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As the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre continues to grow, SmartVMC is emerging as one of the anchors of the urban hub. The 100-acre master-planned community from SmartCentres REIT that has been at the heart of VMC since its first building was completed in 2016, and is just getting started. Adding on to the excitement, the project's next phase — two towers of soaring residences dubbed Park Place — is now in the selling stage, and with a lively community already established in SmartVMC, the area is ready for its next wave of residents.
In the span of seven years, SmartCentres, along with their residential sub-company SmartLiving, saw three projects completed to kickstart the SmartVMC community; the 14-storey Class A commercial KPMG Tower was the first, followed by the five-phase Transit City residences, and then the commercial-and-community mixed-use PwC Tower. Their fourth project, The Millway, is also on the verge of completion, slated to expand Vaughan's finite supply of purpose-built rentals with over 500 new units that are leasing now. But while the overall development will continue to evolve over a period of decades, the framework for a vibrant community is already in place.
To begin, the PwC Tower is home to a new state-of-the-art community centre built right into its podium that provides a wealth of programming for local residents. Offerings include a YMCA fitness and aquatic centre, a daycare, a creative learning hub, and a new Vaughan Public Library branch. This wide selection of amenities attracts a diverse spread of people throughout the day, using the spaces for different purposes. In this way, the building takes on an integral role in the community, as a hub for creative and active recreation.
In terms of retail, SmartVMC's newest addition is the first Vaughan location of the high-end BUCA restaurant, which is now officially opened after much anticipation and excitement from VMC residents. BUCA is the latest in a series of boutique food options that will continue to populate SmartVMC as it expands further, adding on to the existing list of offerings that includes Balzac's Coffee Roasters, Pumpernickels, and Roll N' Go Sushi.
Arguably the defining feature of the SmartVMC community is a future 9-acre public park designed by Claude Cormier and his team at CCxA. Still in development, the central green space will take on the role of the neighbourhood's heart, offering scenic connections throughout the community and providing high quality outdoor space that is often difficult to come by in dense urban areas.
While the full extent of the park may be years away, a portion of it is complete and in use already, located at the base of the KPMG Tower, a space referred to as Transit Square. Defined by a geometric paving pattern, the square is serving its intended purpose, providing a flexible gathering space for residents or office workers to enjoy time outdoors.
With all these community amenities contributing to the quality of life in the area that Park Place will soon rise, the piece that ties it all together is transit. With the development located just steps west of the TTC’s University Line 1 terminus station at VMC, a 45 minute trip will take residents from their front door to Union Station.
As the next phase of the forward-looking SmartVMC community, Park Place is joining what has already become an established and active urban centre. Enjoying a striking two-tower design from Hariri Pontarini Architects, the 48 and 56-storey towers offer over 1,000 units, giving buyers a unique opportunity to be a part of the cutting edge SmartVMC community.
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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