01l. 13 No. M Wednesq De cember 7, 1983 24 Pages ý M I Next step forministry: Purhase h'omes The purchasing of three Whitby homes is the next barrier the region must overcome in securing the GO ALRT.rail transit route from Pickering to Oshawa. The mimsâtry of tran- sportation, and com- munications has asked Durham region to pur- chase the remaining homes by April 1, 1984. The region currently owns five homes on the west side of Brock St. Regional council, will look into this issue at this Wednesday's meeting. In the meantime, -the rickety Brock St. bridge is just a few steps awayý from being reconstruc- ted to a four lane over- pass -to 'Highway' 401, providing ail goes well. This reconstruction was, initiaily-held,.backi, whentAhe 'GO -ALRT project.came along. The region had been waiting for federal funding. A report from the ministry of transpor- tation states that they will reimburse Durham for the funds needed to purchase the remaining homes. As the Region has already taken the initial steps of pur- chasing the first five homes when they became available, they wil continue to pur- chase the remainder of the homes. The' region is also prepared to expropriate if problems arise- with home owners, but they are hoping that they will be able to strike a deal. Chairman of the region's works commit- tee, Whitby Councillor Gerry Emm, feels this would be a positive move. "We want the GO ALRT System to be ex- tended, east of Metro, .and, we should .help» any way,*we can. <Work on the GO ALRT system is hoped to begin in early 1984. ,Neighbourhood gro up rej eet s Apartmelnt Plan There may soon- be "9war in the trenches'-? if neighbourhood grup led by Mary Ellen McQuay of 204. Byron St., Whitby, carinnot reach a compromise regarding the Dr. W. Butts- Medical Clinuc and the potent-ial1 development of' a 6- storey apartment building on the west side of Brock St. and on the Byron St. residential properties north of Mary. St. McQuay presented a brief to Whitby Town Council Monday might asking that the ap- plication for reasoning be opposed due to the implications involved in the- proposed land use. She also requested that an Interim Control By- law be passed. The neighbourhoocl group revealed that their area, consisting of single family dweilngs, is of archetectural and historical significance. The construction of an apartment may devalue this- adjacent com- munity. Dr. W. Butts, who also attended Council, said he admired the research of the neighbourhood group but, the concept of the apartment development is permit- ted by the "R5" zone and is in keeping with established >Official Plan policies for the downtown area. Butta believes the building wil add rather than detract from the downtown core. He is prepared to negotiate with the Planning Department 'to ac- comodate the'concerns of the group. Recommendation is before Coumdil to allow the expansion of the medical clinic. Without the expansion there. is adequate room for an eight-storey complex. w Downtown sparkles The Town workers were busy ail day Iast Tuesday, preparing Whitby for the Christmas season. Decorations were placed on the lights down the main streets of Dundas and'Brook1 and an enormous, gold Christmas tree suspended in the mliddle of the four corners.