City at Crossroads: Markham's highrise boom sparks community discord

Yorkregion.com
Oct. 10, 2023

A growing chasm of opinions has emerged within Markham's community as the city experiences a surge in highrise development projects. This urban transformation is leaving residents divided over the direction in which their city is heading.

Markham's skyline is evolving rapidly, with an influx of highrise towers being proposed and constructed. While some view this as a sign of progress, others are raising concerns about its impact on the city's character, infrastructure, and quality of life.

The contentious Markville Secondary Plan Study, aiming to repurpose 110 hectares of land for residential buildings, has ignited a fierce debate that reflects the broader challenges faced by growing cities across the GTA.

In a battle between urban development and community preservation, residents of Markham are clashing over the proposed intensification of the CF Markville Mall into high-density residential condos.

While some locals are pushing back against the infill development proposals, others have indicated in online postings that they see the opposition as NIMBYism (not in my backyard) in a city where the average home costs about $1.3 million amid a housing crisis.

Supporters of highrise developments argue that they can bring vibrancy, convenience, and economic growth to Markham. They see these projects as a way to address housing shortages and make the city more attractive to businesses and residents.

Among strong opposition in the feedback section on the Markville Secondary Plan Study website, Charles C, a nearby resident and lifelong Markhamite, voiced his support for the development plan. “We should intensify already-developed areas that are near public transit instead of developing agricultural land, and condos will be more affordable than nearby houses allowing younger people to stay in Markham,” he wrote.

A few echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of increased density around Markville Mall, a vital local employment and shopping hub. They suggested that creating a walkable, mixed-use community -- with mid-rises and condos -- could breathe new life into the area while alleviating the soaring housing prices.

Markville Mall is joining a growing list of suburban malls facing intensification in the Toronto area. Residents also raised another timely question: Do we allow development to sprawl over undeveloped land, like farmlands, or the Greenbelt, or do we intensify existing urban settlements?

Ward 3 Coun. Reid McAlpine spoke of the inevitability of development due to population growth targets set by the province.

“The province, via York Region, has given Markham a target population of approximately 610,000 by 2051 vs. about 360,000 now; 55 per cent of that growth needs to be within the current urban boundary, not on farm fields,” McAlpine said.

“We know that development is coming. We don't have a choice,” he said, noting the secondary plan will help the city determine the best form, what the infrastructure can handle, traffic impacts and more of that development.

The City of Markham says it is currently in Phase 3 of the Markville Secondary Plan Study, which aims to establish detailed policies for growth and development in the area. Community concerns, such as traffic, education, parks, and health-care capacity, will be addressed in subsequent phases.

An interim report is expected later in the fall and McAlpine says he will organize a public meeting to update the community.

The redevelopment of Markville Mall is not an isolated case. In a bigger picture, at least 79 highrise residential towers have been proposed along Hwy. 7, according to the city’s planning data on its development application viewer MappiT.

Residents were against mid- and highrise development in Markham 25 years ago, but Mayor Frank Scarpitti has said a vision for growth has won over naysayers and drawn public support.

Markham is part of a larger trend in the GTA, driven by the province's growth plan and market demand for profitable ventures. Experts, while acknowledging potential benefits, stress the importance of careful planning and community engagement to ensure such developments enhance the city's livability and public spaces.

“This is why planning is so important,” said Ute Lehrer, professor at York University’s faculty of environmental studies.