After years of planning, Newmarket and Briarwood Development Group officials broke ground for two 15-storey condo towers to come on Davis Drive June 24.
Dozens of future condo owners, along with dignitaries and developers, attended the ceremony for the Kingsley Square Condos at 693 Davis Dr. Construction is now set to start on the massive residential project, expected to take at least two years to complete.
Briarwood vice-president of project development and principal Fausto Saponara said he is elated to reach this milestone.
“Good things take a long time to make, and this is one of them,” he said. “We had all kinds of plans and visions for how to develop this, but eventually, with the collaboration of the town ... we came down to build two beautiful towers with a podium on this site.”
The two towers will feature 344 units. The project faced some past pushback over traffic concerns, with Briarwood agreeing to expand Patterson Street and contribute $500,000 toward the future amenities at the former Hollingsworth Arena lands.
Ward 3 Councillor Jane Twinney said It is a sensible place for a development like this, and residents have realized that.
“Davis Drive is where our development needs to go to intensify,” she said. “The fact that we were able to preserve the Hollingsworth for the community was a huge benefit for them, and I think in the end, it’s going to be something that is appreciated.”
The developer invited many of their buyers to be there to mark the occasion. Saponara said approximately 86 per cent of the condos have sold already.
Ramin Farsang said he got two units that he felt would be a good starter for his kids.
“You see something tangible happening, that is great,” he said of construction beginning. “I hope actually the builder lives up to the promises they made, and there is quality.”
Others are looking to the condos as a way to downsize. Aurora resident Veronica Gereda said she has lived at her home for the last 20 years but felt it was time for a change as she approaches retirement.
“It’s time to reduce,” she said, adding she is glad to see construction starting. “It’s a big move.”
Neighbours also made their way to the event. Robert Pearson lives near the former Hollingsworth Arena site and said he wanted to see “what we’re up against.”
“It should be OK,” he said. “It fits in for the town’s plans for the general neighbourhood … There’s only so many places to live.”
Saponara said construction on both towers would happen simultaneously, but they would start moving residents into the first tower near the end of 2024.
The town will manage the construction so that Davis and Patterson continue to function, Deputy Mayor Tom Vegh said.
Twinney added that none of the construction vehicles will go far into the ward.
“It’s all going to be in and out of Davis, so the community itself doesn’t get large vehicles,” she said.
Vegh said the development is well in-line with the vision of Newmarket as a “15-minute city” where everything is as close as a 15-minute walk or bike ride.
“Anything you need is within 15-minutes. That’s really welcoming to all the new residents coming in here,” he said. “The design is going to make it very, very compatible with our surrounding area.”
