Toronto is getting a new kind of affordable housing in midtown—one that looks modern and fresh rather than rundown and outdated. A new 40-story rental tower at 267 and 275 Merton Street will soon change the Davisville neighborhood. Designed by gh3 for Collecdev Markee, this building aims to become a local landmark and provide much-needed affordable housing.
This project isn’t just any residential tower—it’s a joint effort by Collecdev Markee, the City of Toronto, and CreateTO to combine smart urban planning with social benefits. Let’s explore the details.
Project Background
The site at 267 and 275 Merton Street is currently occupied by a two-story Toronto Water office building and a single-detached house with an old auto repair shop in the back. The transformation began in September 2023, when Collecdev Markee came up with a plan to turn these properties into rental units, including affordable housing.
To make it happen, CreateTO and Collecdev Markee signed a non-binding Letter of Intent to build the affordable rental project. In June 2024, City Council backed the partnership, which involves the City taking ownership of 267 Merton Street and leasing both properties back to Collecdev Markee for 99 years. This setup allows Collecdev Markee to develop and manage the new housing while the City keeps the land.
Design and Vision
The new 40-story tower, designed by gh3, will be a striking addition to the area with its green exterior, punched windows shaped like houses, and Juliet balconies. The building will reach 134.5 meters in height, making it stand out in Davisville.
BlogTo reports that the plan includes 494 rental units, with 30% of them (or 148 units) being affordable for the long term to help tackle the city’s housing challenges. The other 346 units will be rented at market rates, which is expected to attract a lot of interest because of the building's prime location and appealing design.
The building will have:
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38 studio units
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278 one-bedroom units
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128 two-bedroom units
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50 three-bedroom units
The exact layout of the affordable units will be decided as part of the Municipal Housing Agreement between the City and Collecdev Markee.
Retail and Public Space
The ground floor of the building will feature 132 square meters of retail space on the northwest corner, which will help bring more life to Merton Street. The project will also include a Privately Owned Publicly Accessible Space (POPS) of 380 square meters, creating a public area that links Merton Street with the Kay Gardner Beltline Trail and providing pedestrians with a pleasant mid-block connection.
Transportation and Parking
The Davisville area already has great public transit, and this project will add even more support for sustainable transportation. There will be 496 bicycle parking spots, with 50 short-term spots for visitors, encouraging cycling. A below-ground parking level will have 22 spaces reserved for visitors only, in line with the trend of reducing resident parking to promote transit use.
Residents will be just a short walk from the Davisville subway station (885 meters away) on Line 1, as well as the soon-to-open Eglinton and Mount Pleasant LRT stations (1.4 kilometers away). This convenient location means residents can easily get around the city without needing a car.
Building Amenities
The new tower will offer both practical and recreational amenities for residents. In total, the building will have 21,549 square feet of amenities spread over two levels:
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10,742 square feet of indoor amenities on the first and second floors
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10,806 square feet of outdoor amenities on the same levels, including a 360-degree terrace on the second level
The outdoor space will provide views of Merton Street, the Kay Gardiner Beltline Trail, and landscaped areas, giving residents a relaxing spot to enjoy fresh air.
Project Timeline
Construction at 267 and 275 Merton Street is expected to start in the second half of 2025, with the first residents moving in by mid-2028. Once completed, the Davisville area will have a new, modern tower that offers both affordable and market-rate rental units.
This development is also part of a larger plan to help Toronto meet its housing goals by adding more affordable and market-rate homes. Mayor Olivia Chow praised the project for offering more options for people with low to moderate incomes..
The Merton Street development will be a great addition to the Davisville area, bringing both beauty and much-needed housing. By creating 494 rental units, including 148 affordable homes, this project will have a big impact on the local community. The focus on sustainable transport, public spaces, and modern amenities makes it a standout development, balancing practicality and thoughtful design.
For those in the commercial construction industry, this project is a strong example of how public-private partnerships can create innovative, community-focused housing solutions. The collaboration between Collecdev Markee, the City of Toronto, and CreateTO has led to a plan that helps tackle the housing crisis while promoting urban sustainability.
