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Downtown Markham

I don't think any of the bids have been released. Given Vaughan is across the street and Richmond Hill is still very close, I think Markham would make the most sense for a satellite campus given it's far enough away but still connected via 407 buses and VIVA. It's also the furthest along with its new downtown and is right next door to major employers.
 
Its a great way to build transit demand (and therefor justify high levels of service) to Downtown Markham. If it has good access to Unionville and the 15 minute GO service goes through, it would build that, build VIVA Purple ridership, and strengthen highway 407 bus service to get to and from the main campus.
 
Well, I hope the idea is also to provide a university in York Region and partner with local industry, etc. Given all the issues at York's main campus, having a school in a more urban environment (by outer 416 and 905 standards) also won't be a bad thing. I'm not sure having one giant campus with 100,000 or whatever students is really desirable. Having a 10,000-20,000 student campus in Markham could make for a nice campus experience if everything is executed well given it would be in the heart of a new downtown, but still near parkland (the rouge lands) and old Unionville.
 
JasonParis said:
I'm also not sure I get why a satellite campus even makes sense with plenty of land still available at Keele Campus (and two subway stations to boot!)
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That can be justified simply by having the campus appeal to a different "market." After all, they already have Glendon down at Bayview/Lawrence.

Personally, I would have thought going up north makes more sense than something so close to York's existing campus (ESPECIALLY in Vaughan) but what do I know?

It's interesting that Markham, RH and Vaughan are all trying to get it for their new "downtowns" and Markham is also considering Langstaff Gateway, which means 50% of the possible sites are at Yonge/7. That's interesting to consider. I'm curious where it's all going.
 
Actually, York U explicitly requested to get the site in a "urban" center. Personally, I also thought the new campus should be far away from the existing ones. When NORTH is not an option, go EAST then.

However, a university was not in the original plan of Downtown Markham. If York U chooses Downtown Markham, I will be very interested to see how the plan may change.
 
Does a University Campus really stimulate economic development in an area?
With the exception of downtown Toronto, take a look at the other campuses in the GTA (York Keele/Finch, U of T Scarborough, Seneca Newnham, etc) there doesn't seem to be anything so fantastic with those areas. If a post-secondary campus is so great, why haven't we seen a huge amount of economic activity in those areas?
Do University Students really go off campus during the days to dine at restaurants and shop at high-end retailers?
From my days in University, everyone seemed to just eat at the cheap fast-food options on campus (Tim Hortons, pizza pizza, burger king, subway, etc).
Do University students really have the money to spend in a surrounding community to really stimulate economic growth?

I'm not sure that I am sold on the idea that a York University campus would be a good fit for Downtown Markham.
 
kafar said:
Actually, York U explicitly requested to get the site in a "urban" center. Personally, I also thought the new campus should be far away from the existing ones. When NORTH is not an option, go EAST then.

However, a university was not in the original plan of Downtown Markham. If York U chooses Downtown Markham, I will be very interested to see how the plan may change.
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People said the same thing about an arena. No, it's not in there explicitly but obviously the goal is to have a 24/7, mixed-use centre and there is nothing about putting York U there that contradicts the plan. On the contrary, it would probably be more lively and successful, as an urban environment, than the original campus. I think it will fit fairly well in any of the short-listed sites and provide a nice centre around which they can build. I guess I'd give a narrow edge to Downtown Markham just because it's the furthest from York but if the subway was happening, I'd opt for RH instead; more of an existing (semi) urban fabric there to build on.

CLF0708 said:
Does a University Campus really stimulate economic development in an area?
With the exception of downtown Toronto, take a look at the other campuses in the GTA (York Keele/Finch, U of T Scarborough, Seneca Newnham, etc) there doesn't seem to be anything so fantastic with those areas. If a post-secondary campus is so great, why haven't we seen a huge amount of economic activity in those areas?
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Those campuses are all isolated - add Glendon to the mix too. It's how we used to build and we're trying not to use that model anymore. The goal here (and it's not just york U - it's happening all over) is to have something more like Ryerson that blends into the neighbourhood. It creates all-day use of the streets and transit and housing and retail...I don't really see any downside. Whether it's Markham Centre or RHC or VMC, it gives these brand new neighbourhoods an anchor, and a much better one than a casino (or an arena).
 
