After nearly a decade of planning, the City of Pickering recently broke ground on a decade-long development to construct condo complexes next to the Shops at Pickering City Centre, formerly known as the Pickering Town Centre.
Plans for the development began in January 2017; in February 2020, a portion of the mall’s east wing, including the Sears building, was demolished to accommodate the development.
The development’s first phase will include two 40 to 50-storey towers containing a combined 974 residential one and two-bedroom units. Thousands of residents are expected to live in the condos.
However, Derek Deustch, CEO of CentreCourt Developments, the residential developers behind the condos, admits the development’s completion will be a long time coming.
“It could be a decade-long plan,” says Deustch. “Obviously, it’ll depend on the housing market and progress of construction. There’s lots of different variables that’ll affect timing.”
The development could present a valuable boost to the mall, as Roy Vishwa, owner of men’s clothing store Singor Angelo, attests.
“I mean, the hope is, obviously, that customers will spend a day at the mall,” says Vishwa.
“By living close by, they can come, they can spend a day or half a day, come eat, shop, or whatever have you because of the proximity.”
The development has not received unanimous praise in the community. On the Pickering Neighbours Facebook group, residents have expressed various concerns, including tax increases and heavier traffic issues.
When asked about these concerns, Vishwa and Deutsch had mixed opinions.
Vishwa says there needs to be “enough ample infrastructure” such as parking so people can get into the mall.
“The reality is it’s located next to major transits, and that allows residents here to really experience downtown Pickering without using a car,” says Deustch.
He says the community can exist within itself” and since it will be built over time, he feels the traffic concerns are “a little overexaggerated.”
The development will ultimately include 6,000 residential condo units in 10 towers. It’s not expected to be completed until at least 2033.