Reshaping Suburbia: A Comparative Study of Markham Centre and Vaughan Metropolitan Centre

The Greater Toronto Area is projected to become the fastest-growing region in the province of Ontario, surpassing a population threshold of 10 million by 2046. As a result, suburban municipalities are planning for the development of intensified, high-density, and mixed-use downtown centres to accommodate the forecasted growth. This study aims to uncover and understand the planning and development processes directing new metropolitan forms located in suburban cities. This research employs comparative case study methods to analyze the two emerging suburban downtowns of Markham Centre and Vaughan Metropolitan Centre that have been planned since the 1990s. Through the use of an in-depth review of existing literature of key themes, policy documents, and seven interviews with industry professionals, I examine the causes and purposes which form suburban downtowns. Herein, I argue that despite retaining both suburban and urban characteristics, suburban downtowns do represent an evolution from traditional suburban built form which duly redefine perceptions of suburbia.