Shops at Don Mills – Ontario’s first urban village – opens its doorsApr. 24, 2009 Shops at Don Mills – Ontario’s first urban village – opens its doors Source: Cadillac Fairview Website One of the largest redevelopment projects in Canada combines best-in-class tenants, public spaces and neighbourhood’s rich history TORONTO – April 22, 2009 – The new Shops at Don Mills makes Canadian retail history today, as Ontario’s very first urban village opens its doors to the public. Located in Toronto at the intersection of Don Mills Road and Lawrence Avenue East, the Cadillac Fairview development – one of the largest redevelopment projects in Canada – represents a new evolution in retail, showcasing a fresh concept where visitors stroll from stores to restaurants to public spaces in an open-air setting. More than 100 best-in-class shops and boutiques, restaurants and amenities are moving in, including many first-to-market tenants including Canada’s first Anthropologie store, Ontario’s first McNally Robinson bookstore, Salomon Sports’ first North American non-resort store, and Toronto chef Mark McEwan’s 20,000-sq.-ft. gourmet food store. To celebrate the opening, Shops at Don Mills is hosting a series of special events today in the central Town Square, including an Earth Day children’s concert at 1:30 p.m. and a special heritage ceremony at 2 p.m. led by Heritage Toronto, the North York Preservation Panel, and Don Valley West Councillor Cliff Jenkins. Festivities continue throughout the weekend, including a live concert on Saturday, April 25 at 3:30 p.m. featuring R&B singer Jully Black with special guest Canadian Idol winner Eva Avila; guest appearances on Saturday from 1-3 p.m. by Chef Mark McEwan, caterer Rose Reisman, clock tower artist and author Douglas Coupland; and, Franklin story time with McNally Robinson Booksellers on Sunday, April 26. Buskers, magicians and balloon artists will be strolling the site throughout the week. “We’re extremely excited to be opening this new retail concept in such a vibrant neighbourhood,” said Alexandra Whyte, General Manager, Shops at Don Mills. “Shops at Don Mills is all about unique experiences. Not only will visitors from across the Greater Toronto Area find the best in fashion, food and services, they will also be treated to inviting public spaces, engaging artwork and a host of community activities throughout the year. From a local perspective, Shops at Don Mills will serve as a hub of cultural and community life for the neighbourhood’s residents and businesses.” Shops at Don Mills, located on the site of the former Don Mills Centre, is a mixed-use development combining a diverse range of fashion stores, restaurants, offices and neighbourhood amenities with parks, hundreds of mature trees and extensive landscaping. The focal point is the 58,125-sq.-ft. Town Square featuring an oval 7,134-sq.-ft. ice skating rink, a distinctive clock tower designed by famed Canadian artist and author Douglas Coupland, and Canada’s first robotic water feature designed by Karajaal of Quebec. Street names and heritage plaques reflect the neighbourhood’s rich history. Events and festivals will be held in the public spaces throughout the year, and a wall dedicated to Canadian art will showcase exhibitions by Toronto-area students this spring. The residential portion, to be developed in two phases by FRAM Building Group, will include 1,300 units as well as a 41,000-sq.-ft public park. A network of pedestrian pathways and private streets will link the retail and residential environments. “Shops at Don Mills is a retail concept completely unique to Ontario and represents the latest chapter in retail’s evolution,” said Anne Morash, Vice President, Development, Cadillac Fairview Corporation Limited. “Pedestrian-friendly, outdoor retail experiences have traditionally been limited to major urban centres. Shops at Don Mills extends this experience beyond the downtown core.” Shops at Don Mills – eight years in the planning and three years in the making – was developed by The Cadillac Fairview Corporation Limited. The architect and design collaborator was Harry Pellow of pellow + associates architects inc. Design was led by Rudy Adlaf, Cadillac Fairview’s Senior Vice President, Architecture and Design, in collaboration with Ralph Giannone of Giannone Petricone Associates Inc. and pellow + associates architects inc. Shops at Don Mills has been built in accordance with the City of Toronto’s Green Development Guidelines and is required to meet the objectives of Cadillac Fairview’s national sustainability program, known as GREEN AT WORK™. There are 86 bike racks throughout the site, including in the four-level parking garage and on the streets. Shops at Don Mills is fully wheelchair accessible, with two battery recharging stations (one in each of the mews). It is also pet-friendly, with "doggie stations" providing compostable bags and waste receptacles. For more on Shops at Don Mills and a full listing of grand opening events, please visit www.shopsatdonmills.ca. |