DEVELOPMENT EVENTS
October 24, 2025 685
CreateTO, Collecdev-Markee break ground on 275 Merton Affordable Housing
Construction has officially begun at 275 Merton Street in Midtown Toronto, where CreateTO and Collecdev-Markee Developments have broken ground on a purpose-built, 494-unit rental community. The project, being built on a disused city office site, combines public and private properties to create a mix of market-rate and affordable housing, including 148 affordable units, alongside new retail space and a mid-block pedestrian connection to the Kay Gardner Beltline Trail. Mayor Olivia Chow, Collecdev-Markee CEO Jennifer Keesmaat and CreateTO CEO Vic Gupta led today's ceremony to celebrate the project.
Groundbreaking ceremony, image by Anthony Teles
The project replaces a former Toronto Water office west of Mount Pleasant Boulevard with a modern rental building designed by gh3. The structure will rise above a ground floor lined with retail and community spaces and form a new pedestrian link connecting Merton Street to the Kay Gardner Beltline Trail. Across its 494 apartments, the building offers a range of units, including family-oriented two- and three-bedroom floor plans. The project meets the Toronto Green Standard and strives for strong environmental performance.
267-275 Merton Street, designed by gh3 for Collecdev-Markee Developments and CreateTO
The project is part of Toronto's HousingTO 2020-2030 action plan, a 10-year framework to create 65,000 rent-controlled apartments, including 41,000 affordable rental apartments, 17,500 rent-controlled apartments and 6,500 rent-controlled apartments. It is one of nearly 100 city-owned properties zoned for housing, demonstrating how public land can be used to build faster and maintain affordability over the long term. The city has provided more than $8 million in incentives and fee reductions to support the project.
Jennifer Keesmaat, CEO, Collecdev-Markee, speaks to the crowd, image by Anthony Teles
“People in Toronto need homes they can afford,” Chow said. “Soon the former Toronto Water site will be home to 494 new homes, including 148 income-dependent homes for nurses, construction workers and families who deserve to live where they work.” She added: “We are investing over $8 million in incentives and leveraging city-owned land to make housing more affordable.”
Mayor Olivia Chow speaks to the crowd, photo by Anthony Teles
CreateTO led negotiations to merge the city-owned property with the neighboring Collecdev-Markee property, creating a unified site that increases residential capacity and introduces new public connections. The partnership model shortens delivery times and sets a precedent for similar collaborations across Toronto's municipal land portfolio. Officials from CreateTO and Collecdev-Markee called the project proof that coordinated planning between the public and private sectors can accelerate construction and improve affordability outcomes.
Vic Gupta, CEO, CreateTO, speaks to attendees, image by Anthony Teles
“275 Merton is an example of collaboration in action,” said Gupta. “By combining a city-owned site with the developer's site next door, we created more housing and more public space. This didn't happen by accident – it happened because we were all willing to think differently.” Paula Fletcher, Ward 14 councilor and CreateTO board member, added: “From idea to groundbreaking in 14 months, this project is proof that we can build homes faster when we work together. It's a real triumph of housing policy in practice.”
Councilor Paula Fletcher speaks to the audience, picture by Anthony Teles
The building's affordable and market-rate homes feature identical design standards, underscoring the project's inclusive intent. Keesmaat attributed the rapid delivery to close coordination between Collecdev-Markee, gh3, CreateTO and City staff, noting that development progressed in a single design iteration, an unusual pace for a project of this scale. She also recognized gh3 architect Vanessa Abram and Collecdev-Markee development manager Carolynna Gabriel for their commitment throughout the accelerated planning and design process.
Carolynna Gabriel of Collecdev-Markee (second from right) and Vanessa Abram of gh3 (far right), image by Anthony Teles
When the speeches ended, those in attendance, along with Mayor Olivia Chow, dug the first shovels into the ground, marking the official start of construction work. “This project shows what is possible when public lands, private expertise and strong political will come together,” said Keesmaat. “It’s a model for how we can build complete, inclusive communities in the heart of the city, with homes for people of all income levels.”
Participants threw dirt into the air at the groundbreaking ceremony, photo by Anthony Teles
UrbanToronto will continue to monitor the progress of this development, but in the meantime you can learn more in our database file 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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