In Canadian real estate financing, floating rate mortgages offer the potential for lower interest costs when rates fall but carry the risk of higher payments if rates rise.
Net operating income (NOI) is the total income generated by a property after operating expenses are deducted but before taxes and financing costs.. more
Left: 954 - 958 Broadview Avenue/Graziani + Corazza Architects, Right: Looking north-west towards the subject site, 1905/Toronto Public Library via ERA Architects Inc.
In a joint venture, DiamondCorp and Kilmer Group are teaming up to restore and redevelop Chester Public School in East York — an 1891 brick school house designated under the Ontario Heritage Act. The redevelopment would preserve certain elements of the historic building while delivering a 26-storey mixed-use condo development with over 300 new residential units, retail at grade, and a new public park.
Plans were filed in early September and comprise an Official Plan Amendment (OPA) and Zoning By-law Amendment (ZBA) application to permit the newly proposed height, density, and uses on site. This application follows previous approvals for the site granted in February 2023 in favour of a 14- and four-storey mixed-use development containing 207 residential units, and aims to build upon those plans in light of recent planning framework developments.
These developments include the passing of the 2024 Provincial Planning Statement, which generally encourages the intensification of new housing development, and the recent adoption of the Broadview Protected Major Transit Station Area (PMTSA), which the site is located within and which encourages development growth around major transit stations. According to planning materials, Diamond Kilmer Developments (the joint venture company) argue these policy advancements call "for higher densities on sites such as this one."
The site is addressed as 954 - 958 Broadview Avenue and 72 Chester Hill Road and is located about a seven-minute walk north of Broadview Station on TTC's Line 2 in Toronto's Broadview North neighbourhood. Wedged between the East York suburbs and the historic Todmorden Mills Park and Heritage Site, the over 130-year-old schoolhouse is joined on the site by two semi-detached dwellings and one detached dwelling, which would be demolished during construction.
The school itself is currently decommissioned and hasn't operated as an educational institution in some time. Taken over in the 1960s by The Estonian House, a hub for the City’s Estonian-Canadian community, the building served that community for around 60 years before being sold in 2020, according to planning materials.
While the main building was constructed in the late 1800s, Chester Public School underwent a number of changes over the years, including the removal of its original peaked bell tower roof sometime before 1953, the addition of a rear building in 1963, a 1976 addition to the front of the building, and an accessible entrance and elevator installed in 1995. In Diamond Kilmer's plans, additions will be demolished but the original schoolhouse we be restored, including the reconstruction of the lost bell tower and chimney.
Renderings from Graziani + Corazza Architects show the development with a long rectangular form stretching from Broadview Ave. in the east to the ravine area in the west. Going east to west, the development would consist of a 2,583-sq.-ft public park along Broadview Ave.; Chester Public providing amenity space, retail space, and the residential entrance along Broadview Ave.; the main 26-storey condo tower in the centre of the rectangle; and a four-story portion abutting onto 8,040 sq. ft of land to be conveyed to the Toronto Region Conservation Authority (TRCA).
In total, the proposed development would deliver 1,076 sq. ft of at-grade retail space and 13,347 sq. ft of amenity space, primarily located within the third storey of the heritage building. This would include 1,431 sq. ft of outdoor amenity space at grade, 1,184 sq. ft inside at grade, and 4,789 sq. ft on the third floor. Additional amenity space would be found on the fifth floor, where a 602-sq. -ft indoor amenity space joins with a large 3,821-sq.-ft outdoor terrace atop the four-storey podium.
In terms of residential units, there would be 315 in total, divided into 212 studios or one-bedrooms, 76 two-bedrooms, and 22 three-bedrooms, including eight affordable ownership units. Finally, there would be provided 81 vehicle parking spots and 176 bicycle parking spots.
If approved, the proposed development would deliver much needed new housing within walking distance of higher-order transit, while also preserving and reinvigorating a striking heritage building that served the surrounding community for over a century.
A rendering of the four towers planned near Gateway Station in Surrey. / ZGF Architects, Surrey City Development Corporation
The race is on between Vancouver and Surrey to see which City's development entity has the biggest projects and the latest round goes to the Surrey City Development Corporation (SCDC), which was revived in 2023 and recently submitted a rezoning application for a big four-tower project. (The Vancouver Housing Development Office will also be unveiling a four-tower project soon.)
