Ontario Construction News staff writer
Graywood Developments and Phantom Developments have broken ground on a 55-storey build-to-rent tower at 3201 Highway 7, marking the first phase of a three-tower master-planned community in the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre (VMC).
“I am happy to be here with members from Graywood Developments and Phantom Developments as we continue to deliver vital housing supply to the City of Vaughan,” Mayor Steven Del Duca said at the ceremony. “Projects like 3201 Highway 7 are critical to ensuring healthy, diverse housing options for the residents of Vaughan, and I look forward to the continued development of the VMC.”
The development is the second collaboration between Graywood and Phantom, who recently completed JAC Condos in downtown Toronto.
A 55-storey tower will include 617 rental units, ranging from studios to three-bedroom suites. Plans also include a gym, party room, swimming pool, co-working space, outdoor terrace and dog run. The site is a five-minute walk from the VMC subway station.
“3201 Highway 7 fits everything we look for when assessing a development project: premium location, great access to transit and a wealth of amenities for our future residents,” said Stephen Price, Graywood’s president and CEO. “Downtown Vaughan is in the midst of a generational transformation, and we are excited to deliver this project to the vibrant and diverse community.”
Designed by Arcadis, the tower is the first of three planned for the site. Once complete, the master plan will add about 1,700 units to the VMC.
The project supports the city’s broader vision to build a transit-oriented downtown anchored by housing, office and mixed-use districts connected by parks, open spaces and a fine-grain street network. Vaughan has set targets of 12,000 new residential units, 1.5 million square feet of office space and 750,000 square feet of retail by 2031.
“We are excited to be starting construction on this three-tower master plan which will deliver quality housing options to the community,” said Stanton Strasser of Phantom Developments. “After a successful partnership on JAC Condos, we are excited to work together and continue to shape the future of Vaughan through this project.”
