Pickering looking skyward with trio of new developments

Pickering has been reaching for the sky a lot lately as high-rise developments continue to dominate the planning and development agendas.

On Monday’s docket was a site plan approval for Phase Six of a seven-phase project in the south end of the City’s burgeoning downtown called Universal City.

The ambitious project, which has one building complete and ready for move-in, another with a move-in date of next year and now four more approved for early stages of construction, will total some 250 storeys and add well over 2,000 units to Pickering’s skyline.

Also on the agenda was a new project on the west side of downtown at Liverpool Road and Highway 401, that is expected to add three apartment towers and a total of 148 storeys and almost 1,800 units to the city core.

The first two buildings – at 46 and 53 storeys, respectively – will be connected by six-storey podium, while the third building (49 storeys) will stand alone but still have an attached five-storey podium.

Tribute has also agreed to provide 27 two- and three-bedroom units “at a fraction of the cost” to Habitat for Humanity.

All three buildings will have retail/commercial on the ground floor.

Monday’s agenda item was for a revised zoning amendment as Tribute Corporation had submitted a proposal last July for three buildings at 40 storey each and 1,318 units.

North of downtown is getting a taste of the high life as well as Brock Road Developments is proposing a pair of 17-storey mixed use towers on Brock Road, north of Rossland Road/Third Concession.

The two buildings, which will be attached with a five-storey podium, will total 353 units and will include – as all the proposed projects do – commercial/retail on the ground floor.

An eight-storey seniors building is also planned for the property.