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In a Toronto real estate market where many developers have adopted a cautious, wait-and-see approach, Elysium Investments is taking a different route — one marked by bold acquisitions and strategic growth. UrbanToronto recently spoke with Sayf Hassan, CEO of Elysium Investments, to understand how this newcomer is rapidly gaining momentum in the city's competitive residential real estate sector.
“We’re currently among the most active buyers of residential development land in Toronto,” Hassan noted. “While others are stepping away, we’re moving forward, taking on the challenges directly.”
Founded just over a year ago by industry veterans Sayf Hassan, Harley Mintz, and Jamie Torpey, Elysium is already making significant waves. Hassan, who brings over two decades of experience across the real estate development spectrum, champions ethical business practices and collaborative development strategies. Mintz, formerly Vice Chairman of Deloitte Canada and a noted philanthropist, serves as Co-Chair of the company alongside Torpey, who has more than 35 years of experience in commercial real estate and specializes in complex international transactions.
Current Projects and Future Ventures
Despite its relatively recent inception, Elysium already has 5 active projects in various stages of development, all within 200m to 300m of a major transit node or hub within Toronto.
Collectively, these ventures account for approximately 4,000 units, representing a development value of around $3 billion. “We have almost 3 dozen sites in the 'opportunity' phase of our pipeline, being actively underwritten,” Hassan revealed.
Among Elysium’s key developments is the proposed project at 3406-3434 Weston Road in North York. This ambitious venture, developed in partnership with Pinemount Developments Ltd. and designed by Icon Architects, will feature two residential towers standing 35 and 39 storeys high, delivering 832 units to the area. Another high-profile development is the 69-storey residential tower planned for 164-168 Isabella Street in Toronto’s Upper Jarvis neighbourhood, designed by Studio JCI and in partnership with Oikoi Living.
Elysium is also collaborating with Terracap Management and Trolleybus Urban Development Inc. on a 34-storey residential project at 17-29 Glenavy Avenue in Mount Pleasant East, with designs by the renowned firm Gensler.
This month, Elysium added two new projects in key transit-friendly locations in a joint venture with top Estonian developers, Hepsor. The High Park development will feature two high-rise towers on a shared podium, just steps away from High Park itself, situated between Keele and High Park subway stations. The Brownville project is an assembly of 17 homes located at 70-104 Brownville, just steps from the Mount Dennis Mobility Hub. Both projects reflect Elysium’s commitment to transit-oriented development that enhance communities while offering significant long-term value.
In keeping with its vision of creating long-term value for residents and communities, Elysium focuses on developing purpose-built rentals rather than traditional condominiums. Hassan is confident that purpose-built rentals are the future of Toronto’s housing market, offering a more sustainable asset class compared to condos.
A New Venture in Student Housing
Elysium is also set to enter the student housing market with the upcoming launch of a purpose-built student rental platform. This initiative seeks to address the acute shortage of affordable, well-designed housing for students, providing solutions that are both economically accessible and aesthetically forward-thinking.
The company is actively expanding its investor base, attracting both institutional investors and REITs through strategic partnerships and flexible financing models. By employing innovative deal structures such as deposit payments and joint ventures, Elysium is aligning the interests of landowners, investors, and the broader community.
Looking Ahead
While other developers may be slowing down, Elysium is seizing the moment. Hassan remains optimistic about the future. With a commitment to thoughtful design, community impact, and collaboration, Elysium Investments is poised to become a significant player in Toronto’s real estate landscape. The company’s forward-thinking approach and bold vision are already making waves, and as it continues to grow, it is clear that Elysium is just getting started.
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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UrbanToronto has a research service, UrbanToronto Pro, that provides comprehensive data on construction projects in the Greater Toronto Area—from proposal through to completion. We also offer Instant Reports, downloadable snapshots based on location, and a daily subscription newsletter, New Development Insider, that tracks projects from initial application.
| Related Companies: | Bousfields, Gensler, Gradient Wind Engineers & Scientists, Icon Architects, Oikoi Living |