The subject site of the SCDC's proposal is located at the southwest corner of 108 Avenue and University Drive, immediately west of the Expo Line SkyTrain's Gateway Station. The site currently consists of 10744 133 Street, 10725-10757 University Drive, and 13310-13350 108 Avenue and spans approximately 5.7 acres. The site makes up most of the block bounded by 108 Avenue on the north, University Drive on the east, the Whalley Athletic Park on the south, and 133 Street on the west, save for the two Citypoint towers at the northeast corner of the site developed by Century Group.
The site is currently occupied by the vacant Sunshine Housing Co-op townhouse community, which was relocated to the northeast corner of 104 Avenue and 132 Street, and several vacant lots. BC Assessment values the properties at $17,136,000, $5,248,000, $4,723,000, $5,245,000, $5,251,000, $2,374,000, $2,255,000, $8,300,000, and $5,849,000, for a total valuation of $56,381,000 dated back to July 1, 2024.
The site is designated as "Downtown" under the City of Surrey's Official Community Plan and envisioned for mid-to-high-rise development and high-rise development under the City Centre Plan. Under the Province's transit-oriented areas (TOAs) legislation, the site is also considered a Tier 1 TOA, which allows for the highest heights and densities.
The site of the Gateway project and the location of the four towers. / ZGF Architects, Surrey City Development Corporation
For the site, the Surrey City Development Corporation is planning four towers that would deliver a total of 1,814 residential units, all of which would be market rental units, with an overall suite mix of 264 studio units, 825 one-bedroom units, 489 two-bedroom units, and 236 three-bedroom units. Bolivar Creek runs through the middle of the L-shaped site, which would be developed in four phases, each of which would deliver one tower.
Tower One would be located at the northwestern corner of the site, rise 40 storeys, and house 478 units, split between 78 studio units, 212 one-bedroom units, 136 two-bedroom units, and 51 three-bedroom units.
Tower Two would be located immediately south, rise 44 storeys, and house 441 units, split between 47 studio units, 212 one-bedroom units, 137 two-bedroom units, and 45 three-bedroom units.
Tower Three will then be located on the eastern side of the Bolivar Creek, rise 44 storeys, and house 475 units, with a suite mix of 44 studio units, 242 one-bedroom units, 128 two-bedroom units, and 61 three-bedroom units.
Finally, Tower Four will be located at the southeastern corner of the site, rise 40 storeys, and deliver 420 units, with a suite mix of 95 studio units, 159 one-bedroom units, 88 two-bedroom units, and 78 three-bedroom units.
A rendering of the four towers, immediately north of Whalley Athletic Park. / ZGF Architects, Surrey City Development Corporation
A view of the four towers from along Whalley Athletic Park. / ZGF Architects, Surrey City Development Corporation
According to the City, Phase One / Tower One is confirmed to be market rental and be secured as such for a minimum of 60 years, per a proposed housing agreement. The remaining units are currently all envisioned as market rental units, but is still subject to change at a later date.
A grand total of 31,872 sq. ft of indoor amenity space and 55,789 sq. ft of outdoor amenity space has been proposed. Under City policy, the proposal provides less indoor amenity space than what is required for a project of its size and more outdoor amenity space than what is required. The City says the SCDC will be required to make a cash-in-lieu contribution to make up the shortfall in indoor amenity space.
Aside from the residential component, the project also includes just over 9,200 sq. ft of commercial retail space. Approximately 2,500 sq. ft will be located in Tower Two, while the remaining 6,700 sq. ft will be located in Tower Four. A total of 1,814 vehicle parking spaces and 1,200 bicycle parking stalls will be provided in a six-level underground parkade.
The project will also have a big nature element, as parkland is expected to be retained, Bolivar Creek will be integrated into the development, and the creek is also expected to be fed by stormwater captured by the buildings and filtered by rain gardens.
