New stuff from the Downtown Markham website. I was reminded to check this after I saw today's front page of Ming Pao which headlined this development. I guess Remington, which has a lot of Chinese clients, hopes that the Chinese will buy into Downtown Markham.
Excerpt from DM website describing the features of the community:
Downtown Markham
Over time, Downtown Markham will grow into a lively city centre, abuzz with activity day and night.
Downtown Markham will be defined by international stores and local shops, gourmet restaurants and intimate caf�s, a variety of urban parks and a majestic river valley, entertainment day and night, beautiful residences and state-of-the-art commercial buildings all within a short stroll of each other.
On 243 acres in the very heart of the Greater Toronto Area a lively, mixed-use urban downtown is emerging! It will reflect all that we love about the great city centres of Europe and North America.
Finely appointed condominiums and urban town manors will take their place comfortably within walking distance of the best restaurants, sophisticated retail brands, and office buildings that cozy up to sidewalks.
Wave au revoir! to stores inside fluorescent-lit shopping mall fortresses surrounded by a sea of surface parking, and say bienvenue! to charming streetscapes basking in natural light.
Parks and public squares � offering respite from the cares of the day � will balance the urban lifestyle of this dynamic downtown.
In time, 9,500 people will call Downtown Markham home, and 16,000 will be working right in the core of Downtown Markham�s leading-edge commercial ventures. For the first time in the suburbs, people will have the option of walking, cycling or taking a short bus ride to work.
Downtown Markham represents the future :
* progressive
* sustainable
* environmentally responsible
* transit-supportive
* pedestrian-friendly
* a model to accommodate growth in a way that vastly improves one�s lifestyle.
Almost 15 years ago, the residents and businesses of Markham sat down with their civic leaders to change course and plan for a prosperous future.
Long before gasoline prices soared above $1 per litre, they realized that traffic congestion and marathon daily commutes were hurting family life, the economy and the environment.
They decided to re-invent Markham to find solutions to protect farmland and precious countryside. They decided to locate residences, employment, shops and services all within walking distance of one another.
They decided to create a intimate area where people could meet all their daily needs and they called it Markham Centre.
Today, the very heart of this mixed-use downtown centre is coming to life. Downtown Markham borrows heavily from successful urban settings around the world where squares and parks complement animated streets, and where townhomes and condos reside in harmony with corporate offices, stores and entertainment venues.
Downtown Markham invites those who live and work here and all those who will visit to enjoy its many amenities and attractions to�settle for everything!
Downtown Markham will be built in stages, with a comprehensive master plan guiding development unfailingly toward a cosmopolitan city-centre�this thoughtful, exhilarating place, strives to become your Urbantopia.
Special Features in Downtown Markham
High Street, Downtown Markham�s premier retail destination, will offer signature and flagship stores surrounded by the buttery aromas of fresh croissants and glorious, lush planters in full bloom. Bustling with shoppers, browsers and strollers, High Street will be the finest retail address for luxury and international brands.
Exclusive, discrete lobbies to office space above and to condominium residences stepped back will add to the distinctly urbane experience. Theatrical lighting and beautiful masonry will provide high drama to a High Street shopping experience.
The north end of street will be anchored by a signature boutique hotel and spa setting the new standard for those with discerning taste. The south end of High Street leads into The Piazza, the defining feature of Downtown Markham.
The Piazza, is everyone�s outdoor living room, the heart and soul of the community and a social nucleus for all Markham residents.
Framed by picturesque architecture lined with shops and restaurants, The Piazza will host memorable events and performances throughout the year, including impromptu entertainment and music, farmers� markets, fashion shows, fairs, festivals, seasonal celebrations and civic events.
Simcoe Promenade is a grand all�e that provides pedestrian and transit access to all parts of Downtown Markham. Lined with shops, offices, residences and restaurants, from Warden Avenue east to the Unionville GO Station, it will accommodate a rapid transit route in the future, linking Downtown Markham with the rest of the Greater Toronto Area.
In addition to daytime shopping, it offers plenty of choice for caf� and bistro dining, picnicking and people watching. A vibrant gathering place after hours, Simcoe Promenade is the place for being entertained after work, when the sun sets.
The Entertainment District, located in the central portion along Simcoe Promenade is directly connected to the shopping district and The Piazza by the evocative Gallery. Cinemas, restaurants, caf�s, bars and nightclubs set the stage here for see-and-be-seen style, day and night.
The central park, still in design development, is a 10-acre urban park that completes the downtown core. Home to varied and impressive public art and cultural activities, the park is the gateway to visit and explore the Rouge River valley. Enjoy the exceptional view from your brownstone living room bay window, should you choose to live in old world elegance along its manicured edge.
Neighbourhood Parks located throughout Downtown Markham are interconnected and lead to The Piazza and the downtown core. A rousing October evening soccer game or a sunny spring morning tai chi class in a nearby parkette beckon just beyond your front door.
Downtown Markham offers a variety of parks � some that offer naturally planted areas and some that transition to the nearby valley; some that feature ornamental gardens and some offering children�s playgrounds; some paved and some landscaped; some for people-watching and some for settling down with the latest best-selling novel.
Our Vision
We believe that place making is the essence of real estate development.
Neither fads, nor formulaic products make successful places. Downtown Markham will appeal to all the senses � sight, sound, smell, taste and touch. It will fuse a rich mix of aesthetic design, memorable activities, the natural environment and beauty with the dreams of the people who live, work, visit and enjoy themselves here.
On the weekends, visit a farmers� market in The Piazza, enjoy a jazz quartet in the central park, shop in luxury boutiques along High Street or sip a steaming latt� in the piazzas and parks that await discovery throughout Downtown Markham.
Explore the Rouge River valley, the area�s greatest natural asset that leads to regional parks and a host of summer and winter outdoor attractions in Downtown Markham.
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I believe this sales pitch makes some dubious forecasts, like getting international luxury stores onto their "High Street" or saying "au revoir" to shopping malls (there's shopping malls east and west of DM on Hwy 7), but the intent of DM is still pretty good.
I see some parallels between DM and Mississauga City Centre, or rather, pages DM took from MCC. "Placemaking" is mentioned in DM literature. Events at the "Piazza" reminds me of the list of events that will take place in MCC's public plazas. I especially find it interesting that DM's creation is attributed to the vision of the people of Markham. Sounds like Remington is cozying up to civic pride in Markham the same way as developers in MCC. I think Remington is going to get into hot water for this. A Markham that continues to sprawl while DM is being developed makes the Remington statement sound like hypocrisy.
www.downtownmarkham.ca/