go ahead for urban renewal at don mills and steeles

It's taken three years to get here, but the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) yesterday issued it verdict on an application to renew the increasingly decrepit 1970s retail mall, Shops on Steeles, with a multi-functional residential, commercial and retail development. The project will add 1200 condominium spaces, low rise commercial and retail space, an urban park and indoor community facilities and, in a sign of the times, delete one Esso gasoline station.

Initially opposed by many local residents, and supported by a few including this writer, the design and density were negotiated and mutually agreed upon by the Town of Markham, the residents' association and the developer earlier this spring. A last-minute objection by the City of Toronto forced an expensive and time consuming full hearing before the OMB to resolve the differences between the two municipalities sharing Steeles Ave as their common border.

Appropriately, the Board was not kind to Toronto for failing to call any evidence to support its objections and its inability to refute under cross-examination any of the evidence provided by the expert witnesses called by the developer and Markham. The decision can be read here.

There will be disruptions and inconvenience in the years ahead as the redevelopment occurs but the Thornhill/German Mills community can look forward to the replacement of a tired old mall, more students to offset the declining enrolment in local schools, more useful community space and less parking lot and a higher population density that will encourage improved public transportation. Toronto's Mayor Ford may have killed, for now, the Transit City proposal for rapid rail along Don Mills but hope remains that by the time new residents start moving into the neighbourhood, he will be nothing more than a bed memory.

Congratulations are due to Markham Ward #2 councillor Howard Shore for his work to broker a positive outcome for the redevelopment proposal, to the local residents for their input and the Mayor, councillors and staff of the Town of Markham who ultimately reached agreement with Bayview Summit Development Ltd to launch this project.