Toronto Breaks Ground on 494-Unit Purpose-Built Rental Development at 275 Merton Street
City, CreateTO and Collecdev-Markee partner to deliver 148 affordable homes on repurposed public land
TORONTO — The City of Toronto has officially broken ground on a major housing development at 275 Merton Street, marking another milestone in its commitment to expand affordable and purpose-built rental housing across the city.
Mayor Olivia Chow joined CreateTO, Collecdev-Markee Developments, and community partners on Friday to celebrate the start of construction on the new midtown project, which will deliver 494 new rental homes, including 148 affordable units.
City of Toronto, @_CreateTO break ground on new purpose-built rental project on City-owned land with 494 new rental homes
News release: https://t.co/06m3aOS0uf pic.twitter.com/um7OuN3FIk
— City of Toronto 🇨🇦 (@cityoftoronto) October 24, 2025
The project reimagines a former Toronto Water office building into a mixed-use residential development that combines City-owned land with an adjacent private parcel to maximize housing potential and accelerate construction. The collaboration model — leveraging public land and private expertise — aligns with Toronto’s broader strategy to create housing that is both affordable and sustainable.
“The City of Toronto is investing more than $8 million and leveraging City-owned land to build more affordable homes for Torontonians,” said Mayor Olivia Chow. “We are pleased to partner with CreateTO and Collecdev-Markee to break ground on 494 new rental homes, including 148 affordable homes.”
Building Homes and Connectivity
The new community will include family-sized two- and three-bedroom units, retail space, and publicly accessible areas designed to improve walkability. A key feature will be an expanded pedestrian connection between Merton Street and the Kay Gardner Beltline Trail, enhancing access to one of Toronto’s most beloved urban greenways.
The development will also meet high sustainability standards through the Toronto Green Standard, incorporating energy-efficient design and a geothermal heating system to reduce emissions and support the City’s climate action goals.
“275 Merton shows what’s possible when we work together,” said Vic Gupta, CEO of CreateTO. “By combining City land with Collecdev-Markee’s property, we unlocked a unique opportunity to deliver much-needed housing. This isn’t a one-off. We need more creative partnerships like this to get shovels in the ground and build the homes Toronto needs.”
“This development shows what’s possible when public land, private expertise, and strong political will come together,” added Jennifer Keesmaat, CEO of Collecdev-Markee Developments. “In just a few years, Merton Street will welcome new neighbours and new energy — adding hundreds of homes that build on the strength of the community that’s already here.”
Advancing Toronto’s HousingTO 2030 Plan
The Merton Street project contributes to the City’s HousingTO 2020–2030 Action Plan, which aims to deliver 65,000 new rent-controlled homes, including 41,000 affordable rentals, 6,500 rent-geared-to-income homes, and 17,500 rent-controlled market units by the end of the decade.
“The new development at 275 Merton is an example of what we can accomplish when governments work together with private sector partners,” said The Honourable Leslie Church, Member of Parliament for Toronto–St. Paul’s. “Getting this project off the ground is a step toward bringing down housing costs and ensuring everyone has an affordable place in the heart of our city to call home.”
Construction is now underway, with completion expected in 2028.
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