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Colossal plans are afoot amidst vast open space in the Bram West neighbourhood of Brampton. A significant development proposal has been submitted for 1735 Steeles Avenue West. The Zoning By-law and Official Plan Amendment applications by Metrus Properties outline plans for a substantial mixed-use development, transforming the current greenfield landscape into a vibrant, transit-oriented community.
The Bram West neighbourhood plan is guided by six pillars of strategic importance, including modern transportation systems, managing growth, protecting the environment, enhancing the community, fostering a dynamic and prosperous economy, promoting community lifestyle, and striving for excellence in local government.
The site consists of sprawling vacant parcels, located primarily at the northeast corner of Steeles Avenue West and Mississauga Road, with a portion of the lands south of Steeles. In total, the site is over 186,100m² in area. This massive under-utilized land is surrounded by a mix of recently developed suburban residential and commercial properties, most of a low-rise nature.
The proposed development, designed by BDP Quadrangle for Metrus, includes a combination of high-rise apartment buildings, office buildings, and ground-floor retail within eight of the proposed residential apartment buildings. The development is expected to bring about 11,592 combined people and jobs, significantly exceeding the minimum density target set by the Growth Plan.
For the residential component, the design would see 4-storey stacked townhouses along with mid- and high-rise apartment buildings ranging from 6 to 16 storeys. The application notes that the residential unit counts are currently conceptual, consisting of 5 townhouse blocks and 20 apartment buildings for a grand total of 4,697 residential units.
The proposal also calls for two 5-storey office buildings each with a gross floor area of 11,945m². Further, 8 of the apartments would feature ground floor retail totalling 2,205m² in area.
The proposed development is designed with a highly-connected internal network consisting of a linear park, pedestrian pathways, and woonerf laneways (a Dutch concept embracing the idea of a "living street") which support multimodal and active transportation. The highest intensity uses, being high-rise apartment buildings and retail uses, are located along Steeles, within close proximity to existing transit stops. Further, the townhomes, which are of lower intensity, are located adjacent to similar uses abutting the lands' boundaries.
Parking arrangements include a combination of underground parking and surface parking lots. The plans also entail spaces for bicycles, supporting the City of Brampton's goals of promoting active transportation. The site's proximity to public transit options also aligns with that City's goals of promoting transit-oriented development.
The design would introduce increased density in proximity to Steeles Avenue West, a major arterial road. The developers argue that the proposal aligns with the City's goals of creating complete communities that support healthy and active living. The proposal notes several nearby applications signalling the development activity to come.
This colossal development proposal represents a significant step towards the intensification of Bram West, with a focus on transit-oriented development and complete communities. Developments like this will play a crucial role in shaping Brampton's future, as it looks to grow as a vibrant, safe, and attractive city of opportunity.
UrbanToronto will continue to follow progress on this development, but in the meantime, you can learn more about it from our Database file, linked below. If you'd like, you can join in on the conversation in the associated Project Forum thread or leave a comment in the space provided on this page.
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| Related Companies: | BDP Quadrangle, Gradient Wind Engineers & Scientists |
