What is the hype about Markham Downtown ?

2009-08-26T20:45:00Z

Just a 30‐minute drive from the downtown core, Markham has seen a remarkable growth in the last ten years . With IBM, Sun Microsystems and Motorola calling Markham home for their Canadian headquarters, the town has been dubbed the “Silicon Valley of the North” and highly educated and skilled professionals are also making Markham home. Residents are lured not only by proximity to employment, but by the town’s lower taxes and pleasing mix of urbanity and natural environment.

Sixteen years ago when Markham was on the cusp of its incredible growth, town council was determined to avoid the fate so many other suburbs before it had fallen victim to—satellites of Toronto that encouraged sprawl, congestion and excessive car use, and devoid of the natural public spaces. The town knew it had to plan carefully to accommodate and manage rapid growth, and this couldn’t be done without the cooperation of developers.

The Remington Group Inc., a GTA developer with 60 years of experience in residential, industrial and commercial real estate, stepped up to the plate. After years of constructing subdivision after subdivision, the venerable developer was ready to do things differently. Remington sat down with the Town of Markham and agreed on the principles of sustainable development for its most ambitious project to date, Downtown Markham—a 243‐acre, $3‐billion mixed‐use development. And Remington was ready to commit in a major way: Downtown Markham would take ten years of planning in cooperation with municipal and provincial governments, in addition to environmental consultants and advocates. The project had a 20‐year horizon from start to finish, a vision nothing short of transforming and redefining the North American suburban experience. Downtown Markham lies between Highway 407 and the Rouge River. It extends from Warden Avenue on the west to the GO Transit rail line and the Unionville GO Station on the east.

The goal from the outset was for all residents to live, work and play, all within walking distance. Careful attention was paid to scale. No soaring skyscrapers or six‐lane thoroughfares. Instead, Downtown Markham will feature low rises and welcoming, human‐proportioned structures. Car‐free living becomes a reality, thanks to wide, tree‐lined, pedestrian‐friendly boulevards that lure residents out of their cars and on‐foot along cosmopolitan gallerias with small boutiques. Downtown Markham’s commercial and residential areas will be interspersed with airy, green, public spaces. Large piazzas, similar to those found in Europe, would act as natural gathering places for residents to enjoy the scenery and people watching after enjoying a leisurely day of shopping, or to briefly unwind over the workday lunch hour. Both bustle and serenity can be had.

Concurrent to Remington’s plans to create 72 acres of parks and green spaces were strategies to protect existing ecologies in the Downtown Markham area. One of the province’s most sensitive and spectacular ecosystems—the Rouge River Valley—meanders through the heart of the development and the developer was bound and determined to build thoughtfully around it, not over it. Rather than simply building parks in the project, Remington worked with multiple levels of government, environmental advocates and the public to guide the project towards building homes and businesses into the natural landscape. The developer even reconnected an old tributary to the Rouge River that had been filled in by a farmer’s field years earlier, creating a more natural environment for flora and fauna to thrive while eliminating the need for a man‐made flood plain. The result was a win‐win situation for both man and Mother Nature. Stunning, varied, and unobstructed views of the Rouge River can be found in Downtown Markham’s condominiums and town homes, particularly from units in the new luxury Verdale on the Valley condominium, while the Rouge River’s habitat is preserved, guaranteeing both the view and the environment’s safety forever.

Remington has embraced this new era of outdoor living spaces designed to engage residents physically, intellectually and emotionally. This philosophy is entirely new not only to the suburbs, but to cities too, which in decades past have become static, concrete centres where green spaces are considered adornments. As part of its LEED commitment, Remington designed Downtown Markham residences to maximize the amount of natural light residences are exposed to. Use of glass doors, screens and strategically‐placed windows has made this possible. This not only reduces electricity consumption, but also transforms the space and enhances the interplay between interior and exterior environments. The way the new, savvier generation of urbanites see it, this isn’t merely a matter of improved quality of life. Proximity to green spaces enjoy a corresponding rise in property values, as residents find appeal in the privacy and serenity windows to nature offer, a feature difficult to find in the city.

Remington also knew that the lush scenery outside had to be complemented by equally impressive finishes on the inside. With a demanding, highly educated and sophisticated clientele, the developer understood that its future tenants sought Downtown Markham’s European lifestyle because they had actually experienced it. Thoughtful design and convenient functionality were priorities from the outset.

The Verdale on the Valley is a promising investment, and not only for its desirable location, innovative vision and luxurious design. The building represents an investment in sustainable development, an issue that is quickly climbing the list of priorities for tenants, residents and investors today. Consumers realize how sustainable design helps their wallets. The cost savings realized through low‐flow faucets, dual flush toilets and high‐efficiency showerheads are just the beginning, and Remington has built the green right into the bricks and mortars by following the rigorous standards set by LEED.

Today, Downtown Markham is on its seventh condominium—The Verdale on the Valley—its most luxurious building yet. Lured by the unobstructed, lifetime‐guaranteed view of the Rouge River Valley, the pleasurable mixed‐use lifestyle and the ability to enjoy urbanity in the lush landscape of this suburb, Downtown Markham has redefined what it means to live just outside the city. It is becoming a city of its own, with visions of New York, London and Paris to guide its growth.

There are also 175 freehold townhouses built and about 4000 condominiums.

Call Tom @ 647-299-4529 to inquire and invest in the future of downtown Markham

Markham rd and Steeles Intersection - Homes in Markham

2009-08-25T00:34:00Z

Do you know there is a great demand of houses in N10 Treb district ,which is Markham South , today I will write about the Markham/Steeles intersection, alongwith the border of Scarborough. There are lot of box stores like Lowes ,Walmart,NoFrill,Costco and a lot of ethnic stores are comming up ,not just making it easier for shoppers but also increasing the home values around the Markham and Steeles intersection .

A lot of buyers are looking for newer homes in N10 ,but there is very few new construction as there is no more land to build more homes .As far townhouses goes Eldin Building Corporation is building 3 bedroom townhouses under the development name of "Emerald Trails at Boxgrove" which is at the 9th line and 14th Ave .The price starts from 329,000$ and ranging from 1320 - 1724 sq ft.Great location as it is close to 407,toronto zoo and shopping .

I also saw new homes being constructed on the south east corner of Elson and Markham road , I guess all the homes are detach and the homes are allready sold from the builder , The best option would be to see what comes up for sale once they are completed and transferred .

Boxgrove is located where the 9th line meets the 14th,Boxgrove is a historic hamlet at the eastern edge of Markham ,close to the Rouge River Valley and Rouge Park.Boxgrove has allways been a quiet village that reveres ols fashioned values .The village's first church was built in 1850,followed 20 years latter by a one room schoolhouse that today serves as a community centre.

Most of the houses in this part of Markham are about 20 years or older sprinkled in by new homes like the ones behind No Frills , my only complaint is the builder build too narrow of the roads and smaller lots as compared to the west of Markham Rd .Otherwise it is great community as TTC services north of Steeles too,so more suitable for commuters to Toronto.

Visibly the community compromises of Chinese,Indians,Pakistanis and Sri lankans .Every community has some centre point making it more appealing to live nearby, like the mosque on Dennison , Gurduwara for Sikhs on the south of steeles on Middlefield .The Miliken park is a great place for evrybody to touch base with nature.

The schools are all great in Markham , so no compromise for your kids education .

If you ever decide you are buying or selling in Markham , do not forget to call me at 647-299-4529.

Markham-Homes

What is the hype about Markham Downtown ?

Markham rd and Steeles Intersection - Homes in Markham