For Toronto-based builder and developer Marlin Spring Development, the Ivylea townhome project in Richmond Hill embodies its concentration on communities that are livable, affordable, long-lasting, accessible and will mature well.

Currently under construction at 1521 19th Ave., the 45-acre site Ivylea sits on was purchased in 2017 by Marlin Spring and its partner Greybrook.

Marlin Spring targets mid-market housing in pre-existing communities that have opportunities for growth, good amenities and schools, and safety for families. Ivylea meets all these conditions, according to Pedro Lopes, CEO of Marlin Spring.

Lopes said Marlin Spring is in the business of “delivering housing to the people who need it.” It seeks to provide housing for anyone at any stage of their life, whether they are first-time buyers, families or empty nesters.

Marlin Spring operates in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) with a portfolio of mid- and high-rise construction, and low-rise communities in Oshawa, Richmond Hill and Vaughan. It has a pipeline of approximately 10,000 housing units at different stages of development and pre-development, according to Lopes.

About Ivylea

Richmond Hill and the Ivylea site attracted Marlin Spring because it is in a “great municipality, it’s in a great location, it’s supported by a lot of existing amenities like great parks, great schools. It’s also at the same time a community that continues to grow,” Lopes said.

Across its 45 acres, 35 acres are open for development. Lopes said a portion of the 10 acres not available for development will be re-naturalized.

When it is complete, Ivylea will have approximately 450 homes broken down into four phases, offering mostly three-storey, three-bedroom townhouses and the option of four-bedroom units. There is also one smaller parcel of land which will offer eight back-to-back units.

The homes will be in the range of 1,800 square feet to 2,000 square feet. The gross floor area of Ivylea will be approximately 920,000 square feet.

Their size and number of bedrooms is designed to meet the needs of growing families, Lopes said.

“The focus was to deliver family homes, and it was important for us to design a product to address that cohort and to provide a little flexibility with that fourth bedroom if the purchaser wanted that.”

The community offers access to Hwy. 404, two GO Stations (Gormley and Richmond Hill) and York Region Transit bus routes.

Four parks, recreational clubs, five grade schools, a hospital and two medical centres round out the key amenities in the area.

A central park will hold the community together. Two public roads bisect the site and provide access to four blocks and connectivity to the communities to the south.

The Phase I homes were sold for under $1 million and Phase II units sold for an average of $1.3 million to $1.4 million.

Most of the Phase I and II units are sold out — approximately 350 units. In total, about 120 units remain  with some actively being markets, and others yet to be released. Sales progress will determine the construction and occupancy timelines, Lopes said.

Construction is progressing “really, really fast” the CEO added, now that Marlin Spring has navigated the lengthy approvals process brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Occupancy for Phase I is expected in late Q1 to early Q2 2024, and occupancy for Phase II units later in 2024.

Marlin Spring’s other developments

The builder-developer has a pipeline of 22 active projects, with four mid- and high-rise and three low-rise projects under construction, totalling 2,000 units.

Marlin Spring is finalizing its 212-unit Symphony Towns townhouse community in Oshawa, of which 160 to 170 units of the three- and four-bedroom units are occupied. The intent is to have it fully occupied by the end of 2023.

“It’s a community that looks great," Lopes said. “We’re delivering a local park and I think the feedback we’ve been netting from purchasers have been very, very positive as it relates to the homes that they’ve started to occupy and close on.”

Archetto is a 91-unit community of three-storey towns in Vaughan, at Pine Valley and Major Mackenzie Dr. Construction here is “well advanced” and the plan is to also have it occupied by the end of the year.

Its 140-unit mid-rise condo on Queensway and Islington in Etobicoke, The Tailor, is approximately 75 per cent occupied.

Marlin Spring is also selling units at several other projects, including 316 Junction Condos, Joya Condominium and Above Condos.