Five 50-storey towers proposed for Mississauga City Centre YMCA site

Five towers, each over 50 storeys and some rising as high as 65 floors, are proposed for a Mississauga City Centre site where the YMCA, parking lot and other buildings now stand.

The planned development is located on the north side of Burnhamthorpe Rd. W. between Confederation Pkwy and Living Arts Dr.

The number of housing units that would be created is 4,277 and along with other structures currently being built in the downtown core, will be one of the largest developments in the city in terms of height, land space and future housing population.

Although the development is currently in its early stages, the concept has been in the works for more than a year and is not expected to take shape for several more if all the approvals are met.

The YMCA continues to operate on the site and is expected to do so for several more years as its operators look for another central Mississauga location to relocate.

As part of the plans, the developer has asked for the removal of a small, underutilized road that runs through the site to be replaced with a pedestrian walkway.

At a Mississauga planning committee this week, Ward 4 Councillor John Kovac, who represents the area, said concerns about the proposal received by those who already live in the area include its impact on traffic and parking, how the towers will impede the views of those who live in surrounding building and homes, and whether the planned density is suitable for the size of the land.

Kovac also raised concerns about the future of the YMCA which, he said, serves as the defacto community centre for the downtown.

“It’s where people in that community go,” he said. “To lose that and not see it come back in any capacity is extremely unfortunate and disappointing.”