[Paclo]

SmartCentres Aurora Shopping Mall Redevelopment: a proposed 7, 7, 7, 6, 6, 3, 3 & 3-storey mixed-use condo, townhouse and commercial/retail development by SmartCentres REIT on the southwest corner of Yonge Street and Murray Drive in the Aurora Highlands neighbourhood of Aurora.

Renderings from the Submission Package:

Isometric view and phasing plan:

 

[Northern Light]

Don't have time to check the details now, but the renders don't seem to show retail on Yonge, I would object to that, if that is, in fact, the case.

The over all density seems a bit low; but given where this is, it's not awful.

But the boxy townhomes with the garages at-grade are incredibly ugly and are not conducive to a good walking experience in the area or maximizing permeable lands.

 

[Paclo]

Don't have time to check the details now, but the renders don't seem to show retail on Yonge, I would object to that, if that is, in fact, the case.

The over all density seems a bit low; but given where this is, its not awful.

But the boxy townhomes with the garages at-grade are incredibly ugly and are not conducive to a good walking experience in the area or maximizing permeable lands.

The retail in building 1 is at least partially fronting Yonge, from the Urban Design Brief:

Ground floor plan:

 

[Northern Light]

The retail in building 1 is at least partially fronting Yonge, from the Urban Design Brief:
View attachment 459022

Ground floor plan:
View attachment 459023

In the above image, only the pink colour is retail. The grey is lobby and the purple is amenity. That's terrible. What a street-deadening design. Retail on less than 20% of the Yonge frontage.

 

[christiesplits]

I know Aurora is notorious for NIMBYism, even modest developments. Has the proposal garnered any opposition?

 

[Paclo]

I know Aurora is notorious for NIMBYism, even modest developments. Has the proposal garnered any opposition?

Aurora residents at planning meeting push back on current proposal for former Canadian Tire site

More retail options, sufficient parking, green space among issues raised

www.yorkregion.com

 

[ben.thebean1]

There's something I really like about those townhouses. I know they're almost as plain as you can make them but they kind of remind me of all the low and blocky yet stately buildings in Washington D.C.