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For several decades now, the northern end of Toronto and neighbouring municipalities such as Markham have been experiencing significant population growth, due in large part to its popularity as a place for newcomers to settle. The City of Markham for instance, with a population now over 350,000 people, has a Chinese population of about 115,000 people, or just under one-third of the total. Other ethnic groups only add to the diversity and vibrancy of the quickly growing area.
Catering to the demand, North America's largest Asian shopping centre, Pacific Mall, opened its doors to the public in 1997. Perched just north of the Markham-Toronto boundary at Steeles Avenue and Kennedy Road, Pacific Mall was followed by Markham Market Village, and across Steeles on the Toronto side by Splendid China Mall.
Opened ten years after Pacific Mall and about half the size, the 2-storey, 150-store Splendid China Mall is within the City of Toronto, located at the back of a large surface parking lot, and right next to the Milliken GO Station. While often overshadowed by its predecessor across the street, owner Global Fortune Real Estate Development Corporation has submitted an Official Plan Amendment and a Rezoning Application to allow for an intensified development on their site.
Designed by Graziani + Corazza Architects, the mixed-use proposal would add three new condominium apartment buildings of 17, 26, and 28 storeys, (183 feet, 272 feet and 361 feet tall). The total gross floor area (GFA) for the proposal is 88,273 m², broken down into 63,308 m² of residential space, 21,708 m² of retail, and 3,257 m² of office space. Of the 793 residential condominium units proposed, 627 are 1-bedroom suites, while there would be 166 2-bedroom units built. At the current time, there are no plans for units with 3 or more bedrooms.
The two shorter towers would rise to the west of a new sheltered pedestrian retail mews running north-south through the site, while vehicular access to those towers and their parking garage, and pedestrian access to their lobbies would be via a new north-west driveway at the very west end of the site.
Surface parking for Splendid China Mall would be moved indoors, some of it underground, and some of it in the podium which would rise to the east of the north-south pedestrian retail mews. The podium would contain mostly retail on the first and second floors, with office space on the third floor. Residential space would be in an L-shared mid-rise and a tower rising above the podium.
"Building A" would rise 17-storeys on the northwest corner of the site, on top of a 5-storey podium. Fronting onto both Steeles Ave and the new north-south mid-block connection on the site, a total of 741 m² of retail space would occupy the ground level, while levels 2 to 5 of the podium would contain a mix of residential units and amenities.
"Building B" would be situated on the southwest corner of the site, also over a similarly planned 5-storey podium with retail at ground level. Rising 26 storeys, the tower would front onto a new street to extend east from Redlea Avenue into the property.
"Building C" would be the tallest of the three towers. Rising to 28 storeys, it would be situated atop the 3-storey commercial podium, with a 9-storey "L" shaped section to its north. Ground level retail space would animate the pedestrian mews, while connecting into the existing Splendid China Mall to the east. The second level retail would also connects to the existing mall. Office space on the third floor would get its own entrance and elevators, while the south side of the podium would have four levels of above ground parking hidden within the same volume of the second and third commercial floors. Building C will include 1,849 m² outdoor amenity space on the roof of the podium.
There will be 3 levels of underground parking in addition to the mentioned 4 above-grade levels, totalling 1,579 vehicle parking spaces (730 resident and 849 visitor/commercial parking). The project will also include 705 bicycle parking spaces.
Overall, the development would provide 2,660 m² of indoor and 2,047 m² of outdoor amenity space for residents. Buildings' A and B would have indoor amenity space on the second level (1,072 m² each), while the remaining 507 m² would be in Building C. Residents living in both Buildings' A and B would be able to access Building C's outdoor amenity space via a bridge over the pedestrian retail mews.
We will keep you updated once more information becomes available for this development. In the meantime, feel free to leave your thoughts about this project in the comment section, below. Want to get involved? Join in on the ongoing conversation in the associated Forum thread.
