Why Whitby’s downtown revival is heating up

Since Lorena Purchase and her husband David moved to the Town of Whitby from Toronto in 2017, they’ve seen their downtown neighbourhood’s popularity heat up. Purchase notes that, after years of slow-burn, there’s a new spark in Downtown Whitby. And it’s being stoked by construction of new places for people to live.

“We were looking for a place more affordable than Toronto to buy a home and I was looking for a place that had the same feel as the Danforth neighbourhood where I grew up. We felt that Whitby’s downtown had a similar community vibe,” says Purchase. “We liked the charm of the old buildings and the storefronts were really nice.” They could walk to grocery stores, pharmacies, restaurants, parks and transit.

Initially, Purchase and her husband noticed a lack of coffee shops downtown. Purchase gave up her Toronto emergency room nurse job and she and her husband opened Brock St. Espresso four years ago.

Now condos are under construction right nearby. Helping to fan the flame of downtown reinvigoration is Station No. 3, a 160-unit mixed-use condominium at Brock and Colborne Sts. Its name was inspired by Firehall No. 3 that stood on the site, an active station for 40 years, until 2004. For the next 10 years, a Saturday farmer’s market was held there. The property then sat vacant until the Town accepted Brookfield Residential’s development proposal.

In February 2023, construction commenced and sales started in March. The six-storey building, which will have 10,000 square feet of retail space, is slated for completion in 2024.

“This is an exciting milestone … a long time in the making. Discussions about revitalizing the firehall go back more than 20 years,” said Whitby Mayor Elizabeth Roy at the launch. “We want to thank Brookfield Residential for working with the Town of Whitby to repurpose this site and invest in our downtown.

“This project brings new housing opportunities to Whitby and supports downtown revitalization, which is good news for local businesses.”

Rachel MacKay, Brookfield director, marketing, Toronto residential, says the town wanted a developer partner with longevity that would contribute to the community. Brookfield has several land holdings in the east GTA and in Whitby and takes an active part in communities it develops in, she says.

“We wanted to be equitable partners in the revitalization, and building 160 units means a lot to small businesses and helps contribute to the downtown,” MacKay says. “We had such a great partnership with the town and many people in the area were involved in the design development. There’s a real missing middle (in) housing (bridging the gap between detached homes and highrise), especially in the east GTA.”

As several other new condo projects in town had launched then cancelled, MacKay says it was important to get Station No. 3 under construction to reassure people the building would be completed. Its architecture pays homage to the fire hall, with brick incorporated with precast concrete and glass. The entrance will incorporate a wall made of brick reclaimed from the old station. The building is geared to people who will live there themselves; most buyers are from the area, including single parents, first-time buyers and downsizers.

Purchase is glad to see the construction. “I understand the benefit of a downtown condo development and the benefit of having a coffee shop right next door,” she says. “The downtown small business revitalization has been in the works for awhile. A lot more changes are coming in terms of residential and commercial development and when it all happens, it will be fantastic.”

New restaurants, clothing stores, salons and spas have opened, the Brock St. Brewery has become a destination, and 1855, Durham Region’s first and only technology accelerator, has also opened.

With these positives, as well as the downtown’s proximity to Highways 401 and 412, transit and the Lake Ontario waterfront, the town’s human side is something Purchase appreciates.

“The people are so nice, very welcoming, there’s a local spirit and the town and the BIA organize a lot of events for people to come together,” she says. “There’s a sense of community, there are so many parks and the town is family-oriented. It has almost everything.

“It’s a little piece of heaven.”

Station No. 3

Location: Brock and Colborne Sts., Whitby

Development size: Six floors, 160 units, plus 10,000 sq. ft. of retail space

Price: Low $600,000s and up

Planned occupancy: 2024

Suite plans: One bedroom condo suites to three-bedroom townhouses

Condo size: 550 sq. ft. to 1,200 sq. ft.

Amenities: Courtyard, outdoor terrace, gym, yoga studio, party room

Developer: Brookfield Residential

Architect: RAW Design

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