DEVELOPMENT PLANNING
June 04, 2025 138
Inside Canada Lands Company Plans to change the downsview countries
The downsview area in North York, which extends more than 500 hectares in North York, represent one of the most ambitious opportunities for city education in North America. In the coming decades, it will be home to five mixed communities with TTC and Go compounds that borders on the protected Downsview Park. The Canada Lands Company (CLC), a self-financed Crown Corporation, is now performing some of the largest plots, including the almost show bike-capable Arbo and the upcoming Downsview West Districts. Urbantoronto recently sat down with the CLC President and CEO Stéphan Déry and the VP of Real Estate, Central Region, James Cox, about the extent of the company and what comes next.
CLC has 30 years of history in which excess government areas are converted into new communities across Canada, many of which in former military or federal states. It is clear without direct public financing, the purchase of land to the market value and the reinvestment of its profits in federal coffers. “Every profit we make give us back the Canada government in the form of a dividend,” said Déry. The real estate portfolio currently extends over 23 active development locations. The company also has and manages the CN Tower, the Downsview Park, the Montreal Science Center and more.
Company time bar, picture with the kind permission of Canada Lands Company
CLC has undertaken to activate 49,000 new houses by 2031. CLC supported 4100 new houses in 2024-2025, twice the same Year, At 35% as affordable. This trajectory will have to climb even further in the coming years. “If we want to deliver 49,000 houses by 2031, we have to go up to 10,000 to 15,000 units a year,” said Déry.
The recent changes in the federal government help to enable this. The authority granted in the household 2024 enables CLC to buy land directly from other crown companies such as Canada Post, without requesting long permits and the renovation of the renovation, even if federal buildings are still in use. In some cases, lands can now be purchased to the book value instead of market rates, so that CLC can pass on these savings to developers and increase the proportion of affordable apartments within its projects.
Together with the developments of Northcrest for the former Bombardier airport area, CLC shaped the vision together by the ID8 downsview frame, which laid the basics for the approved secondary plan for the city of Toronto for the area. With 520 ACRES “it is the biggest development opportunity for CLC and one of the largest in North America”, Cox made the largest project in the history of the company.
A map of the Downsview Lands district, picture with the friendly approval of Canada Lands Company
The district of Stanley Greene, south of the Downsview Park, was the first to be built. Mattamy Homes and Stafford delivered about 1,300 houses through a mixture of town houses and middle houses. Next is Downsview West on the north side of the Downsview Park, served by Downsview Park Subway and Go Station as well as Arbo west of it.
On the north and west side of this curved section of the Sheppard Avenue, Arbo will be a 62 hectare community that is organized for a preserved wooden solder. The neighborhood is planned to absorb 4,300 houses for complete expansion and begins 20% of its living space for affordability. The first phase that includes 1,700 units is expected to receive zoning permit in mid -2025. A package offered by the Federal Lands initiative of CMHC will provide around 300 units with at least 30% of the affordable units as part of a 99-year agricultural agreement. “Arbo is defined by the Woodlot in the heart,” said Cox, “a completely different character as a downview West and a real gem.”
Look north to Arbo, picture with the friendly approval of Canada Lands Company
Downsview West, which covers 30.3 hectares, is the largest of the five districts, the 8,800 houses, including 1,760 affordable units, as well as 1.2 million feet work space and 10 hectares of parking land. Designed by urban strategies as well as a trophic design of SLA and indigenous property are the cotton building from the Cold War from the Cold War, an extensive 875,000-foot² structure that currently houses preliminary use such as film studios and the market for downsview Park Merchants.
Downsview West District, picture by submitting to the city of Toronto
Instead of tearing off the structure, CLC examines reusable reusing strategies through a feasibility study. The plans include the Depot Mews, a pedestrian -oriented retail corridor, which runs next to the building and is inspired by the revitalization of market street next to the St. Lawrence Market. “Downsview West defines the depot,” said Déry. “We want something great, something iconic building.”
View north along the Depot Mise
The downsview West District is divided into three character areas.
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The station district in the northeastern corner will pass the highest towers near the TTC and GO station.
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The heart is at the center of the plan, framed by Heart Park and Depot.
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In the south, the MEWS adopted a feeling of living that is made up of medium -ranging buildings that are arranged around the courtyards.
An 800 m long ancestor of the ancestors runs in the entire district with local elements, art and storytelling.
View west along the Northern Street through the Depot Passage, Image by submitting to the city of Toronto
CLC works in a formal partnership with the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation (MCFN) after signing a memorandum of understanding in December 2023. Together they develop guidelines for cultural design that inform the planning and expression of future quarters in MCFN Territory, including downsview. Discussions are also ongoing common commercial possibilities associated with the renovation.
The company also reacts to the latest feedback from the city's Design Review panel, including overcrowding near ward areas. COX explained that the Open Space network intentionally absorbed foot traffic and relieves pressure around the stations.
Herzpark (Ode Okogediwinan), picture by submitting to the city of Toronto
With regard to sustainability, all new developments aim to fulfill Tieronto Tieronto. CLC pursues strategies such as green roofs, solar integration on site and advanced rainwater systems and at the same time is aimed at a 25% tree wreath over the site with the planting of around 1,400 new trees.
CLC continues to work in close coordination with the city of Toronto and Northcrest. Since ARBO will receive zoning permits by mid -2025, the registration of sub -department is expected this summer and the neighborhood is positioned for early land offers. DownsView West, which is currently progressing through his reed and subdivision process, is expected to ensure permits by spring 2026. The two remaining districts Downsview East (58 acres and around 6,700 houses) and all west (28 hectares and around 3,200 houses) are long -term projects.
Urbantoronto will continue to pursue progress in this development. In the meantime, however, you can find out more about this from our database file linked below. If you want, you can join the conversation in the associated project forum thread or leave a comment in the room provided on this page.
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