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Lindvest Properties has submitted Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment applications to the City of Markham to permit a residential community on a greenfield site at 7323 Highway 7 East in the Cornell area. Designed by RAW Design, the proposal envisions a multi-phased community comprising 39 buildings ranging from 3 to 20 storeys, combining mid- and high-rise buildings with a substantial townhouse component. The site is positioned along a growing transit corridor served by York Region Transit's VIVA Purple line.
The site occupies the southwest corner of Highway 7 East and Donald Cousens Parkway, extending west to Markham Veterans Street. Spanning approximately 17.8 acres / 7.22ha, the irregularly shaped parcel is currently vacant and generally flat. The surrounding area is mostly a growing low-rise but dense residential neighbourhood, with a more urbanized mix proposed on this site. Higher-density developments are proposed along Highway 7. Nearby to the east are employment-designated, public open space, and agricultural lands. A broad natural, open space system extends from Rouge National Urban Park, with an expanding network of local parks in the area.
This proposal envisions a multi-phase residential community delivering a total of 2,052 units. The unit breakdown is proposed at 119 studios, 495 one-bedroom units, 1,265 two-bedroom units, and 173 three-bedroom or larger units. The development would ultimately provide approximately 165,655m² of Gross Floor Area, resulting in a Floor Space Index of about 2.29 times site coverage. Built form would be distributed across 39 buildings ranging from 3 to 20 storeys, with heights spanning from 15.3m to 64.15m.
The design is organized into two primary development blocks divided by the eastward extension of Romeo De Gasperis Avenue. The North Block would concentrate higher density along the Highway 7 and Donald Cousens Parkway frontages, with the South Block accommodating a lower-scale residential fabric. Buildings would be arranged to frame the surrounding street network.
Within the North Block, mid- and high-rise buildings ranging from 8 to 20 storeys would line the arterial frontages, with the tallest elements located at the intersections of Highway 7 with Donald Cousens Parkway and Markham Veterans Street. The tower components would be spaced approximately 29.7m to 30m apart, aligning with typical separation distance guidelines. These would be complemented by a 6-storey internal building and a cluster of 3-storey stacked townhouses toward the southwest portion of the block.
South of the Romeo De Gasperis Avenue extension, the South Block is planned as a predominantly low-rise neighbourhood composed of 3-storey back-to-back, through, and lane-based townhouses, arranged along a network of internal streets and drive aisles.
There would be about 3,093m² of indoor and 3,256m² of outdoor amenities. There would be two to three elevators for each mid- and high-rise, resulting in ratios ranging from about one elevator for every 63 to 99 units, depending on the tower. Parking would be accommodated within a two-level underground garage. The proposal includes 2,520 vehicular parking spaces for residents and 206 for visitors, alongside 2,020 bicycle parking spaces, with 1,818 designated for long-term use and 202 for short-term parking.
Transit access is provided by York Region Transit's VIVA Purple bus rapid transit service operating along Highway 7, with stops located near the site and connections to the Cornell Bus Terminal approximately 1.2 to 1.5km to the west. The terminal offers links to multiple YRT routes and GO Transit bus services, while the Markham GO station on the Stouffville line is located about 3.6km northwest. The area is also planned for expanded active transportation infrastructure, including a separated cycling facility along Highway 7 and multi-use paths on Donald Cousens Parkway and Markham Veterans Street.
Development activity along the Highway 7 corridor is intensifying. To the west, 7128–7186 Highway 7 East would introduce four buildings ranging from 18 to 24 storeys. Further west, Cornell Centre envisions a 13-storey building alongside 4-storey townhouse blocks, while 6950 Highway 7 East proposes 11 buildings ranging from six to 28 storeys, and Highway 7 & Bur Oak Avenue calls for eight towers between six and 28 storeys.
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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| Related Companies: | Bousfields, Lindvest Properties, RAW Design, RWDI Climate and Performance Engineering |
