Purchasing a piece of property can be a relatively straightforward process. However, understanding and realizing how to maximize the value of that land, what potential the property may hold, or navigating approvals for what could be a possible use of the land is where things can get very complicated and complex and expert advice may be required.
Experts such as LSG Partners, one of the subsidiary companies of Land Services Group Holding Corp. (LSG) of Markham, offer site selection, design, development, construction, fundraising, and financial services. LSG Partners, founded in 2020, specializes in real estate development management and advisory services, working with landowners to identify the most profitable use of their properties in maximizing value for its clients.
“Our goal is to maximize the land’s value by leveraging market insights and strategic development, ensuring that each project achieves its highest potential without requiring extra investment from our clients,” says Reza Esmaeili, CEO and Founder, LSG Partners. “When LSG was founded, we noticed landowners often lacked resources and expertise for optimal property development and rezoning. Many faced high costs and complex processes. Our services address this gap by offering comprehensive development management and advisory. We invest in the development process ourselves, handling rezoning and maximizing land value efficiently, ensuring landowner properties are developed to their highest potential, filing a critical need in the market.”
Clients of LSG Partners include landowners, developers, real estate agents and investors and typically engage LSG Partners both prior to and after property purchase, however, engaging before acquisition allows for more thorough due diligence, feasibility studies and strategic planning to ensure the property aligns with client investment goals.
“We employ creative approaches to explore various scenarios for determining the highest and best use of the land,” says Dr. Amin Sarang, Executive Director of LSG Partners. “This involves assessing multiple possibilities and solutions to maximize the land’s potential. Our goal is to provide a detailed analysis and offer optimal recommendations for development, ensuring that every opportunity for the land’s value is considered and leveraged effectively.”
Two GTA properties illustrate the value LSG Partners can provide in smoothing processes for approvals and maximizing property potential. At 219 Roxton Road, south of College Street, is an eight-and-a-half-storey residential project with 25 units, where LSG Partners handled the Official Plan Amendment (OPA), Zoning By-Law Amendment (ZBA) and Site Plan Approval (SPA).
“The complexity of building in a dense urban area arises from stringent city regulations, community consultations and heritage considerations,” says Arian Mesbahian, Project Manager for LSG Partners. “This presents unique challenges in obtaining OPA, ZBA and SPA approvals and special factors included addressing traffic impact, maintaining neighbourhood aesthetics and ensuring sustainable design. Our engagement with city planners and stakeholders, along with a thorough preparation of documentation, facilitates smoother approval processes despite these challenges.”
In the City of Aurora is Livwell on Wellington, a modern townhouse project blending in with greenspaces, where LSG Partners overcame challenges to secure OPA, ZBA and SPA approvals, with construction anticipated to begin in early 2025.
“Key issues included meeting environment regulations, ensuring public access to green spaces and balancing density with open spaces,” says Mesbahian. “Addressing these required detailed environmental impact assessments, collaborative design revisions with city planners and extensive community engagement, by which we gained support.”
Beyond its on-the-ground abilities, LSG Partners has also introduced a mentorship program for individuals interested in learning about land development while providing valuable insights and guidance through a one-on-one format. It’s part of a commitment to the future that is a cornerstone of the priorities which guide LSG Partners.
“We have a strong commitment to sustainability, technology and community engagement in all projects,” says Dr. Amin. “We prioritize eco-friendly designs and practices, ensuring that developments benefit both clients and the broader community. By offering end-to-end solutions, we streamline processes, reduce costs and mitigate risks, ultimately transforming visions into profitable realities. We have seen that this approach has positioned us as a trusted leader in the real estate development sector.”
UrbanToronto will continue to follow progress on these developments, but in the meantime, you can learn more about them from our Database files, 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.
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