BAYVIEW-MILLS NEWSMAKER OF THE DECADE: SHOPS AT DON MILLS

[attach]1166[/attach]It changed the way we shop in our community.

For this, Town Crier has named the creation of the Shops at Don Mills as its Newsmaker of the Decade.

When developer Cadillac Fairview’s plan to re-do Toronto’s first planned community was presented in the early part of the decade it was met with mixed reviews.

Some residents welcomed the change, including Phase One of the project: bulldozing the indoor shopping mall to make way for an outdoor retail district.

Other residents, furious with notion of losing an indoor mall, banded together for a failed attempt to thwart the demolition which began in May 2006.

Fast forward to April 2009, when the series of open air high-end shops and restaurants, made its debut.

[attach]1167[/attach]Though it’s too early to tell how successful the Shops at Don Mills will be, there’s been some bumps in the road. Book chain McNally Robinson abruptly closed late last month.

This past summer, Rose Reisman’s restaurant Glow suffered a setback when it went up in flames only weeks after its grand opening. It has since re-opened.

And only time will tell if an outdoor mall can withstand Toronto’s wintry climate and an economy in the midst of recovery.
What’s in store for the next 10 years?

Phase Two of the redevelopment of Don Mills includes the construction of high rise residential towers.

Once again, several area residents have decried the project, saying the condominiums are too big and not in keeping with the character of the neighbourhood. In this case, city planners agreed.

Cadillac Fairview attempted to appease the community by offering to build a community centre in exchange for application approval. The settlement proposal was narrowly defeated at city council in October.

But maybe all is not lost.

Councillor Cliff Jenkins said recently all parties are back at the table with the city, possibly negotiating a new deal.

So what kind of legacy will the Shops at Don Mills leave on Toronto? And what will Don Mills and Lawrence look like in 2020?

Only time will tell.