A rendering of the commercial retail space and public space proposed for the Gateway project. / ZGF Architects, Surrey City Development Corporation
A rendering of the commercial retail space and public space proposed for the Gateway project. / ZGF Architects, Surrey City Development Corporation
A rendering of the greenspace proposed for the Gateway project. / ZGF Architects, Surrey City Development Corporation
Notably, for Tower Three, the SCDC has also provided an alternative proposal where the building podium would be home to an urban elementary school and the height of Tower Three would be increased to 50 storeys.
"As an alternative program for Gateway’s Tower 3, SCDC has been in discussions with the Surrey School District to possibly integrate an elementary school within the podium of Tower 3," said City staff in a planning report. "Preliminary studies indicate the school could be accommodated across three levels and would serve approximately 655 students. The program would also include a Neighbourhood Learning Centre, featuring an Indigenous Learning Hub and spaces for before and after school care. In addition to the school, a childcare facility is proposed to serve two age cohorts."
"Incorporating the school into the podium would require modifications to the building footprint, internal building setbacks and overall height," added City staff. "To maintain the originally envisioned residential density on Lot 3, the tower height may increase to approximately 50 storeys with residential units beginning at Level 5. The detailed design would be reviewed through a subsequent Detailed Development Permit application."
As things currently stand, the project is expected to be completed by 2032, with occupancy currently expected in Q2 2030 for Tower One, Q2 2032 for Tower Two, Q2 2031 for Tower Three, and Q2 2032 for Tower Four.
At a meeting on September 15, Surrey City Council advanced the application and forwarded the project to a public hearing that is currently scheduled for Monday, October 20.
Perched in one of Kelowna’s most coveted enclaves, 764 Rockcliffe Place is a home that’s as much a feat of engineering as it is a triumph of design.
This residence, set within the exclusive community of Highpointe, commands attention with its striking use of concrete and steel, cantilevered forms, and uncompromising attention to detail.
From the very first approach, the property establishes its sense of grandeur. A lush, landscaped entryway is punctuated by a Corten steel water feature, leading guests into a soaring foyer clad in Italian tile and polished concrete. It’s here that the home immediately reveals its true calling card: breathtaking, uninterrupted views of the city and Lake Okanagan, perfectly framed through floor-to-ceiling windows.
The main living area is an entertainer’s dream, with a great room that flows seamlessly into a chef’s kitchen complete with bespoke Italian cabinetry and integrated Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances. Beyond, an expansive patio and pool deck runs the length of the home, extending the living space outward and creating a limitless connection to the Okanagan landscape.
The primary suite carries the same ethos of openness and ease. Designed to maximize both light and outlook, the suite spills directly onto the pool deck, blurring the boundaries between indoors and out. Two additional bedrooms and a versatile flex room — ideal for a bar lounge, games area, or gym — round out the main level, each space continuing the theme of elevated comfort amidst a seamless flow to the outdoors.
Downstairs, the mood shifts into one of retreat and recreation. A lounge with a wet bar sets the tone for evenings spent with music or movies, while a bedroom, bathroom, kitchenette, and recreation area provide abundant flexibility for guests or extended stays. Throughout, radiant-heated polished concrete floors underscore the home’s marriage of luxury and practicality.
But it’s the garage that truly sets this property apart. A car elevator delivers vehicles to an extraordinary 2,690-sq.-ft finished lower-level space. Outfitted with independent heating and air filtration, it’s a canvas waiting to be personalized — whether as a showpiece car gallery, workshop, or even a private indoor sports facility.
The view(s). It seems you can't go anywhere in this house without catching a glimpse of something breathtaking. From its Palm Springs poolside vibe to the sophisticated dining room table, no matter where you place yourself on this magnificent property you'll be met with a view to remember.
Indeed, 764 Rockcliffe is not simply a home; it’s a structural statement, designed to endure and inspire, while embracing the natural beauty that surrounds it.
Perched high above Okanagan Lake, a striking gated retreat awaits, delivering a rare blend of privacy, style, and sweeping scenery.
Set on 2.7 acres within one of the region’s most coveted enclaves, 8836 Stonington Road offers not only an elegant primary residence, but also room for future expansions — think guest house, carriage home, or even a pickleball court.
Arrive through the solar-powered gate and you’re met with a contemporary West Coast–inspired home, where soaring ceilings, a dramatic fireplace, and expanses of glass capture 270 degrees of lake and mountain vistas.
