DEVELOPMENT PLANNING
March 17, 2026 750
Transit-oriented community planned around the future Woodbine GO station
Woodbine Entertainment is moving forward with a new redevelopment plan for portions of its massive North Etobicoke property, replacing a series of plans that began nearly 20 years ago and were originally called “Woodbine Live!” were called. Still in its early stages, the new plan calls for a transit-oriented residential development southeast of the racetrack near the future Woodbine GO station currently under construction on the Kitchener rail corridor west of Highway 27. The concept was designed by British architecture and planning firm Allies & Morrison, internationally known for large-scale urban regeneration projects such as London’s King’s Cross, and envisages a new mixed-use district in the south-eastern part of the site.
A bird’s eye view looking north at the Woodbine TOC, designed by Allies and Morrison for Woodbine Entertainment
Previous Woodbine Live!-era plans focused development on the northwest corner of the site, near Rexdale Boulevard and the Highway 427 interchange, before there were plans to build a GO station in the southeast corner. With the GO station currently under construction, the southeast corner has become far more attractive as a new neighborhood property for thousands of residents. Today, this area contains secondary functions for racetracks, such as horse stables. They would move to the northwest corner of the site, allowing a new neighborhood to take full advantage of the new GO station for easy transportation.
An aerial view of the current location, image from submission to the City of Toronto
The planning discussions to renovate the site spanned several decades. The Woodbine Live! The concept called for a large entertainment and mixed-use district on portions of the property. In 2007 it received city permits and related building permits. Subsequent planning work expanded the site’s vision, with consents granted in 2015 allowing additional gaming uses. The first phase of Woodbine Live! The plan became the Great Canadian Casino Resort, which was built and opened directly east of the race track.
More recently, planning policy has shifted to support a transit-oriented community, with the province establishing the Woodbine Major Transit Station Area in 2025, encouraging a notable change in the way development should be distributed on the property. The new vision covers approximately 777,849 m² of the southeast quadrant of the site and proposes approximately 19,874 residential units with a gross floor area of 1,620,678 m², including 1,381,064 m² of residential space and approximately 149,539 m² of commercial space, as well as 38,940 m² of retail space and 51,136 m² of commercial space institutional space.
Concept card designed by Allies and Morrison for Woodbine Entertainment
The masterplan envisages development in three main districts: Station Quarter, Park Village and East Green. A central north-south corridor, Woodbine Boulevard, would act as the primary spine connecting neighborhoods to the GO station while supporting retail and active use. Within each district, development blocks would be arranged with a mix of residential buildings, workplaces and community facilities, supported by smaller civic plazas, pedestrian walkways and mid-block connections.
The concept also includes 11 hectares of public parkland anchored by three large open spaces: Southlands Park, an approximately 52,102 m² central park that frames the GO station entrance; Park Meadows, a 46,007 m² series of meadow-like green spaces that run through the neighborhoods; and Woodbine Grove, a smaller 19,822 m² landscaped area that provides visual connections to the race track.
Conceptual rendering designed by Allies and Morrison for Woodbine Entertainment
Buildings throughout the site are intended to be primarily mid-rise, ranging from three to sixteen stories, with the tallest lining Woodbine Boulevard and framing major streets. Residential blocks facing parks would be organized as “ribbon blocks” to maximize views of green spaces, while the Central Blocks would concentrate higher density residential blocks and active ground floors. Edge blocks along Highway 27 would take on a quieter residential feel, and the Woodbine Social area on the southern edge would accommodate employment-oriented uses and flexible commercial space. Retail activity would be focused on Woodbine Boulevard and a celebratory pedestrian corridor connecting the GO station to the heart of the community.
Woodbine Social section of the website designed by Allies and Morrison for Woodbine Entertainment
The Woodbine GO station has space for four 12-car GO trains, an eight-bay bus station and approximately 1,000 parking spaces. Longer-term regional transit planning also calls for an extension of the Finch West Line 6 LRT south from Humber College to the Woodbine GO station, with a possible continuation to Pearson International Airport.
An aerial view of current and future mass transit, image from submission to the City of Toronto
On the racetrack site itself, the 11-story Casino Resort opened in 2023, adding gaming, hotel and event venues. Other proposals on the property include a two-story building for track amenities, while previous plans for a one-story Woodbine football training facility and stadium are no longer being implemented. Off-site, east of Highway 27, there are other proposals for a seven-story Holiday Inn Express Rexdale and the eight-story Tru by Hilton Etobicoke. To the northeast, a 17-story mixed-use building is planned at 750 Queens Plate Drive.
UrbanToronto will continue to monitor the progress of this development, but in the meantime you can learn more about it in our database file, including many more renderings linked below. If you’d like, you can join the discussion in the associated Project Forum thread or leave a comment in the designated area on this page.
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