Vaughan Expo City: Expo 1,2, & Nord | ?m | 38s | Cortel Group | AJT Architects

[cplchanb]

It looks like Vaughan will have all the walkability and charm as Mississauga around Square One.

maybe in 10 years provided that all the commercial and industrial buildings get replaced by retail and residential development...but certainly not before 2020

 

[innsertnamehere]

I see it getting better. It'll just take time. The rate condos are selling right now it could happen relatively quickly - but probably looking at 10-15 years still.

The big problem with MCC has always been having Square One right in the middle of it. VMC doesn't have that problem - its only problem is that it has literally nothing there today other than low density industrial uses. Slowly it will urbanise, but the key word is slowly. This isn't going to be an urban paradise in 2018.

It's looking like there will be 8-10 condos starting construction in the next year or so, on top of the first two Expo City buildings which are already done. The area's population will probably be around 5,000 by 2021, compared to 0 in 2015. By 2030, I could see it starting to "come together" as something urban.

 

[Midtown Urbanist]

I wonder how it will compare in walkability to Downtown Markham when all's said and done.

 

[jje1000]

The bones of most suburban urban developments are still suburban in nature- huge, wide roads dedicated more to cars than people.

Downtown Mississauga is essentially retrofitting a 60s-70s car-dependent mall/civic centre into a walkable downtown area.
Downtown Vaughan is retrofitting an industrial neighborhood into a downtown area.
Downtown Markham is starting fresh as a Greenfield development.

Downtown Markham has a slight edge, since it's starting fresh.

 

[Ryan_T]

The areas adjacent to hwy 7 of Downtown Vaughan is as tightly/densely planned as D-Markham. The nice thing about D-Vaughan is the YRT running right on hwy-7 for East/West travel, and the subway on Jane to reach South.

 

[taal]

Honestly I'm going to argue Downtown Markham to date looks like it'll be the winner.

The problem with what I'm seeing in downtown Vaughan are these huge developments with large internal retail components (mini-shopping malls) think World On Yonge - these really don't do a lot to create a vibrant community

 

[Consilium]

Found these:

I found this from their website:

 

[salsa]

Expo 3

 

[MisterF]

If the rest of VMC is going to look like Expo that's not an encouraging sign. Expo is set way back from the sidewalk, with a sizeable lawn with trees (likely part of the Highway 7 right of way) separating the municipal sidewalk from the private sidewalk along the base of the building . The retail units are further hidden under a sheltered collonade. It's a pedestrian nightmare.

It seems that municipal staff, councils, and developers have no idea how to address large arterial roads in dense environments that are supposed to be pedestrian-oriented. The thing is, you can have a wide, busy arterial road lined with high rises and also make it inviting for pedestrians. From Michigan Avenue to the Gran Via, there are examples all over the world. It's not rocket science.

 

[junctionist]

Some projects in Mississauga are getting it right.

 

[GenerationLee]

Some projects in Mississauga are getting it right.

Yea, that and the newer phase west of it is a good development for the area............a huge issue right now is that the city isn't really making a lot of new development street-oriented, partly because they can't just demand a developer to. Just look at the Grand Park buildings, or what will be Edge Towers.....

 

[jje1000]

Some projects in Mississauga are getting it right.

The problems in Mississauga are still the suburban roads, like in the Vaughan, along with the minimal streetscaping.

Even though the project has massive setbacks and some cafe seating, it's definitely not a place where you stay around and look around the shops. A space to pass through, but not a place with any sort of identity or intrinsic attraction (Starbucks doesn't count).

Unfortunately, even with some road narrowing, there's still way too much space between buildings that makes walking unattractive and stops mutual reinforcement from the 'atmosphere' between shops and restaurants from spilling over and creating a vibe.

 

[narduch]

The Centro condo at 7 & Weston did a better job. Unfortunately it's surrounded by 2 wide roads, power centres and strip plazas.

 

[Transportfan]

The thing is, you can have a wide, busy arterial road lined with high rises and also make it inviting for pedestrians. From Michigan Avenue to the Gran Via, there are examples all over the world. It's not rocket science.

I agree, but unfortunately, most Toronto planners (and UT forumers) don't. That's why Yonge St. in NYCC is such a pariah.

 

[Tuscani01]

Even though the project has massive setbacks and some cafe seating, it's definitely not a place where you stay around and look around the shops. A space to pass through, but not a place with any sort of identity or intrinsic attraction (Starbucks doesn't count).

Yet. It's just a single block at this point. There is no reason to walk by or through the block unless you are heading to one of the specific shops in this building. Once the rest of the blocks are built up, you will have that critical mass of people to support those smaller businesses that are more inviting.