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While the Greater Toronto Area’s skylines continue to grow apace with new high-rise towers, the low-rise residential sector advances more quietly, serving those seeking ground-hugging homes in the real estate market through boutique communities that bring a more intimate scale to residential urban living. Since its founding in 2016, Brightstone has sought to build well-connected communities in sought-after locations.
Brightstone selects infill sites close to parks, schools, and city centres, with families in mind. The company brings over 45 years of combined experience in the industry. The aim is to deliver the best of both worlds; urban accessibility and the close-knit feel of a boutique community.
The team saw a niche in building intimate communities within established neighbourhoods. UrbanToronto recently spoke with Yoav Bohbot, Vice President and Director of Acquisitions at Brightstone, to learn more. “Rather than promoting our name and then building a great product, we wanted to build a great product first and let that product speak for itself,” said Bohbot.
Brightstone manages planning, development, and construction in-house. “We could have built much quicker, sold quickly, and turned out a few more projects,” Bohbot explained, referring to Brightstone's first development, Fairfield Towns, “but our focus was to build something that's going to be a recognized name in the industry. We wanted to build our name from the bottom up.”
Located on Islington Avenue in Etobicoke, Fairfield Towns consists of 12 townhomes and two semis designed by Guthrie Muscovitch Architects and built on spec before any units were sold. After overcoming the challenges of construction during the pandemic, buyers responded positively. The company’s second project, The Briar at Briar Hill Avenue and Avenue Road, delivered a design by Richard Wengle Architect with finely detailed interiors and an added element of luxury, including private elevators in the units.
Looking ahead to 2025, Brightstone’s pipeline spans the GTA, from Mississauga’s OG Urban Towns, designed by Architecture Unfolded with 101 units, to two developments in Oshawa: Schoolhaus Towns will boast 159 stacked back-to-back homes, while Mackenzie Park is planned to offer townhomes, semi-detached, and single residences. Brightstone is working with Richard Wengle on two additional projects; The Elms of Thornhill Woods in Richmond Hill to offer 36 units, and Oakville’s Kerr Village Towns, featuring 42 back-to-backs and six townhomes.
In each location, the goal remains the same: create comfortable, functional homes that fit into their surroundings. Projects like OG Urban Towns and Schoolhaus Towns target first-time buyers with stacked townhomes near transit and shops, while others cater to households returning to their old neighbourhoods, giving their children the same sense of place they once enjoyed. “We’re focused on building in desirable, mature neighbourhoods and providing great value for the buyer,” Bohbot explains, highlighting that Brightstone's communities aim for a balance between up-to-the-minute design and long-term livability.
With infill projects gaining traction, Brightstone’s leaders believe that smaller-scale developments can fit into established areas. As Bohbot puts it, “There’s still a lot of opportunity for those who are patient and want to turn out great projects, not en masse, but one at a time.”
For those new to the industry, Bohbot’s advice is simple: “Focus on building from the ground up, be proud of what you do, and your hard work will pay off.”
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, UTPro, that provides comprehensive data on development projects in the Greater Golden Horseshoe — 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.
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