Over 1,800 residents oppose shopping plaza conversion to condos in Mississauga
Published December 7, 2023 at 3:46 pm
More than 1,800 people have signed a petition fighting the possible conversion of a popular shopping plaza into residential.
The City of Mississauga and the Region of Peel are looking at three pieces of land for a possible change from “employment lands” to “sensitive uses”, which would allow for residential development.
And one of those properties, known as Site 1, at Argentia Road and Winston Churchill Boulevard in Mississauga, is currently home to a SmartCentre Plaza. Residents would like to see this plaza remain and today (Dec. 7) two people spoke out at the Peel Region council meeting opposing the conversion.
“The community overwhelmingly opposes the conversion of Site 1, and it must be considered in making any future decisions,” Harbinder Khangura said at the meeting.
Khangura said more than 1,800 residents have signed his petition opposing the change and many were not previously aware of the proposal. He asked for more public consultation on the change.
Khangura noted the additional residential units are not needed in this area of Mississauga. There is already a large development coming on Ninth Line.
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As part of a trend to convert malls to include housing, SmartCentres have indicated they want to change many of their properties to mixed-use with both retail and residential.
Area resident Sean Ramitt said he agrees retail is changing with more online shopping but people still need in-person shopping.
Ramitt says the SmartCentre shopping plaza at Argentia Road and Winston Churchill Boulevard is doing a booming business and is needed in the community.
“Some will say, ‘well, you know, retail is downsizing,’ but I have to wait in line to buy anything when I go shopping, in my community, at Site 1, I wait in line, I do not get prime parking spots, I’m not sure who does,” Ramitt says.
He added that the community wants to see more new businesses and more employment.
SmartCentre representatives also attended the meeting and urged council to continue with the process.
Staff indicated they are continuing with the process, and although the City of Mississauga has had public consultations, the Region will do further public consultations, possibly in the spring of 2024.
For more on this discussion, see the Region of Peel meeting here.
For more information on the plans see the City of Mississauga’s Have Your Say site here. To learn about the petition, click here.
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