The gourmet kitchen — anchored by Miele appliances, a built-in espresso bar, and a dedicated prep space — flows effortlessly to the dining and living areas, while an 800-plus-sq.-ft covered terrace invites seamless indoor-outdoor living. Frameless glass railings keep sightlines clear, while power shades temper the Okanagan sun.
The main level’s primary suite is designed for sanctuary, with a spa-like ensuite featuring a double shower, a deep soaker tub, and its own laundry.
Downstairs, the daylight walkout basement is an entertainer’s playground, complete with a theatre boasting 4K Dolby Atmos, a wet bar, a wine cellar, and a games area — all warmed by in-floor heating.
Two additional lakeview bedrooms, each with ensuite, ensure guests have space to unwind in privacy.
The terrace’s topless glass railings are more than a design flourish — they dissolve the boundary between indoors and out, letting the lake and sky take centre stage. Whether it’s sunrise coffee or sunset wine, the vantage point here is pure Okanagan magic.
Step outside, and the home’s resort sensibility truly comes alive. A saltwater pool — with deck jets, LED lighting, and an automatic cover — sits alongside a Michael Phelps spa, a full outdoor kitchen, and even an alfresco shower and bathroom.
With a heated three-bay garage, EV and solar rough-ins, and an elevator-ready design, the property is future-proofed for evolving needs. Owners here also enjoy exclusive access to a private dock, sandy beach, and sports courts — all reminders that in Adventure Bay, "leisure" is a way of life.
If Canada is going to solve its housing crisis, innovation can’t happen in silos.
It’s not enough for startups to build exciting new tech, or for municipalities to design forward-thinking policies, or for builders and manufacturers to push for efficiency on their own. What the industry needs is a shared space — a platform for collaboration across the full housing ecosystem.
Enter the Centre for Housing Innovation (CHI): a new initiative launched by Toronto Metropolitan University’s DMZ, with support from FedDev Ontario and a growing network of national partners including GroundBreak Ventures, CivicAction, and NGen.
Backed by a $3.5M federal investment, and rooted in DMZ’s track record of supporting over 2,600 startups, CHI aims to accelerate the development — and the adoption — of practical, scalable housing solutions across Canada.
But CHI isn’t just about dreaming up new ideas. It’s about making them real.
Bridging Innovation and Implementation
Officially launched in January, CHI was designed to bring the housing sector’s many moving parts under one umbrella. The goal is simple: help scaling companies expand their reach from local to national, ultimately positioning Canada as a world-class model for global housing solutions.
CHI operates on two parallel tracks. One arm — the Accelerator — focuses on scaling early-stage housing technologies, supporting innovative ideas with perks, legal support, industry events, and mentorship opportunities. The other concentrates on training and upskilling the broader industry, ensuring that developers, manufacturers, and trades are ready to adopt new tools and approaches as they come to fruition.
It’s a full-circle approach to innovation, building and testing solutions hand-in-hand with the people and systems that’ll actually use them.
Already, companies in the program are proving what’s possible when innovation and implementation go hand in hand. Pakville is turning recycled plastic bottles into structural panels that last over 400 years and can be recycled again. The system replaces up to eight traditional materials, slashes build times from months to weeks, and cuts costs by up to 35% — showing that greener homes can also be faster and cheaper. Alongside them in the cohort, Adaptis harnesses AI to give building owners clear retrofit plans that hit climate targets without blowing budgets, proving that making existing buildings sustainable is not only possible but also smarter and more cost-effective in the long run.
“What’s been incredible to witness is how quickly CHI has become a magnet for collaboration,” says Abdullah Snobar, Executive Director of DMZ and CEO of DMZ Ventures. “In just a few months, we’ve seen builders, startups, policymakers, and researchers come to the table not just to ideate, but to get to work. The momentum has been real, from the companies we’ve supported to the new partnerships forming. There’s no question this kind of space was long overdue in housing.”
A National Hub, Open to All
From the outset, CHI has been built to bring industry players in — not filter them out. It welcomes participation from across the housing sector, whether they're an urban planner, a builder, a housing advocate, or a student in housing, design, or policy. Manufacturers, researchers, construction professionals, designers — each has a place within CHI.
