Vaughan shows how it is done

City of Vaughan proving that concept of high-density, transit-oriented, work-live-play development is viable

TorontoSun.com
May 10, 2019
Martin Slofstra

Touring the construction site for the five-tower Expo city project in Vaughan, it is difficult not to marvel at the progress.

My tour is led by Peter Cortellucci, who is vice-president, and Romina Cortellucci, head of design and sales at the Cortel Group, now in the process of delivering a vital piece of The Vaughan Metropolitan Centre, which has easily become the largest and most ambitious project in the city’s history.

Cortel Group’s contribution is the Expo City community, which includes the much-anticipated 60-storey CG Tower, the fifth and final building to complete this community. It will itself add 2,000 more residents to the area.

The sheer scale of this project intrigues me. So does how quickly what Peter describes as what was an empty space only a few years ago can be transformed into a thriving community. At the same time, it is showing that the work-live-play, transit-oriented higher-density development, long advocated by urban planners, is viable.

As I toured the sales office, construction site and immediate area, three things come to mind.

One, it is conceivable to live in Vaughan and not own a car. VMC is conveniently located at the crossroads of Highway 7 and 400, steps away from the new TTC station and VIVA station, and it is within walking distance to everything you need: high-end luxury condos, great shopping, restaurants and cafes, office towers, acres of green space and bike paths.

Two, you can create something that is both bold and functional. With its 60-storey height, the CG Tower will be a landmark, and with its design unique brick exterior, it will be making a bold, architectural statement. Romina promises that it “will be unlike anything that is out there.” (The tower was nominated in last week’s BILD Awards in the Best High Rise Design Building Design category.)

Three, you can combine work-live-play into a lifestyle.

It is hard not to be impressed by one of the residents, Jared Heft. Not only did Heft buy and move into an Expo City condo unit, he decided to locate his business there. Called Studio Seven Health and Fitness, the combined fitness training facility and juice bar operates out of a facility at the ground floor level of one of the five towers.

Heft is not just a good entrepreneurial story, he personifies what work/live/play can be all about, and you can find more about it in the accompanying video.