Queensway (Simcoe, Ontario)

Infobox road
marker_

highway_name=Ontario Provincial Highway 3
alternate_name=Queensway
maint=the Government of Ontario


length_km=5.0
direction_a=West
terminus_a=Quarter Line Road
direction_b=East
terminus_b=Ireland Side Road
counties=Norfolk County
cities=Simcoe
system=

The Queensway is a street that is considered to be the legal name of Highway 3 within the community of Simcoe, Ontario, Canada. Limits for the Queensway are considered to be the Quarter Line Road (westernmost) and the Ireland Side Road (easternmost). This street is most friendly to privately owned vehicles. However, construction is underway to increase the amount of land dedicated to sidewalks along the eastern portion of the Queensway [The Simcoe Reformer - July 30, 2008] .

The total distance from the westernmost point of Queensway West and the easternmost point of Queensway East is approximately 5 kilometers. As a pivotal road for the community of Simcoe, the Queensway intersects with many town and country roads between the Quarter Line Road terminus and Ireland Side Road terminus. A soccer field that was used prior to the opening of "Norfolk County Youth Soccer Park" in Hillcrest and a defunct baseball field (located next door from the local Dairy Queen) used for little league baseball games were keen examples of youth-oriented sporting fields located within a brief driving distance from their respective intersections.

Economic strength

National chain restaurants

The Queensway is home to the following national chain restaurants: Boston Pizza, Kelsey's, Harvey's/Swiss Chalet, Dairy Queen, McDonald's, Fast Eddie's, Subway, Pizza Hut, Tim Hortons, and Wendy's. Burger King was once found on the Queensway but was replaced by Wendy's in the early 1990s. There has been no plans by Burger King to re-establish themselves either on the Queensway or elsewhere in Simcoe. Arby's is another national chain which competed on the Queensway for 20 years, but was closed because the current owner did not want to renew for another 20 year contract with Arby's: It remains closed at this time, but with the current signage in place, suggesting that Arby's is looking for another franchise for the spot. While most restaurants are accessible almost solely by automobile, the Wendy's is frequently patroned by the local high school students due to its close walking distance.

Wal-Mart and other big box stores

The grand opening of the 110,000 square foot Wal-Mart on January 24, 2008 and the operations of the store for the next 12 months has assisted development in Simcoe and Norfolk County. Canadian Tire has had the longest presense of any big chain on the Queensway. Zellers and TSC are considered to be the most recent stores operating on the Queensway; Zellers opened in 1997 while TSC opened circa 2007. Shoppers Drug Mart opened a franchise on the corner of the Queensway and Hwy 24 in 2007. The construction that was underway of a Staples Business Depot was completed near the end of August 2008; the store will have its grand opening prior to October 2008. A local franchise of the A & P supermarket chain is located here (which will become a Metro store by the year 2010), as well as a Real Canadian Superstore.

Since the mid 1990s, Blockbuster Video has offered rented movies and video games from various video game consoles to their members. Reitmans is planning a move from the Simcoe Town Center mall to the Queensway sometime around early 2009.

Car dealerships

There is one Dodge/Chrysler dealership, two Chevrolet/GM/Pontiac dealerships, and a Ford/Lincoln dealership for those who are interested in domestic vehicles. Honda, Toyota, and Hyundai dealerships are also located on the Queensway. All of these dealerships sell either used and/or new cars that range from compact vehicles to SUVs; prices range from budget to luxury. Despite climbing gas prices in 2008, the Simcoe Reformer reported that SUV and truck sales were still high in the area because of its rural background.

Independent businesses

Various local merchants and national franchised businesses have dealt with bookselling, providing travel agent services, and other services of necessity and luxury. These types of businesses are either currently functioning on the Queensway or functioned on the Queensway during its existence. An animal hospital is located on the western part of the Queensway called the Queensway Animal Hospital. Eli's Guns moved in 2008 from a downtown location to the Queensway, across from the recently built TSC store to take advantage of the area. Roulston's had a short-lived business venture on the Queensway before re-allocating their resources to their downtown store. Inside of the Real Canadian Superstore, there is a community center along with a medical clinic.

Evolution

The 1990s and the 2000s

Economic growth for the Queensway has not always been welcomed by council members and local downtown businesses looking to protect their enterprises. From the early 1990s to the year 2007, the Queensway has undertaken an evolutionary process of development with the support of the former municipal council in Simcoe and the current Norfolk County council. In addition to this, the rest of Norfolk County became economically stagnant with the decline in the tobacco industry. The county's currently adopted Official Plan (OP) will assist the entire county with economic development. This official plan process was started in January 2001, with the amalgamation of the lower tier municipalities into one upper level called Norfolk County. This plan was adopted by the members of the Norfolk County council and was lead by the OP Steering Committee.

Zoning

While some units intended for housing individuals and family units remain either on or near the street, the area has been zoned mostly commercial with little residential or industrial since the 1990s. New housing, however, is being constructed on the western fringe of the Queensway at the site where the old Norview Manor was closed and demolished (Norview Manor was eventually rebuilt and opened a year later as a larger building further away from the Queensway). Another development has been zoned on the east side, beside the Zellers/Real Canadian Superstore area. Close to the Queensway on secondary roads and on Norfolk Street (legally known as Ontario provincial Highway 24 outside the town limits of Simcoe), industrial buildings like factories and manufacturing plants can be easily driven to.

Henry H. Misner Ltd., a historic fishing company, constructed a fish factory that will process the fish after being caught in Lake Erie [The Simcoe Reformer - August 16, 2007] . This factory started operation in the fall of 2007 and is expected to replace the antiquated fish plant in Port Dover.

The effects on conservative downtown merchants

The downtown core houses locally owned versions of Leon's, The Bargain Shop, Circuit City, Home Hardware and other stores. While these stores change their names occasionally, many are still run by the same families that came to Simcoe more than 100 years ago. Pizza Pizza, being opened in the summer of 2006 is considered to be the most recent addition to the conservative downtown shopping area. The Queensway has benefitted from past decision makers whose vision is now being seen. In order to compete with the burgeoning Queensway, the downtown business area is working hard to promote and entice people to the core. The downtown streets have been recently renovated to improve the aesthetics of the area. The lack of parking makes the downtown a difficult prospect for the aging demographics of the area, and families with small children.

Two major parking areas by the downtown are more than a block away from the main stores, making it nearly impossible for anyone to "run in" to a downstore store for a quick purchase. Downtown stores also generally close at 5:30 - 6pm, whereas the outlying stores on the Queensway stay open until 9pm (Real Canadian Superstore), 10pm (Wal-Mart), or midnight (Shopper's Drug Mart), which cater to the shift worker and young family demographics as well.

References