Photo: James Bombales
Located 40 kilometres east of Toronto, Ajax is an easily accessible and thriving town known for its protected parklands and one of the most picturesque waterfronts in southern Ontario. But it was the city’s demographics that initially caught the attention of Thomas Liu, CEO of LeMine Investment Group. The developer is behind the plans for Central Park Ajax, a brand new mixed-use community in the heart of the town that is poised to transform its downtown core.
“When choosing projects to invest in, we do our own due diligence and we believe in numbers,” said Liu. “When we looked at Ajax, we saw that the city has a very young population with an average age of 36 years old as well as a growing population that has experienced a 48.6 per cent growth in the past 10 years.”
Citizens of Ajax also benefit from higher than average income levels including the highest proportion of residents with incomes that exceed $90,000. Combined with relatively high real estate appreciation values and the fact that there hasn’t been a new condominium built in the city over the past 25 years, Liu saw a prime opportunity for development.
To learn more about the ambitious project, BuzzBuzzHome visited the Central Park Ajax presentation centre last week for a sneak peek before it opens to the public next month.
Situated along Harwood Avenue South and Station Street, the site of Central Park Ajax is located on a parcel of land currently occupied by a strip mall. When completed in 2019, the 18-acre master-planned community will be a major part of the revitalization of Ajax’s downtown.
“Ajax is in the process of developing a vibrant and dynamic downtown. It’s going to be a place where everybody wants to be in the future,” said Mayor Steve Parish. “[Central Park Ajax] is a development that I think will be a signature piece that will help the rest of the area develop”
Consisting of six phases and up to 17 buildings, the project will house a diverse mix of approximately 2,000 residential units and over 60,000 square feet of office and commercial space. Although tenants for the commercial spaces haven’t been confirmed yet, Liu says there has been a lot of interest from financial institutions, pharmacies, cafes, clinics, and other local small businesses.
The first phase of the project is a 10-storey mid-rise with a total of 410 units, a wealth of lifestyle amenities and ground-level retail and office space. The exterior features a modern design by Toronto-based Kirkor Architect + Planners with a glass and precast facade punctuated with geometric shapes, pops of colour, and outdoor balconies and terraces.
A central woonerf, or landscaped pedestrian promenade that runs the length of the site will provide easy access to the many local amenities nearby. These include a variety of grocery stores, public transit, restaurants and libraries earning the development a WalkScore of 82.
Inside, the suites feature spacious layouts outfitted with high quality finishes including plank laminate floors in main living areas, stone countertops, contemporary cabinetry, and stainless steel appliances in the kitchen. In the bathrooms, you’ll find ceramic tile floors, modern fixtures, and glass shower enclosures as per plan.
Residents will also have access to a wide array of in-house amenities, starting with a stylish hotel-style lobby with concierge on the ground floor. The majority of the amenities are found on the north and south wing of the fourth-floor, connected by an expansive rooftop terrace with lush greenery, barbecues, and plenty of seating and lounge areas.
The north wing features several entertainment amenities including a large party room, billiards room, and theatre, while the south wing includes a state-of-the art fitness centre, rock-climbing wall, yoga studio, and a children’s play room.
Prices at Central Park Ajax start at $205,990 and the developer has already received a lot of interest with over 3,000 pre-registrations. To be the first to learn about the upcoming grand opening, be sure to register online today.
For more information, visit centralparkajax.com, or email info@centralparkajax.com.
