In the heart of Toronto's Kingsway neighbourhood, Dunpar Homes has started construction on its latest development, Kingsway Village Square on Earlington. The ground breaking ceremony, held on August 20th, marked a major moment for the company as it continues to evolve after 43 years of building luxury townhomes across the GTA. UrbanToronto recently had the chance to sit down with Luke Johnston, Dunpar's Executive Vice President of Development and General Counsel, to discuss this new project.
Dunpar Homes' legacy spans over four decades, during which they've constructed close to 2,000 townhouse units. Recently, the company has adapted its focus towards developing mid-rise buildings and purpose-built rentals. "We're fortunate that we are well-capitalized," Johnston reflected. "We've built a portfolio over decades so that we can push through those headwinds and break ground."
The ground breaking ceremony for Kingsway Village Square on Earlington was attended by Dunpar representatives, including Johnston.
Located at 26 Earlington Avenue on its southwest corner with Dundas Street West, the development represents Dunpar's shift toward larger, purpose-built rental buildings. "Traditionally, Dunpar has been a constructor of townhouse projects," Johnston said. "But as the city's needs have changed, we've evolved our product as well."
Kingsway Village Square on Earlington will consist of a ten-storey mid-rise and a block of three-storey townhouses. The project offers 141 suites ranging from one-bedroom units to spacious three-bedroom plus den units, along with 10 townhomes. Designed by Turner Fleischer Architects with landscaping by Alexander Budrevics & Associates, the buildings aim to provide a graceful transition from the quieter Kingsway streets to the south, to the livelier Dundas Street West to the north.
"We achieve that here by adding townhouses," Johnston explained. "You transition from the mature single-family homes to the townhouses, and then to our mid-rise products, which are right on Dundas Street."
Residents will enjoy a host of amenities, including a fully furnished party room with a full kitchen and patio equipped with a barbecue, a state-of-the-art fitness facility, bicycle lockers, a pet wash station, and a self-car wash. The building also offers 24/7 concierge service and ample EV charging stations.
The move toward purpose-built rentals is a response to the growing demand in Toronto's housing market. Dunpar Homes recognizes the needs of both downsizing seniors who wish to remain in their familiar neighbourhoods and young professionals seeking more spacious accommodations outside the downtown core.
"We have a lot of younger couples who want to leave the downtown area and who are attracted by the larger floor plans and higher ceilings you can get in a project like this,” Johnston said, “as compared to some of the condos downtown, which tend to have much smaller units and are much less human scale."
Navigating the challenges of developing purpose-built rentals in today's economic climate presents many challenges. However, Johnston noted recent incentives from the City, such as development charge reductions, and anticipated federal relief on HST and PST, have made these projects more feasible.
Dunpar Homes is looking ahead to future developments in the area. Approvals have been received for additional projects at 4174 and 4195 Dundas Street West, signalling the company's long-term commitment to the community. "We have a lot of exciting projects coming to the Kingsway and Dundas West area,” Johnston shared, “and we're here for the long haul."
As Kingsway Village Square on Earlington moves toward its anticipated completion in the spring of 2026, the development looks to bring much-needed housing options to the market.
UrbanToronto will continue to follow progress on this development, but in the meantime, you can learn more about it from our Database file, 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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