Jan 29, 2010 - 04:30 AM

By Reka Szekely

AJAX -- Pickering Village, the oldest part of Ajax, is due for a facelift and Town officials are hoping upper levels of government will help them achieve just that.

Part of the revitalization of the village is a $2.5-million reconstruction of Old Kingston Road. Ajax has applied for a federal grant to cover half the costs and Paul Allore, the Town's director of planning and development services, said if the money comes through the work can be done in 2010 instead of the currently projected 2011.

"We've identified Pickering Village as a tourist and cultural hub for the Town," said Mr. Allore, adding the Town sees a huge potential for both business growth and the growth of arts and culture in the area, anchored by the revamping of St. Francis de Sales church into a performing arts centre.

The Old Kingston Road improvements include narrowing the road and widening the sidewalks and adding pedestrian-friendly features like benches, potted plants and distinctive lighting. There are also plans for bicycle racks and a public square space.

The Pickering Village BIA fully supports the upgrades, said Jeremy de Mel, chairman of the BIA's management board.

"Pickering Village is one of the key gateways into the town and it's got a lot of untapped potential right now," said Mr. de Mel.

He said making the area more pedestrian friendly has several benefits and a public square could be used for annual BIA activities including the jazz festival, Easter egg hunt and Christmas tree lighting.

"There's a greater opportunity for people to leave their cars at home and to walk to and through the area," he said, adding that will give people the opportunity to browse local businesses.

"There's a huge amount of development just north of the Pickering Village and there's literally hundreds and hundreds of homes within a very, very short walking distance."

The work is just one part of the plan to revitalize the village, said Mr. Allore. Ajax will also offer incentives, including development charge exemptions and building permit fee refunds, for new businesses and projects that fit into the Town's vision for Pickering Village.

Mr. Allore said these types of incentives work, pointing to the townhouse complex built by Sundial on the old Verona Mall site at Bayly Street and Monarch Avenue. That development is part of the revitalization of Ajax's downtown.

There are also plans for a facade improvement program for the existing businesses on Old Kingston Road.

In December, the Town announced the Pharmaceutical Advertising Advisory Board will locate its national headquarters at Kingston Road and Elizabeth Street in the Village. The organization will build a two-storey Victorian-style building to fit with the character of Pickering Village and will incorporate an urban square, featuring public seating and a public art piece.

In addition to the Old Kingston Road dollars, the Town is asking the feds to fund half the $4.7 million it will cost to connect Fairall Street to Station Street in Ajax's industrial area.

"It will require property acquisition, but I can't identify the properties in question until we can complete the negotiations," said Mr. Allore.

As it stands, many people cut through the area from the Westney Road Hwy. 401 exit or the GO station on their way to Harwood Avenue and the downtown. They must make a left turn from Fairall onto Dowty Road and then a right onto Station Street. When the roads get busy, there are bottlenecks which eliminating the turns would reduce.

Fairall west of Dowty requires reconstruction because of aging sewer and water pipes, regardless of whether it is connected to Station Street, said Mr. Allore, and it would be ideal to do all the work at once.