Hello everyone and welcome to my page! My name is Matthew Lucic and I am a first-year undergraduate Cities, Regions, and Planning student at York University with aspirations to pursue a career in planning upon graduation.
With industry-related experience working as a student planner for local municipalities, as well as being enrolled in a planning-focused program, I have developed the necessary skills and knowledge needed to effectively analyze and communicate the dynamic intersections of urban planning with the public. In this role, my primary objective will be to translate the intricacies of upcoming developments in Markham into accessible content that will inform both citizens and community stakeholders.
My goal in this column is to not only convey the technical details regarding upcoming developments but also convey their broader impact on the community as well. Through this column, we will unravel the upcoming developments in Markham that will shape this city’s future. From new transit-oriented communities to highrise apartment complexes, I am committed to delivering content that not only explains these developments but also what they mean for the future of our city.
Through recent years, the City of Markham has undergone rapid growth. Though much of Markham and many other post-war cities saw developments primarily surrounding the automobile, this has since changed.
Through Markham’s population boom, developments have shifted away from car dependency to more sustainable development patterns. This can be seen through the village of Cornell, located in the North Eastern portion of our city, which encompasses a New Urbanist design, with mixed-use and walkability being at the forefront of the community. The Bur Oak stretch just South of 16th Avenue, for example, is characterized by its live-work units, wide sidewalks, and integration of green space.
Another development trend Markham has recently undertaken is the many intensification projects along major transit corridors. With Markham no longer simply a suburb of Toronto, many industries have since set up locations within our municipal boundaries. Companies such as IBM, AMD, along with many others all have offices in Markham, allowing the city to transform into a major employment center, even coining the term ‘Silicon Valley of the North’.
Markham’s recent intensification projects along transit routes signify this trend. The city has recently begun to develop at higher densities surrounding these transit corridors to ensure ease of access and connectivity for both residents and the growing workforce, demonstrating Markham’s commitment to sustainable growth and efficient land use.
To support these intensification projects, another planning trend Markham has seen in the last few years is the development of public transportation infrastructure. This can most notably be seen with the arrival of the Cornell Bus Terminal, supporting both York Region Transit and GO Transit, along with installing transit priority signals and bus lanes along the most frequented routes, and increasing the number of express and local routes to serve the growing demand for public transportation in the city.
With Markham’s growing population and workforce in mind, another significant development trend in the municipality is the Downtown Markham Project. This project aims at creating a vibrant, mixed-use urban environment that combines residential, commercial, and office spaces all within the new downtown core. This project will also see the arrival of York University’s Markham
Campus, offering diverse academic programs and catering to the dynamic atmosphere of downtown Markham. These are just some of the planning trends Markham has undergone in the past years, and with many more projects to come such as the Markville Mall redevelopment project and transit-oriented development around Mt. Joy GO station, Markham continues to evolve as a dynamic and forward-thinking city.
