Mayor Bevilacqua announces major new development at annual Chamber of Commerce address
265,000-square-foot project in the Vaughan
Metropolitan Centre will host YMCA, library and recreation space
“Vaughan is on an upward trajectory of growth and transformation. Today we see evidence of our city-building efforts as the VMC continues to take shape with residential towers, office buildings, the subway and rapid transit projects that will provide a new connection for our community within the GTA. Vaughan now has a professional sports team in TFC II, construction is expected to begin on the new Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital in the summer of 2016, and we are delivering on the promise to keep taxes low while maintaining an impressive quality of life. With a well-educated workforce, diverse population, access to foreign markets and favourable location, people want to live, work and invest in Vaughan. Together we are building a world-class city with a bright future and the best is yet to come.”
At a sold out crowd
of more than 700 business professionals, Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua delivered
his annual address at the Vaughan Chamber of Commerce Mayor’s Luncheon. In
recognition of the City’s 25th anniversary he praised Vaughan’s transformation
in the last quarter-century and highlighted its promising future.
The centerpiece of
the speech was the Mayor’s announcement that another major development is being
built in the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre (VMC), the largest and most ambitious
project in the City’s history. Opening in 2019 will be a 265,000-square-foot
SmartReit mixed-use office project with 80,000 square feet of Class A office,
at-grade retail that includes a state-of-the-art YMCA, City of Vaughan public
library and recreation space.
This city-building
project is in keeping with the vision of Vaughan’s new downtown – a vibrant and
modern urban centre designed for residents and businesses that includes
multi-use office towers, residences, open green space, public squares,
pedestrian shopping areas, restaurants and walking/cycling paths.
Highlights from Mayor Bevilacqua’s address included:
Highlights from Mayor Bevilacqua’s address included:
- $1.4 billion in building construction permits issued in 2015
- Vaughan’s businesses increased to more than 11,200, up from 10,900 in 2015
- 3.5 per cent employment growth brought total number of Vaughan jobs to 201,008 in 2015
- Industrial construction represented 46.9 per cent of building permits issued and included a total of five new industrial buildings that are more than 100,000 square feet in size in the Vaughan Enterprise Zone
- In October 2015, Vaughan Council approved a transaction that, if completed, will see PowerStream Holdings Inc. merge with two utilities, Enersource Corporation and Horizon Utilities Corporation, and jointly purchase the shares of Hydro One Brampton Networks Inc. – dividends for the City are expected to increase in the first 10 years by $62 million
QUOTE
“Vaughan is on an upward trajectory of growth and transformation. Today we see evidence of our city-building efforts as the VMC continues to take shape with residential towers, office buildings, the subway and rapid transit projects that will provide a new connection for our community within the GTA. Vaughan now has a professional sports team in TFC II, construction is expected to begin on the new Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital in the summer of 2016, and we are delivering on the promise to keep taxes low while maintaining an impressive quality of life. With a well-educated workforce, diverse population, access to foreign markets and favourable location, people want to live, work and invest in Vaughan. Together we are building a world-class city with a bright future and the best is yet to come.”
-Mayor Maurizio
Bevilacqua
QUICK FACTS
- The Vaughan Chamber of Commerce has hosted Mayor Bevilacqua’s annual luncheon for six years.
This year’s theme was A City. A Leader. A Bright Future.
LEARN MORE
- Mayor Bevilacqua’s webpage