In The News

The latest high-rise project proposed for Thornhill has some local residents renewing calls for a moratorium on any further developments until an updated secondary plan for the area is in place.

Hazelview Development Inc. has proposed a redevelopment of the Thornhill Square Shopping Centre site at Bayview Avenue and John Street that would bring four buildings between seven and 19 storeys to accommodate 615 residential units, as well as commercial and retail space.

A revised application retains the current Food Basics and Shoppers Drug Mart, albeit at reduced square footage, and bumps up parkland allocation to a 1.7-acre parcel adjacent to the Santorini’s Restaurant operating out of the heritage John Welsh House.

The proposal “misses the mark”, however, for close to two dozen residents and representatives from three community associations in the Thornhill Centre area of Markham, who raised their concerns during a statutory public meeting March 22.

Reduced floorplans for the current Food Basics and Shoppers Drug Mart, tower height, traffic, parking and potential flooding were among some of the issues specific to the project noted by residents, who conceded the area is in need of revitalization.

But the overriding problem identified is the impact Hazelview will have on the community when taken in conjunction with other projects in the queue, including the TOCs at Langstaff Gateway.

“The impact of a great number of new residents must be considered in that context,” said Eric Lakien, who lives in one of the 947 units of the Landmark of Thornhill Condominiums located immediately north of the subject property.