5 things to watch for in Vaughan next year

Vaughan is truly a happening city

Yorkregion.com
January 9, 2020
Dina Al-Shibeeb

Next year is a big one for Vaughan as it will see the opening of major and much-coveted buildings and services.

In 2020, the construction of Canada’s first smart hospital is expected to be finished and the city will add a new spacious YMCA.

Hockey lovers should expect Transit Square and the surrounding area to be hockey central as Rogers Hometown Hockey stops in Vaughan for the first time on Jan. 11 and 12.

So here are our top five picks for what to expect in 2020:

1. Completion of Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital

Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital will not only be the first hospital built in York Region in the last 30 years, but it will also Canada’s first smart hospital.

“Construction is scheduled for completion in late 2020, which means our construction partners will hand Mackenzie Health the keys so we can get the hospital ready to welcome our first patients,” said Altaf Stationwala, chief executive officer Mackenzie Health.

“Our priority is ensuring a safe opening for everyone who enters our doors."

In addition to a $1.3-billion investment from the provincial government, the hospital has received the “largest fundraising drive ever led by a community hospital in Canada.” So far, $174 million has been raised out of the $250-million goal.

“We’re excited to expand access to care for residents in Vaughan, Richmond Hill and King and we look forward to sharing more of our progress over the coming months,” Stationwala said.

2. Opening of spacious YMCA

The year 2020 will witness the opening of the mixed-used PwC Tower, which will be home to a new Vaughan public library branch and the new 77,000-square-foot Vaughan Metropolitan Centre YMCA.

The new YMCA will have a full-size gymnasium, a multipurpose fitness studio, conditioning and weight rooms with recreational sports and group fitness programs, two swimming pools, a whirlpool and saunas.

“We’ll be opening more child care spaces to families who want or need them, helping more parents chase their career dreams,” said Medhat Mady, CEO of YMCA of Greater Toronto.

“And we’ll focus on helping everyone grow up healthy and happy, into their retirement years and beyond, by complimenting physical activity with community and connections. We can’t wait to open our doors in 2020!”

The YMCA will also be linked to an underground passage to the subway.

3. Transit City condos

Transit City condo towers 1 and 2 -- 55-storey each -- by SmartCentres are expected to be ready in 2020.

“Topping off for Transit City towers 1 and 2 will be early 2020 with first occupancy in early fall,” SmartCentres told Vaughan Citizen.

Transit City, which is made of five towers, has all the units in towers 1, 2 and 3 sold.

“In addition to the ongoing construction of Transit City towers 4 and 5 and SmartCentres first purpose-built rental building at Jane Street and Portage Parkway, the new Walmart on Applewood will open in the fall along with the YMCA and the City of Vaughan library and studio space in the PwC Tower,” SmartCentres said.

4. Licences needed for short-term rentals

After a “series of consultations” across its five wards that began in 2018, Vaughan is finally regulating its short-term rental market.

Starting Jan. 1, homeowners and principal tenants and lessees will be allowed to offer short-term rentals as long as a licence is obtained.

Homeowners, tenants/lessees and businesses such as Airbnb or Expedia are required to obtain the appropriate licence.

Applications for a licence can be submitted starting on Jan. 2, 2020.

5. Slightly lower taxes for small business

Ontario has previously announced that it would cut the small business corporate income tax (CIT) rate to 3.2 per cent from 3.5 per cent, starting January 2020. In Vaughan, approximately 80 per cent of all businesses in the city are small businesses.