Project Status as of March 21, 2022

At the Special In-Camera Council meeting of March 11, 2022, Pickering Council received a significant update related to the long-term fiscal and economic impacts of the City Centre project and has decided to defer all work on the project pending further Council direction.

The City will be undertaking a review of the project in light of the latest information. Based on this review and the updated financial projections, Council will decide on the future of the project.

In light of the project deferral, we must stress that the City continues to support the vision of a landmark City Centre project, but has chosen to pause any further work until this matter can be deliberated using the most up-to-date information.

News and updates regarding the status of the City Centre project will be posted here as they become available. 

Special Meeting of Council - February 28, 2022 from 1 to 3 pm

The purpose of this Special Meeting of Council is to provide a City Centre Design presentation.

The presentation will be conducted by architectsAlliance and the City's Development Managers (TwoPointO and Cushman & Wakefield) to educate and inform Council of the detailed designs of the City Centre project.

As this is an educational training session, no decisions of Council will be made and there will be no delegations from the public.

The meeting will be livestreamed and open to the public. Those interested in watching can tune in here.

Special Meeting of Council - October 21, 2021

View Meeting Agenda or tune in to watch live on YouTube.

October 21, 2021 Report to Council CS 35-21 - Community Engagement for Pickering City Centre Design (View page 12) and Report FIN 15-21 - City Centre Financial and Legal Implications (View page 24)

City of Pickering invites public to have its say on transformational City Centre project

July 6, 2021: View the news release

Pickering, ON, July 6, 2021 – Pickering’s City Centre is undergoing a bold transformation and the City of Pickering invites residents, business, and stakeholders to share their thoughts on the proposed spaces and user experience.

Inspired by world-renowned public spaces, the project will see an exciting array of new, state-of-the-art municipal facilities, including a Performing Arts Centre, a combined Seniors & Youth Centre, and a relocated and expanded Central Library, surrounded by a vibrant and pedestrian-friendly public square.

From now until September, members of the public can register online and share their thoughts on the features, functionalities, and user experience of one or more of the proposed facilities.

Visit LetsTalkPickering.ca/CityCentre to register, share, and learn about upcoming virtual consultations.

Background

In 2018, the City of Pickering announced its plans to partner with OPB Realty Inc., owners of Pickering Town Centre, to redevelop the lands on the east side of the mall and immediately south of Esplanade South. This landmark project revealed a vision for a vibrant, connected, and bustling downtown, where municipal service delivery, shopping & retail, and residential intensification come together as the heart of the city.  

Quote:

“Community engagement is one of our highest priorities, and it’s important that we learn from, share in discussions, and collaborate with the community on one of Pickering’s most transformational redevelopment projects to date. This project will introduce a never-before-seen energy and dynamic to Pickering, and it’s crucial that we create a space inspired by the people who will be using it.”

- Mayor Dave Ryan, City of Pickering

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As the gateway to the east GTA, Pickering (population 94,000) is strategically located where Toronto, York and Durham Regions meet. An award-winning municipality, Pickering is slated for significant economic and residential growth; offering an unparalleled quality of life for those who live, work, and play here. Its dynamic City Centre has been designated by the Province of Ontario as both an Urban Growth Centre and Mobility Hub, and continues to evolve as a preferred destination for creative learning, memorable events, and unique experiences at the heart of a vibrant, connected, and engaged community.

Shauna Muir
Coordinator, Communications | Office of the CAO
905.420.4660 ext. 2134 | 1.866.683.2760
smuir@pickering.ca

Relocation of Municipal Services
In Fall 2019, design work commenced to facilitate the relocation of water, sewer and stormwater services, from their current location on Pickering Town Centre property, to the Glenanna Road allowance.

Relocation of these services is required to accommodate significant underground construction, to support the new uses proposed for the City Centre redevelopment project.

City Issues Demolition Permit 
September 18, 2019: The City issued a permit for the first phase of demolition, of interior finishes and associated electrical and mechanical works, located in the former Sears retail space and an adjacent retail wing. Phase 2 of site demolition of the full building envelope for this section of the mall is under review.

Demolition of this retail space is a first step in preparing the mall site for construction of several proposed new uses, including a performing arts centre, a new main branch library, a combined seniors and youth community centre and new residential space.

Project Announcement 

In 2018, the City of Pickering announced its plans to partner with OPB Realty Inc., owners of Pickering Town Centre, to redevelop the lands on the east side of the mall and immediately south of Esplanade South. This landmark project revealed a vision for a vibrant, connected, and bustling downtown, where municipal service delivery, shopping & retail, and residential intensification come together as the heart of the city.