While much of the GTA's recent development boom has been concentrated across Toronto's new high-rise towers, many of the region's surrounding communities are also enjoying unprecedented growth. In the eastern GTA, the town of Ajax has experienced an astounding "48% population growth over 10 years," LeMine's Thomas Liu tells us, highlighting a population that rose from just over 73,000 in 2001 to almost 110,000 residents in 2011.

Thomas Liu with the scale model for phase one of Central Park Ajax, image by Jack Landau

35 minutes away from Toronto's Union Station by GO train, Liu sees Downtown Ajax as an increasingly attractive community for new residents. Boasting "a young and high-income population"—compared to national averages—Liu describes LeMine's upcoming Central Park Ajax community as a vital step in creating a more urban heart for the growing town.

An aerial view of the Central Park Ajax community, with Phase One highlighted, image courtesy of LeMine

Set to rise directly across from Ajax's town hall on Harwood Avenue, the master-planned Central Park development will eventually add some "3,000 residential units, 200 retailers, and 1,300 office spaces to the Downtown," Liu tells us. With sales for the first phase now underway, Central Park Ajax kicks off with two Kirkor Architects-designed buildings (seen below), which will add 410 residential units to the community. 

A closer look at the phase one buildings, image courtesy of LeMine

A "2-3 minute drive to the Ajax GO station, which has 1,300 free parking spaces," Liu underscores Central Park's proximity to transit, which makes commuting to Downtown Toronto a viable option. However, Liu also stresses that the development will contribute to creating "a more complete community" in central Ajax.

A woonerf-style street is planned as the heart of the community, image courtesy of LeMine

While the project site already features a walkscore of 82—with grocery stores, restaurants, and a public library within walking distance—onsite retail and office space will contribute to a more vibrant public realm. A central north-south woonerf is also set to span the length of the Central Park community, fostering a more "pedestrian-friendly, urban experience."

Ample street-level retail is planned for the community, enlivening the public realm, image courtesy of LeMine

The phase one buildings will feature amenities including a "conference & meeting room, library, children's play centre, and a yoga studio." The amenities corridor overlooks a rooftop terrace, which will provide residents with a relaxing multi-purpose space outfitted with barbecues, cabanas, and landscaping. The Central Park community's first phase will feature landscaping by The MBTW Group / Watchorn Architect, and interiors by DKStudio.

The rooftop amenity area, image courtesy of LeMine

In the coming months, we will return with more information about Ajax's largest development. In the meanwhile, additional information and renderings can be found in the project's dataBase file, linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion? Check out the associated Forum threads, or leave a comment using the space provided at the bottom of this page.