After official plan amendments, Whitchurch-Stouffville will allow the construction of a 16-story mixed-use high-rise building. Until the amendment, the maximum height allowed for the condo building was 10 stories.
The Topfar Developments project, 5531 Main St., will house 309 residential units as well as 818 square meters (8,800 square feet) of commercial space.
The tower was reduced to 16 stories from a proposed 18 in the wake of a public meeting last year. The developers will also revert back to a four-story and one-story element on the property’s west side and have reduced the number of parking spots.
Despite these reductions, there’s been no shortage of pushback from vocal residents who fear the building will contribute to the loss of a small-town vibe and set the stage for larger, taller, high-density developments in Stouffville. Since the onset of the pandemic, the town has already become a more attractive option to former Toronto residents who no longer have a downtown office as part of the daily equation.
Stouffville’s Mayor Iain Lovatt, points to the town’s growth target of 100,000 people by 2041 (the population is currently closer to 45,000) and says it’s time to “grow up and not out.”
With much of Whitchurch-Stouffville protected green space, proponents say it makes sense to cluster developments in the town’s urban area.
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