Feb 03, 2010 - 10:21 AM

By Jennifer Stone

NEWCASTLE -- Shoppers Drug Mart has been given a very specific prescription for its proposal to build a new store at Newcastle’s main intersection: if it’s to be built, make sure it’s in keeping with the village’s historical theme.

“We urge the developers to bring forward a design that respects the theme of the downtown core,” said Newcastle Village and District Historical Society president Allan Kirby, during the public meeting on the proposal Monday.

His sentiment was echoed by residents and politicians.

The drug store giant has proposed a 15,144-square-foot, one-storey building on the southeast corner of King Avenue and Mill Street. Construction would result in demolition of a number of existing buildings, constructed between 1845 and 1957, including: the current Village Card and Gift Shoppe; a newly-opened candy store; and a Mill Street house which was converted a few years ago to a restaurant, then, more recently, to a financial planning service.

Over and over, representatives of the developer proposing the building were told the building must fit with Newcastle’s historical character.

King and Mill is a “special corner in Newcastle,” Vic Suppan, of Clarington’s heritage committee, said. He urged the developers to “build a building that really should be there.”

Concerns were raised about a number of other matters, beyond preserving heritage and character. Traffic, trash and parking all came up.

The developer has proposed reducing the number of parking spots available from 47 to 26. Clarington’s engineering department stated reservations about that, as did Newcastle resident Ron Warne.

“I’m thinking there would likely be 26 people who work at Shoppers Drug Mart,” Mr. Warne said.

Not only the building but the signage must be in keeping with the village’s character, he added.

“Both have to really respect what we have in Newcastle and would like to keep,” Mr. Warne said.

But Pauline Storks, the current owner of much of the property which would be purchased by developers if the plan is approved, said she trusted the developers would do right by the community, and urged others to butt out.

“It’s great for these people to come from the city,” said Ms. Storks, who has lived in the village for more than eight decades. “But you can’t come into a village or a municipality and tell the people who have lived there all their lives what they should be doing.

“These people will put up a building that you will be very proud of, and if they don’t, I’ll be back.”

The business community welcomes an anchor store like Shoppers Drug Mart, said Theresa Vanhaverbeke, of the BIA, and Carl Good, of Newcastle Funeral Home. Building a facility that respects Newcastle’ heritage would be worthwhile to the company, despite extra costs that may be involved, Mr. Good said.

“The frustrations you’re experiencing now ,.. will be well rewarded by loyalty and community buy-in,” he told the developers’ representatives.

One of the developers was quick to reassure the building would be appropriate to the village.

“It is going to be a very, very different building than what a standard prototypical Shoppers would be,” said David Taras of F and I Gateway Investments, the company proposing the construction. “We want to be proud of what we’re building as well.

“We want to ensure the public, which are the people who are going to shop there, are happy with the building as well.”

The matter will be subject of an upcoming open house in Newcastle, and was referred back to Clarington staff for further study and another report before council will make a decision.