3.5K 
Just north of Toronto, 430 ESSA Condos is bringing 71 residential units, along with new retail opportunity to Barrie. The 4-storey BDP Quadrangle-designed building is the first condominium launch by One Urban, an industrial-turned-residential developer that transitioned into the multi-family residential space in 2015. The founders of the company have been developing commercial and industrial properties since the mid-1980s, and started One Urban when they decided to move into developing multi-family projects.
One Urban's philosophy is Opportunity rich, Neighbourhood focussed, Efficient building (ONE), so the company's intention with every development is that they be thoughtfully designed with commercial and retail shops at grade. One Urban currently manages approximately 60 commercial tenants across their properties, providing resources at street level to bring lifestyle convenience to residents while creating opportunity for businesses in the surrounding area to thrive.
One Urban also notes a commitment to innovation and change for the good of the environment, which is why the company has prioritized reducing its carbon footprint. "We have made a conscious effort to incorporate the use of sustainable energy systems in both of our upcoming purpose-built rental buildings in Oakville and Barrie,” said Nick Stillo, One Urban Principal and COO. "An upside to being a land developer is building things that will outlast us, but all of that upside is nullified if we don’t do our part to preserve the environment for the next generations.”
430 ESSA was launched in 2018, and is expected to be completed in March of 2022 — but it's not the only project that One Urban has on the way. The developer started its One Urban Multi-Family Rental division in 2019, with its first rental building at in Oakville on Old Bronte Road, and a second multi-family rental building coming next door to 430 ESSA in Barrie.
One Urban is focussed on producing transit-oriented developments. Residents of 430 ESSA Condos who use transit will find stops for Barrie Transit routes 2 and 8 just steps from the front door. Barrie Transit can transport riders all over the city, including connections to GO Transit at Allandale and Barrie South GO stations, transporting riders as far as Union Station in Downtown Toronto.
Similarly, the future development on Essa Road will benefit from the same transit service. The Studio JCI-designed building will stand 8 storeys tall and house a total of 212 units with two levels of underground parking. Construction is set to commence in the third quarter of 2022.
West of Toronto, One Urban's Old Bronte Road project in Oakville will be a ten-minute drive to the Lake Ontario waterfront, and 100 meters away from Metrolinx's proposed future Dundas BRT terminal, that will take residents to the GO Station just 10 minutes away. The building has been designed by BDP Quadrangle, and is now under construction. Upon its completion in the fourth quarter of 2023, it will stand 8 storeys tall and be home to a total of 135 units, fitted with 3 levels of underground parking.
One Urban has goals of expanding its Multi-Family Rental Division to over 1,000 rental units over the next five years, through the acquisition of existing buildings and the development of new ones.
You can learn more from our Database file for the project, linked below. If you'd like, you can join in on the conversation in the associated Project Forum thread, or leave a comment in the space provided on this page.
* * *
UrbanToronto’s new data research service, UrbanToronto Pro, offers comprehensive information on construction projects in the Greater Toronto Area—from proposal right through to completion stages. In addition, our subscription newsletter, New Development Insider, drops in your mailbox daily to help you track projects through the planning process.
| Related Companies: | BDP Quadrangle, VIP Condos Toronto |
