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Rouge Bijou (Downtown Markham, Remington, 10 + 3x 7s, Quadrangle)

The Benchmark Townhosues
25street-with-moped_nosig.jpg

Does anyone else drool uncontrollably when they see this picture? Of course, we all know that's not how it's going to end up, but, jesus, what a vision.
 
You can already see what they're going to look like above in the pictures .. those townhomes are the same as the ones already built / almost built
 
I think that the planning behind just about all of the GTA's new "downtowns" is flawed. Whether it's Markham, Mississauga, Vaughan, or even Etobicoke, most municipalities are locating their new downtowns in locations where sustainability has to be forced, rather than where it occurs naturally.

MCC is not serviced by a GO line, and is conveniently located along a highway. Why not place it closer to Port Credit? Downtown Markham would be so much more successul if it were located near Pac Mall, instead they chose a location cut off from the rest of the city by the 407 and conservation lands. And Vaughan? Not worth the effort even discussing that one.

Historically, the GTA's most successful communities have always been located in the upside down T defined by the lakeshore and Yonge St. Why isn't Yonge being turned int one continuous 25 km downtown stretching from Lake Ontario to Major Mackenzie? Why isn't anyone proposing the creation of a 50 km waterfront community stretching from Oakville to Pickering? Without even trying, status quo Thornhill will always have a higher transit modal split than fully built out MCC or Markham Centre simply because it's centred along Yonge St.

Let's build these new downtowns where it makes sense!
 
Etobicoke's downtown is to be in the Bloor-Islington-Dundas-Kipling area once the massive Six Points lands are freed up, which is the most logical place for it. A subway, a GO station, a future LRT, ongoing densification already - where else would you put it?
 
Does anyone else drool uncontrollably when they see this picture? Of course, we all know that's not how it's going to end up, but, jesus, what a vision.


Ah yes, the sugary delights of watercolour condoporn.

And this time, something for the whole family!
 
Downtown Markham would be so much more successul if it were located near Pac Mall, instead they chose a location cut off from the rest of the city by the 407 and conservation lands. And Vaughan? Not worth the effort even discussing that one.

I don't see how Downtown Markham might be better if it's located around Pacific Mall. The traffic there is atrocious, the area is pretty much hemmed in by subdivisions that aren't likely to be redeveloped soon like North York's Sheppard corridor. Milliken GO station's relocation to the Toronto side is another point against having DM there.

Another candidate for Downtown Markham would have been the Leslie-Hwy 7 area. The office parks are already in place over there... we just need to plop in some residential towers between them to make the area a mixed-use neighbourhood.
 
Property taxes for a $400,000 house in Markham are about $4000, while in Toronto its about $3400. Streets are plowed and garbage is picked up in Markham, and most of Toronto's civic amenties are open to anyone. If you work in Markham or your famiily and friends live in Markham, why wouldn't you consider living in Markham?

The real question is why you wouldn't just buy a house in Markham...for $416,900, you can get a decent house. I'd understand 'overpaying' for a condo if, say, you're downtown or on a subway line or in a walkable neighbourhood, but Downtown Markham just isn't going to be as wonderful as they say it will.
I work at 14th Ave and Markham Road, and there's no way I'd ever leave my semi in Cabbagetown to live up here in Markham. It takes me about 30 minutes to drive to work, which with my favourite music and mug of tea is just about perfect living. Plus the area around Cabbagetown is booming with development, from Regent Park, Star of Downtown (stupid name aside), Donlands and Sherbourne Park, etc. Markham has nothing to compare with Cabbagetown.
 
Downtown Markham would be so much more successul if it were located near Pac Mall, instead they chose a location cut off from the rest of the city by the 407 and conservation lands.

Without even trying, status quo Thornhill will always have a higher transit modal split than fully built out MCC or Markham Centre simply because it's centred along Yonge St.

If I may disagree ... Markham Centre would not make sense to be anchored towards a shopping mall (Pacific Mall) just because its known by many ... besides like wyliepoon mentioned Kennedy/Steeles definitely is less accessible than Highway 7/Warden where 407/404 and VIVA services are available ... the current location is logical given it is in a central in Markham (the Town's southerly limits is Steeles, north past 19th Ave, west to Yonge, east past Ressor Rd) majority of the developed & future Markham is in fact north of Highway 407 ... PLUS the Town Hall & Markham Theatre is also @ Warden / Hwy 7 already

While density along Yonge in York Region will continue to growth in the future as subway / LRT is introduced, I believe the densities called for in Markham Centre and Vaughan Corporate Centre will far surpass anything in Thornhill, keeping in mind this is also legislated by the Province's Places To Grow Plan which directs growth to designated urban growth centres such as MC and VCC
 
Does anyone else drool uncontrollably when they see this picture? Of course, we all know that's not how it's going to end up, but, jesus, what a vision.

I suppose if Robert Adam and James Craig had decided to build Edinburgh's New Town out of sheetrock and Tyvek it would have sort of looked like that.
 
Does anyone else drool uncontrollably when they see this picture? Of course, we all know that's not how it's going to end up, but, jesus, what a vision.

Yeah, I'm not sure I believe any of those Markham drawings. Can you just create a vibrant neighbourhood like that out of nothing? Has it ever been done before? I wish them the best but I'm sceptical.
 
Such fun to compare the uncontrollably drooly faux Neoclassical renderworld of nostalgia and dappled sunlight and renderpersons placed just so - with the stark reality shown in marcus a j's photograph.
 

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