Through workshops, conferences, pilot projects, and applied research, the initiative creates meaningful opportunities for these groups to engage, contribute, and help shape the future of housing in Canada.
Collaboration in Action
Only a few months after officially entering the industry conversation, CHI’s model is already gaining momentum.
With partners like the aforementioned GroundBreak Ventures, CivicAction, and NGen, the centre is tapping into expertise and tangible support across funding, real estate, civic leadership, and advanced manufacturing.
Its municipal connections already run deep as well, with leaders including Jeff Lehman, Chair of the District of Muskoka, and Carole Saab, CEO of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, actively contributing to CHI’s direction and outreach.
These partnerships help make sure CHI’s work stays real and results-driven, not just stuck in theory.
“Capital is one of the most important bridges between promising housing technologies and real-world adoption. But funding alone can’t solve the housing crisis — it takes investors, builders, and innovators working side by side to turn ideas into scalable solutions”, says Scott Kaplanis, Managing Partner of Groundbreak Ventures. “That’s why CHI is so powerful: it creates a shared space where capital meets expertise, meets education and civic engagement, and where every stakeholder has a role to play in building the future of housing.”
DMZ
A Platform for Housing Progress
CHI isn’t positioning itself as the single answer to Canada’s housing challenges. Instead, it’s filling a critical gap: a space where housing innovation isn’t just incubated, but activated — and where stakeholders from across sectors can come together to move meaningful solutions forward.
For those working in construction, planning, policy, or community development, CHI offers a chance to be part of something collaborative, credible, and future-facing. It’s a national platform for building not just more housing, but better housing, delivered smarter and faster.
And the work is only just beginning.
To learn more about the Centre for Housing Innovation and how you can get involved, click here.
Think of Prince Edward County and rolling pastures, lush meadows, and picture-perfect natural beauty quickly comes to mind. Think of a home there, and the historic one located at 1164 Danforth Road is the ideal fit.
The three-bedroom, four-bathroom home in the small community of Hillier lends itself flawlessly to the locale. From the outset, you’re greeted with a board-and batten-siding that offers a graceful introduction, set behind a stacked stone fence. A tidy porch brings you to the front door.
Inside, the interior is bright, spacious, and open. It has picture windows that help to seam the indoors and out. As far as a Prince Edward County farmhouse goes, this one chooses to blend modern comfort with historic charm.
Take the kitchen, for example. Described in the listing as the home’s “centrepiece” — it’s crafted by Muti with Italian cabinetry, Verona quartz counters, and Thermador appliances, including a six-burner range with grill. The dark blue island and cabinetry stand out as a highlight, almost like a pond offering reprieve in the middle of the house.
With thoughtful features that include a windowed dining area, blackout blinds and custom closets throughout, as well as an infrared sauna and high-efficiency geothermal heating and cooling, this country home truly has it all.
Meanwhile, the bedrooms are spacious and airy while continuing to hold the rustic character that runs throughout the rest of the home, complete with exposed wood ceiling beams overhead.
Our Favourite Thing
The way the ‘location, location, location’ meshes with the home’s internal appeal… just works. We love the agrestic features of the house and how well they serve to deliver the fuller story — and history — of the scenic locale that surrounds them.
Venturing outdoors, you’ll find the hand-built dry-stone wall: “a piece of living artistry that grounds the home in its pastoral setting,” according to the listing.
Adding to the property’s appeal: A large workshop that offers its new owner the choice to outfit it as a creative studio, office space, or both.
Even more compellingly, this is a home that tells a story. The property dates back to the 1850s, which is evidenced by its exposed beams, hand-planed boards and original chimney cupboards and flooring.
Beyond the property, Hillier has earned its place as a charming community within Prince Edward County, one of Ontario's most popular destinations known for its vineyards and wineries, beaches and parks, arts and culture, and its thriving farm-to-table food scene.
In other words, we can't think of a better place to call home — or second home – than this beautiful retreat in The County.
On Wednesday morning, the Bank of Canada (BoC) announced that they are cutting the policy rate to 2.50% for their July decision. This decision follows three consecutive holds from the central bank in April, June, and July.
