Community Real Estate Focus - Pickering
By Andrei Zaretski - New Dream Homes and Condos
If you like fast, then Pickering is for you. One of the fastest-growing cities in the country, Pickering is no walk in the park… unless you want it to be! Established as part of the former York County in 1791, the Township of Pickering was named after an English market town of the same name.
It began as an agricultural community, focusing on farming and milling. The mills were powered by the many surrounding rivers, including the Rouge River which was later used as a harbour to ship merchandise to Toronto and other nearby big cities.
In 1856, Pickering took another step towards development after the construction of the Grand Trunk Railway.
After the Second World War, the township’s rural east end, used for manufacturing shells, was severed and turned into a community now known as Ajax. Another community, now known as the Village of Pickering, was separated from the township shortly after.
But it would take more than that to slow Pickering down, as it prospered and grew after the completion of Highway 401, which passes by the township’s south side. It received even more attention in 1965 when construction began on the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station; one of the largest nuclear facilities in the world.
The OPG 7 commemorative turbine, one of the largest windmills in North America, is also in Pickering. It was built in 2001.
In the mid-1970s, Pickering became a town under the new Durham Region. Its boundaries were once again reduced, as the west portion of the town was handed over to Scarborough. It became a city in 2000.
Despite being a city with a large farming community, Pickering is nothing less than urban. With an approximate population of 95,000, it has become a hot spot for real estate with affordable housing in close proximity to Toronto.
Let’s not forget that walk in the park. Pickering’s west side is joined with the last largest urban park in North America: the Rouge River park system.
In 2006, Profit magazine described the city as one of Canada’s best cities for growth companies. Some of the factors influencing this recognition include easy access to major highways, close proximity to nearby colleges and universities, and a large youth population.
Pickering is expected to lead Canada in population growth in the upcoming years. It is already the founding municipality of the Durham Strategic Energy Alliance due to its large quantity of energy-related companies. The Alliance’s mission is to establish itself as a leader in the international energy market.
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