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Hey Guys,

Must apologies for my late reply. Just wanted to reply and say thanks for the suggestions and information on the routes and travel. Definitely is one of the more important things to consider when picking a place to live. Have spent some time looking around Yonge Yonge & Eglinton and the surrounding area it seems like its the right spot alright. Will check out the Yonge & Steeles area now. Ill leave you guys to get back to your development chat :) thanks again!

Dandy Horse said:
Hi Mark! Welcome to Canada!
From my understanding of what you wrote above, I think the best place for you to move would actually be in Toronto around Yonge between the 401 and Steeles.

Finch and Yonge is a 7km drive from your place of work here, and the area offers a lot more than any area of Markham. The area is called North York City Centre, and is full of bars, restaurants, 2 huge cinemas, gorcery stores and anything you will need. Also, if you wish to go downtown for events, living south of Steeles in Toronto is much easier: the transit is 24/hrs 9vs north of Steeles, which ends wuite early and even then most buses come once every hour, and cost more money).

The area has had a lot of development with highrises, but basically only on Yonge, so the off streets are all older bungalows with large rooms, and a lot of new townhouses have been built on streets like Doris and Kenneth. Living within walking distance of Yonge, South of Steeles will really give you a better quality of life for what you want.
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taal said:
I mean downtown Markham probably isn't too bad of a drive ... the problem being you'd be going down the 404, which can suck in that stretch consistently ... maybe if you took streets like Warden it isn't too bad.

Downtown Markham is NOT a 3 or 4 year project, realistically it is a lot longer term (i.e. 10 years or so) so you'd be dealing with construction headaches for a very long time ... but of course there are postives, if it does well, maybe the units appreciate a lot in value !


Transit isn't great, but its not as terrible as some make it, it really depends where you want to go : - ) ... going downtown isn't simple (probably 1.15 -> 1.45) , getting to say Farview mall isn't so bad, one bus trip.


Condos in NYCC actually aren't priced that high, Downtown Markham is not that cheap at all btw ! But townhomes are less.
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innsertnamehere said:
Going downtown is simple from Unionville GO.. 38 minute train ride or a ~30 minute bus ride off peak, with the bus coming every 30 mins. 7 morning trains starting at 5:50 Am and the last departing at 9:15, with 8 return trains leaving Union between 2:18 and 7:18.

There are HOV lanes on the 404 which makes things 1000x easier as well if you can manage to find a way to use them. (Green vehicles get into them without a second passenger, for example, so you could get a prius plug in or something and get free access to them)
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taal said:
Honestly the HOV lanes only help to get to the 401, but that's a good point, if you can get off there, you are set. But getting further south is a huge pain depending on the time of day.
Given where you are working, you could go to the 401 - go east (which is not easy unfortunately ... there is tunel to 401 west, but east, you need to get all the way across). I wouldn't be surprised if you find going west to Leslie is just way faster then going east to Vic Park or wherever you need to get too.

Getting downtown on that bus is OK ... I did it, a lot, the busses of HOV lanes going further down, but it can still be a painful ride, the train is great.
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MafaldaBoy said:
Aviva is already at ground level. No pics, sorry.
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Lots of activity there. They've been working on the site everyday, even Saturday/Sunday.

Is there any news on the pedestrian walkway along the bus path? No work have been done since before winter.
 
Sam! said:
Lots of activity there. They've been working on the site everyday, even Saturday/Sunday.

Is there any news on the pedestrian walkway along the bus path? No work have been done since before winter.
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This will be gradually added as the whole site keeps developing eastward.
 
the busway? my understanding is that the next extension will come with the Marriott, with a stop on the eastern edge of that building.
 
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