The BoC has delivered a total of 225 basis points (bps) worth of cuts since June 2024, including half-point cuts in both October and December of last year.
Today’s decision comes on the heels of Statistics Canada’s Consumer Price Index reading for August, which showed a 1.9% year-over-year rise, up from a 1.7% increase in July.
“With a weaker economy and less upside risk to inflation, Governing Council judged that a reduction in the policy rate was appropriate to better balance the risks. Looking ahead, the disruptive effects of shifts in trade will continue to add costs even as they weigh on economic activity,” the Bank said in a statement.
“Governing Council is proceeding carefully, with particular attention to the risks and uncertainties. Governing Council will be assessing how exports evolve in the face of US tariffs and changing trade relationships; how much this spills over into business investment, employment, and household spending; how the cost effects of trade disruptions and reconfigured supply chains are passed on to consumer prices; and how inflation expectations evolve.”
Leading up to today’s announcement, economists with Canada’s ‘Big Five’ banks were forecasting a close call for the BoC. TD Economist Marc Ercolao wrote in a weekly update from Friday that markets were pricing a 90% probability of a quarter-point cut, “up from around 30% during the first half of August.”
“We’ve long argued that the BoC has reason to cut rates this year as ongoing trade uncertainty and loosening labour markets work to cool residual inflation pressures,” Ercolao added.
“However, an upside surprise to inflation readings may keep the BoC to the sidelines. Overall, recent data flows have more or less tracked the Bank’s forecast scenario consistent with a rising need for a further reduction in the policy rate. Whatever happens next week, we believe the BoC’s cutting cycle is nearing the end, with 2.25% policy rate — the bottom end of their neutral rate range — being the target.”
The next interest rate decision is scheduled for Wednesday, October 29. A full schedule for 2025 and 2026 can be found here.
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BREAKING: BoC Cuts Interest Rate To 2.50% After Three Consecutive Holds
August represented one of the weaker months this year for housing starts, according to the latest data from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). At the national level, the total monthly seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of starts fell 16% last month, compared to a 4% increase in July.
This marks the largest SAAR decline so far this year and puts the metric well below the six-month trend in housing starts, which increased 1.6% to 267,259 units in August. CMHC’s Deputy Chief Economist, Kevin Hughes, says this gap is notable. "If sustained, this adjustment in the level of housing starts would be consistent with both our forecast and current market intelligence indicating a slowdown in the pace of housing construction."
Meanwhile, actual housing starts were up 10% year-over-year in centres with a population of 10,000 or greater at 18,408 units, compared to 16,775 units in August 2024, and year-to-date housing starts hit 156,283 units, up 4% from January-August 2024. But Hughes points out that much of the gains being made are the fruits of more ideal market conditions than what we are currently experiencing. "It is worth noting that current housing starts levels are generally reflective of decisions made when interest rates were receding and investor confidence was higher than it is today," he says.
CMHC
According to CMHC's Fall 2025 Housing Supply Report, combined housing starts for Canada's seven key markets — Calgary, Edmonton, Montréal, Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver, and Halifax — are expected to fall below 2024 levels in 2025 and a "slow and marginal rebound" is expected for these markets over the next two years.
The pace and scope of recovery will vary depending on region, however, with construction activity expected to remain well below historical levels in Toronto into 2026 and 2027. According to the Fall Report, Toronto is headed for its lowest level of housing starts in 30 years. Vancouver is in a similar, though less leaky boat, with starts expected to return to their ten-year average by 2027.
In Ontario and British Columbia, where builders have the lowest confidence, according to the Canadian Home Builders' Housing Market Index, persistent barriers to increasing the housing supply include rising construction costs, high development charges, tariff-related disruptions, and limited municipal infrastructure, according to the report.
On the other end of the spectrum, Montreal's recovery is already underway, with sustained momentum expected to continue, while Edmonton and Calgary should see record-high starts in 2025 with only some moderation expected in 2026.
In August, actual housing starts rose 46% year over year in Vancouver, Montreal saw a 32% increase, and Calgary saw a 21% increase. On the lower end last month, Edmonton housing starts fell 12%, Ottawa dropped 29%, and Toronto remained flat after falling 69% year-over-year in July.