Mississauga will soon become home to an exciting urban waterfront community called Lakeview Village.
The 177-acre community development plan was approved by City Council on November 6, after receiving high-praise from Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie.
The first phase of construction will start in the spring of 2020.
Simply put, Lakeview Village envisions an “urban waterfront transformation” of Mississauga and offers innovative community functioning by the lakeshore. The sustainability-conscious project promotes greater access to Lake Ontario by reconnecting residents to the water’s edge.
Located 3.8 kilometres east of Port Credit on Lake Ontario, Lakeview Village will present “a diverse mix of residential offerings, as well as institutional, cultural, office and retail spaces.” The community plans to deliver these amenities through a “mix of uses, public spaces, and diverse programming.”
Describing the project as having “enormous potential,” Mayor Crombie explained that transforming the current waterfront would “drive tourism, foster innovation, spur economic growth and attract a new generation to Mississauga.”
Andrew Whittemore, Commissioner of Planning and Building, said the Lakeview Waterfront Development Master Plan “outlines an ideal 21st-century community for our waterfront.”
U of T Mississauga is portrayed as a “major anchor” in the area, alongside popular retail destinations like Square One and CF Sherway Gardens in Toronto.
Lakeview Village was inspired by six “Big Move” principles that guide the development and structure of its streets, districts, and neighbourhoods. For instance, at the vision’s core is the “Continuous Waterfront” principle. This principle ensures an “uninterrupted water’s edge connection from east to west.”
The proposed continuous waterfront would result in almost 67.1 acres of remediated land comprising of the Waterfront Trail, a new waterfront park, and active waterfront spaces. Another principle, the “Blue and Green Network,” will establish mixed “public and open spaces” to improve neighbourhood connectivity and stormwater management functions.
A unique cultural hub plans to bring together “arts, culture, retail and public space.” This will encourage visitors to spend more time at Lakeview Village through “cultural venues and programming, indoor and outdoor, with retail opportunities, residential density, unique open space, and streetscape elements.” Lakeview Village will also offer 8,026 units of residential space, and approximately 216,378 square metres of non-residential space.
Those who frequent the City of Mississauga will benefit from the all-around access to Lakeview Village, especially as it lies between south-east Mississauga and Toronto west. The multipurpose hub is seven kilometres from the City Centre with connections to both Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW) and Highway 427.
GO transit routes on the Lakeview Village provide access to Oakville, Burlington, Hamilton and Toronto. Local transit, such as MiWay and TTC, will also include bus services along Lakeshore road.
The community site is being established on the former decommissioned Lakeview Generating Station, a coal-fired power plant. Now, the new space will be dedicated to “green and sustainable urban living.” 4,500 long-term jobs are expected to be created through the 825,000 square feet of employment space.
City Council’s approval of the master plan marks the latest update in a multi-year project that started with the 2010 public consultations for “Inspiration Lakeview.” The Lakeview Village project is one of three key Mississauga waterside redevelopment plans, next to Port Credit West Village and 1 Port Street.
“As we continue to work together, our vision to create a world-class waterfront will become a reality,” Mayor Crombie pledged in her statement.
