Markham hopes for home run in York U. pitch

Yorkregion.com
April 11, 2014
By Amanda Persico

Markham has two locations that would best be suited for a new university campus – Langstaff Gateway and Markham Centre.

With the official go-ahead from the province, plans are in the works to get three new university campuses that could accommodate about 60,000 new students in Ontario.  

As early as next week, the city plans to make a pitch to York University as to why Markham is the best location for a campus, which could include two site options.

The city is expected to use to its advantage its reputation as the province’s high-tech capital.

“This is an exciting time for Markham,” Councillor Carolina Moretti said. “It seems this plan was written for Markham.”

The established Markham Centre is an obvious choice as development is already under way and the location can be frosh-week ready for a tight five-year timeline.

Markham Centre is already booming with buildings and includes a mix of recreational, entertainment, business, hotel, commercial and residential use.

Within Markham Centre, there is a movie theatre in the works, which can also be used for large early morning classes as is the case with Ryerson University that uses a local Cineplex theatre for large classes.

Not to mention an established district energy system.

The Langstaff area would take some time to develop.

But many councillors urged city staff not to disregard the Langstaff area.

“This is the most exciting thing I’ve seen in my time here,” deputy mayor and Regional Councillor Jack Heath said during this week’s general committee.

“Markham Centre might be the better of the two right now. But don’t dismiss Langstaff. Langstaff could encourage more subway development north.”

District Energy is not too far away, Yonge Street is a central artery for the rest of the region and there is overflow opportunity in Richmond Hill, he added.

Not to mention, the business corridor along Yonge.

York U. is looking for a location accessible to its main campus at Keele Street and Steeles Avenue, as some students might have classes at both campuses. There also needs to be room to grow and accommodate about 10,000 students.

While city staff prepare its sales pitch the university, Mr. Heath suggested the city also establish a post-secondary attraction plan.

Markham could be facing some stiff competition from Vaughan, Newmarket and East Gwillimbury, Aurora and possibly Richmond Hill.

But no matter what the outcome, having a university anywhere in York Region is still good for business, Mayor Frank Scarpitti said.

“I want (a university) here in Markham,” he said. “But this will not be the type of competition that damages the reputation of others around the regional table.”

Thinking that all Markham has to offer will not be taken advantage of or Markham won’t see the benefits from a university somewhere else in the region is shortsighted, he said.

Mr. Scarpitti pointed to Honda. While negotiations were ongoing with Richmond Hill, the company decided to locate its Canadian head office to the east side of Hwy. 404 in Markham.

“Those working at Honda buy homes in Richmond Hill, Markham and even Newmarket,” he said. “The strength of that corporation is an extreme benefit to the entire region. The same is true for a university.”

“That was said like a good regional chairperson,” quipped Councillor Don Hamilton.

After more than two decades, Regional chairperson Bill Fisch will not be returning, following the October municipal election.

Markham residents have been talking about a university for a long time, Mr. Hamilton added.

“But unlike the arena issue, we should move together as a team,” he said. “With the arena, we weren’t updated for a while. With this, we need to be kept in the loop as things progress. This is very important for the city.”

Questions on funding, land requirements and location were deferred to the committee’s in-camera session.

Interested universities wanting to expand their campuses have to submit a proposal to the province by September.

York U. wants to announce its preferred location by May, to put the best proposal before the province in the fall, Mr. Scarpitti said.

Mr. Scarpitti is confident the province will make a location announcement by the end of the year.

“The timing isn’t anything we’ve controlled,” he said. “This is in the university’s court. And York has taken the bull by the horns here.”

Timeline:

• November 2011 – provincial plan to permit three new university campuses in Ontario;

• August 2012 – Markham advises provincial training, colleges and universities ministry of the city’s interest in being home to a new university campus;

• Winter 2013 – York Region undertakes a post-secondary investment strategy in consultation with Markham staff;

• December 2013 – the province releases its university expansion policy;

• March 2014 – the province releases it call to post-secondary institutions for expansion proposals;

• April 2014 – York Region municipalities to make pitch to York University expansion steering committee;

• May 2014 – York University plans to announce its preferred partner municipality;

• September 2014 – university proposals due to the province for final review, selection and approval.

WHAT ARE THEY  LOOKING FOR?

Here is a look at what York University is looking for to expand its campus.

• within an urban centre;

• easily accessible across the GTHA by various types of transit;

• transit oriented development;

• catalyst for private sector development;

• community engaged campus with strong local partners;

• capitalizing on the latest technology;

• a model for smart growth and sustainability;

• creating an identity in an urban centre;

• using public infrastructure; and

• delivering professional programs to support the needs of York Region