Residents in Aurora, Ontario met with Mayor Tom Mrakas and town planners on March 24, 2026, to discuss how the south end of Yonge Street will grow over the coming years. The public meeting focused on finding a balance between adding more homes and keeping the local feel of the neighbourhood as the town works to meet provincial building goals.
The Town of Aurora has a target to build 8,000 new homes by 2031 and has already approved more than 4,200 of those units. To help reach this goal, the mayor plans to change rules to allow five-storey buildings along Yonge Street so more people can live close to public transit and local services.
Some community members have raised concerns about how these larger buildings will change the area, leading groups like the Ratepayers of Yonge Street South to ask for changes to specific projects. For instance, a proposal at 14070 Yonge Street was scaled back from 300 units to 93 townhouse units, which the town council approved in late 2025 after neighbours spoke out against the size and traffic impact of the original apartment plan.
While some projects are being adjusted, others are moving forward, such as a 900-unit development approved for the old Canadian Tire site. The town is also finishing the design for the Aurora Promenade Streetscape project, which will redesign Yonge Street between Wellington and Church Streets. This project is expected to begin construction in 2027 and will include replacing a sewer system that has been in place since 1932.
