Chuck
Senior Member
Big plans for the Shoppes on Steeles Mall, situated at the northeast corner of Don Mills and Steeles in Thornhill. If approved, it would strengthen the case for a Don Mills LRT. Could also see the first 30+ storey building in York Region.
Urban village to replace mall
Business
Thornhill Liberal
Nov 01, 2007 03:35 AM
By: David Fleischer, Staff Writer
by David Fleischer
Staff Writer
It has been a landmark for 30 years, but The Shoppes on Steeles and 404 mall could have a very different future ahead of it.
Bayview Development Summit Ltd. unveiled plans to replace the Thornhill shopping centre with a “self-contained urban villageâ€, called Markhamgate Summit.
The $350-million proposal, still awaiting town approval, calls for redevelopment of the entire 18- acre site, except for the Esso station on the west side.
Seven buildings with 2,000 condominium units housing approximately 5,200 residents are proposed.
One of the buildings on Don Mills Road just north of Steeles Avenue would be 10-storeys tall, with others ranging up to 32 stories along Steeles.
There will also be more than 200,000 square feet of retail and office space.
If all goes according to plan, tenants could be move in by 2012, with the entire redevelopment complete in 10 years.
But construction won’t start until at least 2010 on the mixed-use neighbourhood, dubbed a “lifestyle shopping centreâ€, with a pedestrian-friendly main street.
“For at least the next three years, it will be business as usual,†marketing director Kris Kellestine said.
Originally opened as Markham Place, the centre recently celebrated its 30th anniversary.
Tenants were only notified last week and, “They’ve been absolutely fabulous. We’re hoping to carry everyone with us,†she said.
Several tenants have been there since the mall opened and so far they are taking a wait-and-see attitude.
“I don’t like to be too concerned too far in advance,†said The Trend Shoppe’s owner Jack Ladowsky.
He said protests when the mall was being built led to it being downsized. Once it was open, however, it became obvious a bigger shopping centre would have worked better on the site which he described as the best geographic location in the GTA, next to Yorkdale Shopping Centre.
While traffic at the mall has never been in Yorkdale’s league, Mr. Ladowsky said his store has built up a wonderful clientele and they would like to stay, depending how things unfold.
“On paper, it looks like a nice development,†he said. “It may be right for the area.â€
Folino’s Hair Design and TD Canada Trust are original tenants as is the Sears Outlet, which was once a full-service department store.
Bayview Summit’s planning report notes the mall faces stiff competition and needs to accommodate mixed uses to remain viable.
The plan also points out how intensifying development gels with the province’s Places to Grow plan, which asks Markham and other municipalities to direct 40 per cent of all new growth to existing sites, rather than sprawling further outwards.
Councillor Erin Shapero said that while Places to Grow endorses intensification, that does not mean it should go everywhere.
“With a proposal of this size and scale there are so many factors to consider.â€
She said she hopes the public process will be more extensive than for a typical development proposal.
Because an official plan amendment would be required there will be many meetings and reports in the coming months and years.
Her own priority is to ensure that the needs of the existing community are balanced with development on the site.
The site is served by TTC and York Region Transit. The province’s Move2020 plan includes upgrading the Don Mills bus line to a rapid transit line, improving access to the Sheppard and Bloor subway lines.
Ms Kellestine said there should also be less need for residents to drive since everything from grocery shopping to cafes will be part of the development.
An information booth is now open outside the Food Basics and you can visit www.markhamgatesummit.com for further details.
Urban village to replace mall
Business
Thornhill Liberal
Nov 01, 2007 03:35 AM
By: David Fleischer, Staff Writer
by David Fleischer
Staff Writer
It has been a landmark for 30 years, but The Shoppes on Steeles and 404 mall could have a very different future ahead of it.
Bayview Development Summit Ltd. unveiled plans to replace the Thornhill shopping centre with a “self-contained urban villageâ€, called Markhamgate Summit.
The $350-million proposal, still awaiting town approval, calls for redevelopment of the entire 18- acre site, except for the Esso station on the west side.
Seven buildings with 2,000 condominium units housing approximately 5,200 residents are proposed.
One of the buildings on Don Mills Road just north of Steeles Avenue would be 10-storeys tall, with others ranging up to 32 stories along Steeles.
There will also be more than 200,000 square feet of retail and office space.
If all goes according to plan, tenants could be move in by 2012, with the entire redevelopment complete in 10 years.
But construction won’t start until at least 2010 on the mixed-use neighbourhood, dubbed a “lifestyle shopping centreâ€, with a pedestrian-friendly main street.
“For at least the next three years, it will be business as usual,†marketing director Kris Kellestine said.
Originally opened as Markham Place, the centre recently celebrated its 30th anniversary.
Tenants were only notified last week and, “They’ve been absolutely fabulous. We’re hoping to carry everyone with us,†she said.
Several tenants have been there since the mall opened and so far they are taking a wait-and-see attitude.
“I don’t like to be too concerned too far in advance,†said The Trend Shoppe’s owner Jack Ladowsky.
He said protests when the mall was being built led to it being downsized. Once it was open, however, it became obvious a bigger shopping centre would have worked better on the site which he described as the best geographic location in the GTA, next to Yorkdale Shopping Centre.
While traffic at the mall has never been in Yorkdale’s league, Mr. Ladowsky said his store has built up a wonderful clientele and they would like to stay, depending how things unfold.
“On paper, it looks like a nice development,†he said. “It may be right for the area.â€
Folino’s Hair Design and TD Canada Trust are original tenants as is the Sears Outlet, which was once a full-service department store.
Bayview Summit’s planning report notes the mall faces stiff competition and needs to accommodate mixed uses to remain viable.
The plan also points out how intensifying development gels with the province’s Places to Grow plan, which asks Markham and other municipalities to direct 40 per cent of all new growth to existing sites, rather than sprawling further outwards.
Councillor Erin Shapero said that while Places to Grow endorses intensification, that does not mean it should go everywhere.
“With a proposal of this size and scale there are so many factors to consider.â€
She said she hopes the public process will be more extensive than for a typical development proposal.
Because an official plan amendment would be required there will be many meetings and reports in the coming months and years.
Her own priority is to ensure that the needs of the existing community are balanced with development on the site.
The site is served by TTC and York Region Transit. The province’s Move2020 plan includes upgrading the Don Mills bus line to a rapid transit line, improving access to the Sheppard and Bloor subway lines.
Ms Kellestine said there should also be less need for residents to drive since everything from grocery shopping to cafes will be part of the development.
An information booth is now open outside the Food Basics and you can visit www.markhamgatesummit.com for further details.
