Two High-Rise Residential Towers Coming to SmartCentres Thornhill

Urbantoronto.ca
August 5, 2020

SmartCentres Thornhill, a 20-acre commercial shopping centre at the northwest corner of Centre Street and Bathurst Street, will be redeveloped by SmartLiving on behalf of owners Metrontario and the Penguin Group of Companies. SmartLiving, the residential brand of SmartCentres REIT, is working with the City of Vaughan to establish a long-term vision for the lands at at 700 Centre Street in Thornhill.

The property falls within an 'Urban Area' under the Region of York Official Plan. The site is also located within a 'Primary Centre' and along a 'Regional Intensification Corridor' as outlined in the City of Vaughan's Official Plan. These three designations formally identify the property as an ideal location for mixed-use, high-rise development.

The project emerges in a booming development node supported by the recently-opened Disera-Promenade Station along Viva's Highway 7 Rapidway, located directly in front of SmartCentres Thornhill.

Representing the first phase, Official Plan Amendment, Zoning Bylaw Amendment and Site Plan Control applications have been submitted to the City of Vaughan to permit two condominium towers of 27 and 29 storeys on a 1.3-acre area at the northwest corner of the site.

Meeting the ground with a three-storey podium containing ground-level retail space, a bridging element between the two towers rises from the rear of the podium, where indoor amenity spaces will be located. Renderings of the Sweeny &Co Architects-designed project depict outdoor amenity spaces on the rooftops of the three- and six-storey podium components.

A total of 510 parking stalls will be housed below-grade and within the podium, hiding all parking from the surrounding public realm. Vehicular access to the development will be through a private road animated with landscaping and street furniture.

Street-oriented retail spaces and the residential lobby will activate all sides of the project to promote a pedestrian-friendly atmosphere, further enhanced by glazed expanses and tall floor-to-ceiling heights.

Each of the two towers boast distinct facades that continue the architectural language established by the podium. Projecting balconies combine with horizontal and vertical elements and a mix of glazing, masonry, spandrel, concrete, and metal panels to form a diverse tower expression.

Partnering with Cityzen, Metrontario is developing the lot immediately to the west, where a pair of condominium towers are under construction. To the south, the 1986-built Promenade Shopping Centre is one of multiple suburban-style malls undergoing an urban transformation. The Promenade multi-phased, mixed-use redevelopment will produce over 1,000 residential units, office space, and a hotel across a number of high-rise towers.