Major development will bring thousands of new residents into Markham

By Steve Pecar, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

Several condo towers are planned for a multi-building complex on the site that was once home to a garden centre in downtown Markham.

Called the Kingdom Development located on Highway 7 east of Birchmount Road, the project calls for towers of 30, 32, 37 and 42 stories as well as two smaller buildings on the site that was once operated by Sheridan Nurseries.

The project still has to go through an approval process at the City of Markham before it can proceed.

A report presented to the Markham councillors says the buildings will be brought on in four phases and once complete, will bring thousands of new residents into the area.

Here is what each phase calls for:

·         Phase one: Two eight-storey buildings with 332 units

·         Phase two: A 30-storey building with 550 units

·         Phase three: Three buildings of 32, 37 and 42 stories with 1,415 units

·         Phase four: A nine-storey building with 233 units.

Each phase will be constructed at different times, and some of the towers will now be taller than originally planned.

When complete, the property will also include a public park and commercial space for shops in some of the buildings.

During a recent committee meeting, Markham councillors also revealed that affordable housing units will also be part of the development as will be a “community benefit” that has not yet been revealed.

At the meeting, Mayor Frank Scarpitti said the terms of the community benefit are still being negotiated with the developer but will be of something of use to the City of Markham and residents.

While the project has been generally well received politically, some fear the city does not have the infrastructure to accommodate such growth.

Members of the Unionville Residents Association (URA) who attended the meeting pointed out that the traffic in the area is already a problem during peak hours of the day and that more people brought into the neighbourhood will create gridlock along major roads, especially during rush hours.

As well, the URA urged the city to take a holistic approach to density in the downtown core as opposed to considering each development project individually.

Sheridan Nurseries had a lengthy history at the site before it closed in 2022.

When it first opened the nursery was considered to be “in the middle of nowhere” surrounded by a rural landscape and was a major destination point for gardeners in the Greater Toronto Area.