I actually just saw these 2 hours ago (2am) and at night and at day they have 0 curb appeal to me. The original "plan" for this was a mass shopping/living corso type living. I knew that it wouldn't be anything like advertised. I see big traffic problems to here and the original part fronting along Hwy.7 was originally "GREENSPACE" was sold to Times Group where they are trying to get higher residential density. At one point they wanted 40 storey buildings at the front with 16 storeys in the middle of each of the 3 40 storey buildings. NOW -- its a bit lower density but i don't know how many storeys right now and they is a lot of neighbourhood complaints about that so until I see it approved; any height can go there.
scarberiankhatru is correct in that the lands north of the Rouge River Tributary (+ south of Highway 7) were always owned separately by another developer ... formerly Lonsmount and now Time Group, with the project name of Uptown Markham ... these lands were
never ever intended as 'Greenspace' (I'm not sure who told you that), these lands are entirely separate from the Remington's Downtown Markham project.
This plan shows the separate ownerships within the Markham Centre Urban Centre:
And this is the Remington Downtown Markham Master Plan ... notice how this plan does not 'reach' Highway 7 to the north:
With respect to Remington's project, what we see built on the ground today is only the first block in this multi-phase 15 year development ... within this first block we have only pure residential building thus far (
Benchmark Townhomes,
Rouge Bijou Condominiums,
Verdale Condominiums) ... the first (grade level) retail component will be introduced within this block when the next 2 towers (
Nexus Condominums @ Downtown Markham) is launched at the northwest corner of Entreprise + Birchmond ... majority of the commercial spaces envisioned/proposed is to be located east of Birchmont and west of the new central park, so it is still too early to tell
However, I will agree with you Remington's vision of a creating a new vibrant "urban" neighbourhood containing live, work, play may be better said then done ... Although I like the concept of atrium style pathways and Piazzas/Squares, I question how the viability of businesses surviving through the winter months ~