instead, council is expected to vote on a more encompassing draft parking plan for the downtown area — which includes a recommendation to keep the fire hall structure intact — during a meeting Monday night. Under the proposal, up to 33 new parking spots will be built at the Fairy
Lake lot for about $150,000, while a maximum of 22 will be constructed in the municipal space behind Cachet restaurant. The town will also develop a parking plan for Old Town Hall. “We need to give a little thought to the Old Town Hall opening,” Regional Councillor John Taylor said. “This will be a very popular venue. I’m thinking something that looks at some of the surrounding areas. This provides us with a great opportunity to add some parking spots. See page A7.
SPORTS & RECREATION
BY CHRIS SIMON
csimon@yrmg.com
t’s still too early to determine if plans for a redevelopment on the current Hollingsworth Arena site are feasible, Newmarket Mayor Tony Van Bynen said. The municipality expects to receive detailed drawings and plans from San Michael Homes Developments, the builder who says it wants to purchase the site as part of a $130-million redevelopment project near the Davis Staff file photo Drive and Patterson Road intersection, within the next few weeks. Town taking ‘wait and see’ approach toward arena development until But in a candid interview with officials have a ‘good understanding’ of what is being proposed by The Era Tuesday, Van Bynen and builder San Michael Homes Developments. recreation and culture director Colin Service noted the town is San Michael has said it hopes taking a ‘wait and see’ approach to begin construction by March toward the development. 2017. The developer unveiled its “We need the level of detail proposal for the Hollingsworth ❑ Tell us what you think about we’re comfortable with,” Van site about a year ago. this issue. Email tkibble@yrmg. Bynen said. “It’s not an easy deciThe interview comes days com sion for us to give any considerafter town staff revealed negotiaation to entering into an agreetions between the municipalment that involves municipal the extent that we can bring that ity and Pickering College on a property. Our first objective is to message to our community, so potential replacement for Holhave a good understanding of our community feels like they’re what is being proposed and to getting good value. We’re taking have that proposal developed to the time to get it right.” See page A4.
GET CONNECTED
Chemical Peels
15% off
Laser Hair Removal
15% off
C
M
Y
Staff file photo
COMMUNITY
Town alters plans for arena proposal
I
Parking plan for Old Town Hall in the works as the town seeks new downtown options.
Celebration of life Saturday for Lauren Mueller Newmarket woman, 25, died in crash Sunday night BY JEREMY GRIMALDI
jgrimaldi@yrmg.com
A
celebration of life will be held Saturday in memory of Lauren Elaine Mueller, the young woman who died in a single-vehicle collision in Holland Landing. Mueller, 25, from Newmarket, was discovered by police at Old Yonge and Yonge streets at around 11 p.m. Sunday after her pick-up truck left the road and ended up in a ditch. Police remain unsure as to what occurred in the lead up to the crash. A number of people left tributes
to Lauren on the Roadhouse and Rose Funeral Home. “We are so very sorry for your loss,” Steve and Jessica Rattray wrote. “You have our sincerest sympathies and concern.” “We were so sorry to hear about Lauren,” wrote Anita and Allan Fletcher. “All our love and prayers to [you].” Others expressed their sorrow at Mueller’s untimely passing. The celebration of life is at the East Gwillimbury Sports Complex, on Mount Albert Road, in Sharon on Saturday between 1 and 2 p.m. with a small service at 2 p.m.
WHAT’S ONLINE ❐ GET DAILY BREAKING NEWS: Delivered to your email every morning: bit.ly/1WMDTfv
June Beauty Specials York Vein & Laser Clinic www.yorkvein.com 647 Davis Drive, Newmarket 905-853-3200 contact@yorkvein.com Dr. Philip Kritzinger MD
❐ DINE SAFE YORK: Find out which eateries aren’t meeting health standards. bit.ly/1KpTRrt