Vaughan's towering new ambitions

[M II A II R II K]

Vaughan's towering new ambitions


12/18/2011

By Bert Archer



Read More: http://www.citytv.com/toronto/cityne...-new-ambitions

The process by which the Greater Toronto Area will ultimately become one enormous cosmopolis is well underway. Though it started with amalgamation, the next steps will not be nearly so Torontocentric, as the towns traditionally known as suburbs not only grow, but also become genuine urban entities in their own right.
Markham started building more densely a couple of years ago, with developments like Rouge Bijou, Sierra and Uptown Markham providing hundreds of multi-residential units specifically designed to be within walking distance of everything required in the daily course of events. That includes transit, thereby cutting down on the need for cars, and the sort of highway-based road-building that has been one of Markham's hallmarks.

Now it's Vaughan's turn. Developer and Vaughan native Mario Cortellucci, Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua and YYZed architect Alan Tregebov have thrown their energies behind a project called Expo City. The five towers on nine acres—part of a 20-acre lot owned by Cortellucci and his son and vice president Peter Cortellucci—are being developed by their Cortel Group, whose previous de-suburbanization credentials include partnering with Fernbrook Homes to build the Absolute World towers in Mississauga. Those 20 Expo City acres are themselves part of a 300-acre parcel, centred near the intersection of Highways 7 and 400, much of which has never been built up, which has been designated and zoned to become Vaughan Metropolitan Centre. It’s a part of the city that will slowly transform over the next decade and beyond into something the mayor says will evolve into "a very vibrant, active downtown core."

"Right now, we definitely embody what we would refer to as the suburban lifestyle, as opposed to quote unquote what you would refer to as the city's lifestyle," Bevilacqua says. "What's going to emerge more as the centre core develops is going to be very city-like." The current zoning allows for 1,933 units, with the probable addition of another 1,000 when the lot next door—which currently houses the Riviera Parque banquet hall and also belongs to Cortellucci—is added into the mix. "This quadrant will be looking at 4,000 to 5,000 people," Tregebov says, including towers that will all be in the 35- to 37-storey range. Very city-like, indeed. With a current population of 303,058, Vaughan is expected to grow to about 416,600 by 2031—an increase of more than 35 per cent. The number of jobs, currently sitting at about 160,000, is expected to increase by more than 65 per cent during the same period. With its current population scattered among bedroom communities like Concord, Kleinburg, Maple, Thornhill and Woodbridge, the city will have to rely on more than single-family homes to accommodate its new residents.

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[Tony]

That area is a complete wasteland of big box sprawl crap right now.

[M II A II R II K]

And Vaughn Centre Station will be the biggest development in Vaughn Centre amidst parking lots and Wal-Marts half a kilometre from the sidewalk, unless it gets infill to go with the new highrises too.

[dennis1]

Tony, I think Vaughan wants to change. Good for them IMO.