Midtown Oakville
About
The Site
The proposed transit-oriented community (TOC) site is in the northeast portion of the Midtown Oakville Urban Growth Centre, an area generally bound by the Queen Elizabeth Way to the north, Trafalgar Road to the east, the GO Transit/VIA rail corridor to the south, and Hogs Back Park to the west. The site consists of four land parcels along Cross Avenue, Argus Road and South Service Road, and currently holds a hotel and three commercial plazas. The proposal would see the area transformed into a mixed-use TOC anchored by the Oakville GO Station along the Lakeshore West Line.
The TOC Program
The TOC program was created by the Province of Ontario to build vibrant, mixed-use communities that will bring more housing, including affordable housing options, jobs, retail, and public amenities near and around transit stations. The program encourages collaboration with all parties involved: province, municipality, local community, and builders.
The proposed TOC in Midtown Oakville would provide new housing, privately-owned publicly accessible open spaces (POPS), office and retail spaces, as well as community amenities. It would also increase transit access and connectivity by optimizing street connections to improve mobility via the re-alignment of Cross Avenue and Argus Road, and the introduction of new north-south and east-west roads creating a comprehensive urban grid network for Midtown Oakville.
With a significant emphasis on commercial and office uses, the proposed Oakville TOC will accomodate approximately 550 new jobs within a 3-6 minute walk of a major transit station - the Oakville GO station - and provide convenient connections to thousands of commuters that both live and work at the site. The proposed TOC would create approximately 16,800 square metres of non-residential uses and will include office space and a variety of pedestrian-oriented retail/commercial spaces.
Sustainability
The proposed TOC is designed with a compact built form that features a vibrant public realm and a diverse mix of uses while expanding access to convenient transportation options. It is designed in a way to mitigate and adapt to climate change impacts through sustainability measures such as:
- Energy efficiency by reducing the window-to-wall ratio
- Geothermal and wastewater heat recovery systems to reuse energy from cooling to heating seasonally
- Permeable paving and tree planting to reduce heat island effect
- High-quality landscaping that includes native/drought tolerant plantings
The proposed TOC is anticipated to deliver approximately 6,908 residential units in a range of unit types and sizes and become a community that is home to about 11,600 residents. Residential units would be distributed over four distinct development blocks in 11 towers. Each building would include high-quality communal indoor and outdoor amenity spaces that would provide residents and the overall community with a variety of recreation options and contribute positively to community building.
Connectivity
The site is currently vehicle-oriented and is not conducive to pedestrian activity or active transportation. The proposed TOC would allow for a complete redesign of the road network with a re-alignment of Cross Avenue and Argus Road, and the introduction of new north-south and east-west roads to create smaller, urban blocks that promote a variety of transportation options. Bike paths are planned along Argus Road and Cross Avenue, and new bridges and underpasses are proposed to provide efficient connections to and from Midtown Oakville as a whole.
Oakville GO Station is becoming an increasingly accessible transit hub for the community, providing direct connection to VIA Rail, Oshawa and Milton GO bus services, and the future Trafalgar Road Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service between Midtown Oakville and Highway 407. The proposed TOC located a short 3-6 minute walk to the station is therefore well-positioned to creating convenience for residents, visitors and commuters travelling across the region.
Community Benefits
The proposed TOC would feature several community benefits that would support the creation of a neighbourhood that would be close to transit, jobs, amenities, and community services. About 15 per cent of the site will be vibrant open space (in the form of POPS) at the ground level, which will be programmed to facilitate movement throughout the site. In addition to office and commercial uses, a grocery store, restaurant, daycare space, and community spaces are also being considered as part of the proposed TOC.
ECONOMIC ACTIVITY
public Engagement
Oakville TOC Public Engagement
The Province of Ontario and Distrikt Developments will conduct a robust engagement process to gather feedback on the proposed Oakville TOC. Check back here for information on future meetings and other ways to get involved
Proposal Highlights
217 Cross Avenue & 571 Argus Road
Architect: BDP Quadrangle
Building Heights: 46, 52 and 59-storeys
Residential: 1,989 units
Open Space: 2,582 square metres
Retail/Office Space: 4,259 square metres
157-165 Cross Avenue
Architect: Teeple Architects
Building Heights: 50 and 58-storeys
Residential: 1,222 units
Open Space: 635 square metres
Retail/Office Space: 3,538 square metres
166 South Service
Architect: Sweeny&Co
Building Heights: 48, 50 and 54-storeys
Residential: 1,853 units
Open Space: 1,926 square metres
Retail/Commercial Space: 6,189 square metres
590 Argus Road
Architect: Teeple Architects
Building Heights: 47, 50 and 55-storeys
Residential: 1,856 units
Open Space: 2,418 square metres
Retail/Office/Daycare Space: 2,477 square metres
Project Timeline
November 14, 2024
TOC Development Submission
to the Town of Oakville
December 10th, 2024
Virtual Engagement Session
Zoom Webinar – Register Here
6:30 – 8 p.m.
December 10th, 2024
Survey Live
December 12th, 2024
In-person Engagement Session
Holiday Inn Oakville, 590 Argus Road
Drop in anytime between 4 – 7 p.m.
documents
Reports & Engagement Materials
Check back here to review the most recent reports and engagement materials for the TOC proposal.
team
Distrikt Developments
Distrikt combines institutional real estate private equity with ground-up development and joint venture experience. They deliver solid, sustainable performance projects and returns for all their partners. Distrikt engages that experience alongside local communities, mindful of all their stakeholders—purchasers and tenants, investors and partners, municipalities, staff and the environment.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the proposed timing of this project?
Pending approval, the TOC would be constructed over four phases starting at 217 Cross Avenue & 571 Argus Road. We anticipate that construction would be complete within 12-15 years.
2. How much publicly accessible open space is proposed?
About 15 percent of the TOC site (7,565 square metres) will be open space (POPS) at the ground level. These open spaces will be used in a variety of ways, and will support the creation of a vibrant community, where residents and visitors can meet, relax and play.
3. What types of commercial uses and community facilities are being considered?
In addition to office and retail/commercial uses, a grocery store, restaurants, daycare space and community spaces are also being considered.
4. What is the unit mix, including for families and affordable housing?
The TOC proposes approximately 6,908 units, with 34 percent allocated to family-sized units (2- and 3-bedrooms). An affordable housing strategy will be developed through discussions with the province and the Town of Oakville.
5. What transportation strategies are part of the proposal?
The active transportation strategy could provide new mobility infrastructure (new streets, signalized intersections, pedestrian linkages, public realm enhancements, bike racks, bike paths, etc.) to enhance connectivity and build upon the transit accessibility of Oakville GO Station. The active transportation measures and approximately 6,055 bike parking spaces within the new residential buildings will help reduce car reliance in the community.
6. How is Metrolinx expanding GO service to meet the needs of the TOC?
The Lakeshore West Line Go Expansion project is creating more trips and more trains to make travel to and from Oakville GO Station more efficient. There will be 15-minute service or better throughout the day between Toronto and Burlington, alongside new hourly service to and from Hamilton seven days a week.
7. Where can I learn more about the province’s TOC program?
Please visit Ontario.ca/transitorientedcommunities to learn more about Ontario’s plan to build vibrant, mixed-use communities that will bring more housing, including affordable housing options, and jobs within a short distance of transit.
contact us
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Thank you for your interest.