From the City of Pickering's November 9th council meeting, I found that there still is life in this project. Mattamy submitted another round of draft plans for Pickering to use as a doormat just in time for a sloppy, wet and cold winter. 
City staff noted while the application met the Duffin Heights neighbourhood development guidelines, it was felt it was more innovative before Mattamy revised it. But ultimately, staff suggested council accept it since it was accessible and pedestrian-oriented and will allow for development that "meets the intent of the City's sustainable development guidelines."
Duffins Heights, Pickering
Location: Tillings Road, north of Dersan Street, off of Brock Road, Pickering
Master planned community
Single detached homes and townhomes on 32' and 39' lots adjacent to the Ganasekaigon Creek Valley
Over 100 lots available
Monday's Joint Committee Meeting that went into the early hours of the morning saw Mattamy's plan of subdivision for Creekside approved!
Oh yeah, and also you'll get the EXCLUSIVE on the important dates leading up to Council Approval which seems right around the corner!
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According to a forecast released yesterday by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp., housing starts in Ontario are expected to drop by more than 22 per cent this year, to 58,250 units, before rebounding by 1.9 per cent in 2010. Koebel is all too representative of those numbers. He expected to finish work on his site this year, but because of slow sales, has pushed his Steeple Hill development back to 2010. Over the past year, he has dropped the price of his homes three times, in $10,000 increments, and offered incentives such as hardwood upgrades and appliances.
Koebel said if he started selling a year earlier, he would have been sold out by now. So far, he has sold six of the 45 units. He figures he needs to sell between 10 to 15 units before he obtains bank financing.
Monday, February 2, 2009 - 3:00 PM - Main Committee Room
Special Planning & Development Committee Meeting
Re: Development of the Duffin Heights Neighbourhood
"Rumours are swirling that Minister of Finance and Whitby-Oshawa MP Jim Flaherty will approve the proposed Pickering airport in next week's fiscal stimulus package. In 1972, the federal government expropriated 18,600 acres of farmland for the possibility of an airport in north Pickering. But a shovel hasn't yet touched the ground. An environmental assessment is scheduled to be complete this year."Seaton (those hoping to live in the later phases located North of Taunton Rd) and many Northwest Markham residents, , will definitely have the airport on their minds as they worry about noise, pollution, and plane crashes if the government finally puts the shovel to the dirt after hemming and hawing since '78.
"It's time the federal government made a decision one way or another on the airport," he said, adding the size of the pipes slated for the Seaton community will be dependant on whether or not there's going to be an airport. As well, potential Seaton residents have a right to know if they'll be living next to an airport.Almost immediately after the announcement, Mattamy Homes has announced** that homes built in close proximity to the airport will be sold with sound deadening foundations, fencing, insulation and an optional retractable dome capsules will maintain a pollution-free environment available through the design centre. Pricing has yet to be announced on the "Home-Domes" but is expected to run $100-200k!
*Even my update is a fictitious story. But you knew that already.