Ontario Construction News staff writer
Residents of Mississauga will soon get a chance to influence the future of one of the city’s key downtown locations as council begins public discussions on an exciting initiative to redevelop the Living Arts Centre and nearly 12 acres of adjacent City-owned land.
The proposed redevelopment aims to revamp the outdated Living Arts Centre (LAC) along with four nearby plots-currently used for surface parking and underutilized green spaces-into a vibrant mixed-use area that will feature new cultural spots, public areas, residential units, commercial facilities, and attractions for tourists.
City officials highlight that the Living Arts Centre is a vital part of Mississauga’s cultural landscape, but after more than twenty years, the facility needs considerable investment to stay relevant and cater to a rapidly expanding city.
Instead of just upgrading the building by itself, staff suggest a thorough redevelopment approach for the entire area.
“The lands represent a rare opportunity to reimagine almost 12 acres in the heart of downtown through a coordinated planning approach,” the report says.
This site sits in a crucial position between the Civic Centre precinct-which includes Sheridan College-and densely populated neighborhoods around Square One and Confederation Parkway. The redevelopment would also enhance links to significant public green spaces like a planned urban park and Zonta Meadows Park, which has recently been revitalized.
The vision approved by council in March outlines plans for a new downtown hub centered on cultural venues, tourism spots, and business facilities. Early concepts include plans for a music venue, convention center, hotel, expanded parkland, a Sky Park, new office buildings and homes, as well as improved public spaces meant to support events year-round and encourage community involvement.
Council gave its backing to this vision and strategic framework on March 11. They instructed staff to create a strategy for engaging with the public before moving forward with the project.
This plan involves starting consultations in fall 2026 that will continue into early 2027 through two different engagement streams.
The first stream will target industry outreach by gathering developers, investors, tourism groups, and cultural stakeholders together to discuss project feasibility, delivery models, and possible partnerships.
The second stream will focus on informing residents about the proposal while collecting their feedback through information sessions, community pop-up events, online engagement tools, and other consultation activities.
The staff believe that community input is essential for refining this redevelopment vision while guiding future recommendations for council consideration.
The initial phase of engagement will wrap up with a “What We Heard” report that summarizes feedback from both residents and stakeholders.
An analysis on detailed business cases for potential projects like the convention center, hotel , and music venue will also be conducted concurrently. These studies aim to assess financial viability , economic effects , market demand , and partnership possibilities before staff present their findings to council in Q2 of 2027.
Council is being asked to approve funding for this effort-a new $300 ,000 capital project sourced from the City’s Municipal Accommodation Tax Reserve Fund. This budget would cover external planning studies , financial evaluations , and due diligence needed to see if this initiative can proceed.
If given final approval , the redevelopment could mark one of downtown Mississauga’s most significant changes in decades-creating an exciting new cultural destination while enhancing connections among civic institutions , growing residential areas , and an expanding network of public spaces.
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