Where work meets play

VIVA RAPID TRANSIT OPENS ON YONGE STREET

2019 saw the completion of the new rapidway on Yonge Street where transit connections continue to transform Newmarket. The Yonge Street rapidway will add to the existing rapidway on Davis Drive, increasing ridership more than 60 per cent on Davis. In addition to the 2.4 kilometres of rapidways, Yonge Street has seen a significant revitalization with upgraded utilities, sidewalks lined with trees and shrubs and raised bike lanes. Well-planned transit helps shape communities and transform lives. Residents and visitors will now have an integrated transit system that provides more options to get around the community and beyond.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY CONTINUES TO PAVE THE WAY TO BRIGHT FUTURE

The Town’s updated Economic Development Strategy will continue to shape and guide important economic development initiatives until 2024. Key areas of focus include enhanced business and talent attraction, community vibrancy and fostering the entrepreneurial spirit. The Newmarket Economic Development Advisory Committee and many partners in the local business community were key players in helping to bring this guiding document to life.

HISTORIC FIRE HALL TRANSFORMS INTO OLD FLAME BREWING CO.

In 2020, Newmarket welcomed a new addition to Main Street when the Old Flame Brewing Co. (Old Flame) opened its doors. Old Flame was the successful proponent of a Request for Proposal for a long-term lease of the Town’s historic Fire Hall property. Constructed in 1952, the Old Fire Hall is one of Main Street’s landmark properties. Old Flame offers a gathering place that perfectly complements Newmarket’s award-winning Main Street.

PLANNING MULOCK

Significant revitalization will continue along Newmarket’s Mulock Drive with three major additions taking shape – the transformation of the historic Mulock Property into an iconic greenspace (see page 18 for more details), the addition of a multi-use path and the potential for a future GO Station. The Mulock GO Station area would be a transit-supportive hub, providing safe, comfortable and convenient access to the future GO station by foot, bicycle, bus and car from surrounding neighbourhoods.

INCREASING VIBRANCY IN NEWMARKET’S URBAN CORRIDORS

Newmarket is continuing to bring life to the Davis Drive, Yonge Street and Mulock Drive corridors. As part of the Town’s growth strategy, development in the Urban Growth Centre along Yonge Street and Davis Drive, can be expedited and go directly to a site application. This is part of Newmarket’s continued efforts to be a

development-ready community. The area already has over 1,350 residential units moving through the application process.

Continued growth and upward development will complement the existing Urban Growth Centre, which is already home to bus rapid transit, a thriving technology-based and creative economy, new purpose-built rental, advanced communications (including broadband and fibre optics), rail connection (GO train), York Region Administrative Centre and Southlake Regional Health Centre, a world-class health care innovator and provider. There are also unending possibilities of things to do, places to eat, shop, grab a drink or catch a live band just a short walk, drive, or transit ride away.

The past three years have continued to see big steps forward in the designated growth corridors on Davis Drive and Yonge Street. This five-kilometre stretch is forecasted to continue to grow into a vibrant and urban community of 33,000 residents and include 32,000 jobs over the next few decades.

BOUTIQUE HOTEL WILL BE GAME CHANGER FOR DOWNTOWN NEWMARKET

In late 2021, the Town in collaboration with Streetcar Developments (Streetcar) and its partner, Dream Unlimited Corp. (Dream), announced big plans to transform the historic Clock Tower on Main Street into a boutique hotel. The reinvention of this special property into the Postmark Hotel and opening it up to the community will further accelerate the ongoing revitalization and renewal of downtown Newmarket. This project will enhance the already unique vibe of the area, while providing York Region’s only boutique hotel experience. Streetcar and Dream are known for similar transformative projects, including The Broadview Hotel and the Gladstone House that have both reclaimed their prominent architectural positions within the City of Toronto. The Town and Streetcar have a shared vision to preserve and enhance the heritage elements of the building, honouring the past and the character of the landmark property, while also giving it a very special role in Newmarket’s future.