Splendid China Tower.
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Big rival malls want to get bigger
Competition from Markham could `eat us alive,' says Scarborough councillor as proposals weighed
Oct 03, 2007 04:30 AM
John Spears
City hall bureau
Rival Asian malls north and south of Steeles Ave. duelled for the right to proceed with major expansions yesterday at Scarborough community council.
And Scarborough politicians said it's time to stand up for their community in the face of aggressive competition from Markham that threatens to "eat us alive," in the words of Councillor Norm Kelly.
"We want to co-operate with Markham," Kelly said in an interview. "But in order to do that I think we've got to get their attention."
At issue is a proposal by Splendid China Square Inc., the 96,000-square-foot shopping centre on the Scarborough side of Steeles, to nearly triple in size. It hopes to add 197,000 square feet – enough for an Asian mall with 600 shops – plus a five-level parking garage.
But staring Splendid China in the face are the 270,000-square-foot Pacific Mall and 300,000-square-foot Market Village, which recently filed its own plans for a 300,000-square-foot expansion.
Lawyers for the Markham malls said the area around Kennedy and Steeles Aves. is already clogged with traffic. Studies submitted by Splendid China ignore development north of the Toronto boundary, and that's "unrealistic and irresponsible," said Market Village lawyer Barry Horosko.
"I'm not saying: `Turn these people down,'" Horosko told councillors. "I'm saying there is missing information."
Signe Leisk, lawyer for Splendid China, said Market Village's proposed expansion is a tactical gambit. "This application was submitted just last week, and it was not a complete application," she argued. "This has been put forward just for the purpose of trying to delay the Splendid China application."
Councillor Brian Ashton was skeptical of claims by the Markham malls that their main worry is traffic. He argued they were simply engaged in a "race for density."
The Markham malls say there's no race, because they're already zoned for growth and only need detailed site plan approval. Splendid China is still seeking the needed zoning.
Councillor Mike Del Grande noted that Splendid China has agreed, in its application, to pay for new road work to ease congestion, as well as a community centre in an area designated high-priority.
The city gets no such benefit from the Markham malls, he said, even though the traffic they generate affects Toronto as well.
Kelly said Markham has been aggressive in allowing high-density developments.
In effect, they're asking Toronto to tailor its development to suit Markham, he said.
Councillors voted to support Splendid China's proposal at an Ontario Municipal Board hearing in December. Markham and the rival malls will also have standing.
