Downtown Markham Development

Being from my hometown of Markham, the reason why I hated the town was because everything was so spread out. Unless you wanted to walk for 1/2 hour, it was mandatory to have a car if I wanted to go buying something from a store or if I wanted to watch a movie at the theatre. With all the big corporate offices like Apple and IBM residing their headquarters there, I wasn’t suprised that money and development was invested there. But I didn’t expect anything like this. Downtown Markham will be 243 acres of land between the lines of Highway 407 and the Rouge River and extends from Warden Avenue on the west to the GO Transit rail line and the Unionville GO Station on the east. The developer, The Remington Group, proposes an urban feel in a suburban town. So this means, closer proximity in terms of residential, commercial and retail sites would be side by side, all inter-mingled together. From how the renders look, 1- Downtown Markham would have an European feel (ironically, everyone will mostly be of Asian decent) and 2- a sense of community, something that seems to be missing in EVERY Toronto suburban town. Shops, restaurants, cafés, theatres, cinemas, bars, nightclubs and a 10 acre community park all in walking distance (and I mean at most a 5 minute walk) from your house or apartment condo.

I must admit, I am impressed. It looks terrific. If it’s done correctly and if the actual community look like the renders shown, this could be very successful. You can be sure many new towns would look to Downtown Markham as a template of how a real town should feel or look like. Hell, if it looks anything like this, I might move back home and buy a place whenever this will get done. Knowing Canadian construction, I’d say 40-50 years?! Ha.

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 allée 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 café 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, cafés, 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.

Information from Downtown Markham & The Remington Group