According to the NRU, the rezoning will permit a 50 storey, 153m tall on the old Sears lands.

That would make Pickering, what, the fourth GTA municipality with a 150+m building? Can't say I was expecting them to be the next one with a building that tall..

The development will apparently include a ~4,000sm library, a 600 seat performing arts centre, a youth centre, and 2,500sm public square.

The whole development will have 2,398 new units with over 60,000sf of retail.

pickering.JPG
 
This is great for Pickering and about time. It’s a big city needing the big city feel. This idea brings it together. Ajax really really needs this to be planned for them to.
 
ptbotrmpfn said:
This is great for Pickering and about time. It’s a big city needing the big city feel. This idea brings it together. Ajax really really needs this to be planned for them to.
Click to expand...

Ajax is trying to revitalize its Downtown but i find it be a bit inaccessible with no direct 401 or GO access. Pickering Centre will have very good access to both the 401 and GO.
 
OneCity said:
Ajax is trying to revitalize its Downtown but i find it be a bit inaccessible with no direct 401 or GO access. Pickering Centre will have very good access to both the 401 and GO.
Click to expand...

Whitby and Ajax are and always will be bedroom communities.I still remember when Strouds farms was at Whites and Kingston Road and Pickering seemingly terminated just north of Kingston Road and east of Brock. This was prior to 1997.

Pickering has come a long way and it is starting to become the Vaughan and Mississauga of the eastern 905.
 
Richard White said:
Whitby and Ajax are and always will be bedroom communities.I still remember when Strouds farms was at Whites and Kingston Road and Pickering seemingly terminated just north of Kingston Road and east of Brock. This was prior to 1997.

Pickering has come a long way and it is starting to become the Vaughan and Mississauga of the eastern 905.
Click to expand...

For sure, but DT Ajax does have some interesting revitalization plans that are moving forward with some recent density (Harwood & Bayly). It would likely have a bit more by taking out the old worn out plazas in the area if it wasn't for some shady biz https://www.durhamradionews.com/archives/107737

Pickering should start to become a nice GTA destination in the coming decades with these plans and moreso if they get the airport off the ground. The proximity to and exciting project like the D-live casino could also help spur some growth in these areas both areas.
 
Last edited:
This is really gong to transform Pickering. What a great project. I wish it looked like this when I was a kid. Seemed so sketchy and had a Scarborough feel this makes it feel way different. And like its own city the towers to the street level look great.
 
ptbotrmpfn said:
This is really gong to transform Pickering. What a great project. I wish it looked like this when I was a kid. Seemed so sketchy and had a Scarborough feel this makes it feel way different. And like its own city the towers to the street level look great.
Click to expand...
Don't disrespect Scarborough and its urban utopia
 
There needs to be a lot of street level activation or this place will become a pointless void. Glad to see facilities located on the ground floor with views inside, but can we not add some more fine grained retail? Less glazing? kiosks? Really just something to invite people to linger in that space for longer than just a show, or their library visit, or their recreation centre visit? The patio's are nice but the size of the retail is equally important and pure glass flat glazing does not make for the most inviting pedestrian experience.
 
Some of those renderings look a lot like the Distillery District. Seems nice, but the Esplanade Park looks barren. They need to add more features/attractions - pop up shops, playgrounds, dog park, get some street activation and programming form the local BIAs/whoever's in charge of that. Right now it looks like it will be deserted.
 
You must log in or register to post here.

Back
Top