MORE THAN 20 local business owners attended a meeting on Feb. 25 to discuss the possibility of forming a business improvement area on Yonge Street in the historic Thornhill area.

“The area is in desperate need of revitalization,” said Coun. Alan Shefman. “It is not walkable, and there is a tremendous potential, and we all really want to tap that potential.”

BIAs have been highly successful in Toronto, Shefman said, where municipalities match funds raised by local businesses in order to improve the streetscape of the district with flowers, benches or other kinds of street furniture.

In this case, two municipalities would be involved in the organization, with Vaughan on the west side of Yonge Street and Markham to the east.

But Jeff Bryce and his father, Malcolm Bryce, who owns PSA Insurance, worry that the BIA will be powerless against the strength of the historical society established years ago in the area. For example, Bryce said, the society requested the planned subway station as part of the Yonge Street extension be built north of Centre Street, even though many see it as a natural centre for the community.

“Although I commend them for their ability to influence decision makers, heritage is not the only voice for residents in Thornhill and clearly not for business,” Bryce said. “As such, it is time that the voice of others be heard.”

But those at heritage say they will welcome the opportunity to work with a future BIA.

“I think it is a misconception that heritage is trying to prevent them from doing what they want,” said Coun. Valerie Burke, who sits on the heritage board. “All that heritage wants to do is keep the heritage — we don’t have a lot of heritage.”

The next step, said Shefman, is that business owners will have to vote on whether or not to establish the BIA.