Transit-oriented communities (TOCs) have become a major topic in urban planning, as governments worldwide push for high-density housing near transit hubs. In Ontario, the government is taking its first steps towards implementing a TOC, with Vandyk Properties submitting its site plan application to the City of Toronto for part of its expansive Mimico development. This development, dubbed Grand Central Mimico, will include:
- Over 2,000 residential units spread among multiple towers
- A new Mimico GO station building
- Workspaces
- Development will also include shopping, dining, grocery
- 20,000 square feet of green roofs
- Electric vehicle parking stations
- Permeable pavers
The newly filed application pertains to two of Grand Central Mimico’s three development sites: 327 Royal York Road and 39 Newcastle Street, both of which lie on the northern side of the GO train tracks and encompass the Mimico GO station lands. Vandyk Properties collaborated with Metrolinx on the transit portion of the project, working together on the design and infrastructure requirements for a new station.
The new station will feature:
- A new main building with two station access points
- 300 underground parking spaces
- 96 bicycle parking spaces
- An integrated transit plaza
- A retail plaza
- A greenway path for pedestrians and cyclists to access the station
Storeys reports that two of the towers, located at 327 Royal York, will have an integrated tunnel entrance to the Mimico GO station, while the station itself will be located at 39 Newcastle, alongside four towers.
According to Sherman Chan, Managing Director of Vandyk Properties, this will be the first station in Toronto to achieve true direct connectivity and universal accessibility between the GO station, residential, commercial, and community spaces. The hope is that Grand Central Mimico will become a live-work-play hub for the area.
The housing component of Grand Central Mimico will include a mix of market ownership, market rentals, and affordable rentals. Vandyk Properties has also committed to enrolling every affordable rental in the Rick Hansen Certification Program, which focuses on removing barriers for people with disabilities.
The Buckingham, a three-tower mixed-use portion of the development located at 23 Buckingham Street, has already sold out, indicating strong demand from buyers in the area. Plans for The Buckingham were filed with the City of Toronto back in 2021, before the TOC agreement with Metrolinx was signed.
The move towards TOCs is seen as a way to increase density near transit hubs, reducing reliance on cars and promoting sustainable transportation options. It also helps to create more affordable housing options by increasing the supply of housing units in high-demand areas.
While there are concerns about the potential impacts of high-density development, such as increased traffic congestion and pressure on local services, the benefits of TOCs, such as reduced commuting times and increased access to public transportation, have proven to outweigh the negative impacts in many cases.
The Grand Central Mimico development is a promising step towards creating a more sustainable, accessible, and connected urban environment in Ontario. As more governments and developers focus on transit-oriented communities, we can expect to see similar projects emerge in other urban areas in the years to come.
DataBid is currently reporting on this project - 315 & 327 Royal York Road Mixed Use - Toronto (0016102119)