Don Mills Centre
Toronto (North York)

Date: 2005-date
Partner-in-charge: Tony Volpentesta

Bousfields was retained by Cadillac Fairview Corporation Limited to assist in securing site plan approval for a new outdoor shopping and entertainment centre commonly referred to as an open-air lifestyle centre.  Located at the southwest corner of Don Mills Road and Lawrence Avenue East, the Don Mills Centre is at the heart of the Don Mills community, which is recognized as the first large-scale modern community of the post-war era developed solely by private enterprise. 

The retail master plan proposes to redevelop the 17 hectare parcel with 12 new free-standing buildings totaling just over 500,000 square feet of retail and office space.  The proposed open-air lifestyle centre, the first of its kind in Ontario, is strictly commercial in nature and is to include a residential component in a subsequent phase of development. 

The project was approved by the Ontario Municipal Board in May 2006, with the support of City staff.  Bousfields was part of a large multi-disciplinary consulting team which successfully secured site plan approval.  The site plan approval presented many technical challenges and is noteworthy because of the highly detailed urban design code that was written in collaboration with the City’s Urban Design Division.