Designed by DIALOG for Arkfield Development, a 45-storey residential tower is proposed at 7079 Yonge Street in Markham’s Thornhill area, bringing further high-density growth to the area north of the Toronto city limits along Steeles Avenue. In fact the site is situated within the Steeles Protected Major Transit Station Area along the upcoming Yonge Line 1 North Subway Extension. The provincial government encourages high-density development in such areas.

Looking northeast to 7079 Yonge Street, designed by DIALOG for Arkfield Development

The 2,027m² site sits at the northeast corner of Yonge Street and Woodward Avenue in Markham. Directly across the street is the easternmost area of Vaughan. Currently occupied by a one-storey commercial building housing Thornhill Audi and its surface parking area. Adjacent properties are a transition point between high-rise mixed-use development along Yonge Street and low-rise residential neighbourhoods to the east.

Looking northeast to the current site, image from submission to City of Markham

The developer has submitted Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment applications to the City of Markham for a 45-storey tower rising 153.3m. The proposal includes 568 residential units, with the tower rising above a 3- to 5-storey podium, which would house 391m² of retail space along Yonge Street and Woodward Avenue.

Podium from Woodward Avenue, designed by DIALOG for Arkfield Development

The podium’s lower three-storey section would align with the adjacent low-rise building to the north, while the five-storey frontage would activate the streetscape along Woodward Avenue. A feature wall at the northeast corner is intended to add visual interest until neighbouring developments materialize. The design’s Floor Space Index is 18.8 times lots coverage, with a total Gross Floor Area of 42,241m², including 41,851m² of residential space.

Site plan, designed by DIALOG for Arkfield Development

The design calls for five residential elevators, providing a ratio of approximately one for every 114 units, requiring high-speed motors for adequate service. Amenity spaces would be distributed across the ground floor, podium terraces, and levels 6 and 7, totalling 1,009m² indoors and 695m² outdoors. Vehicular access is proposed from Woodward Avenue, leading to a three-level underground garage with 111 parking spaces, including 95 for residents, 12 shared visitor/non-residential spaces, and 4 for car-share and pick-up/drop-off (PUDO). Bicycle parking would include 654 spaces, with 638 secured within the building and 16 short-term spaces at grade.

Ground floor plan, designed by DIALOG for Arkfield Development

The site is served by York Region Transit (YRT) bus routes and is only two blocks north of TTC bus route services, with the nearest YRT stop at Doncaster Avenue, 158m to the north. The YRT and TTC bus routes connect the area to Finch subway station and its GO Bus terminal. Looking ahead, transit access will be significantly improved by the 8km Yonge Line 1 subway extension via Steeles station which will be only 250m south. The development could also benefit from the future Steeles Avenue Bus Rapid Transit (SBRT) line, a proposed 17km east-west corridor linking multiple transit services, including the GO rail network.

An axonometric view looking northeast of the site and surrounding area, image from submission to City of Markham

The proposal is part of a rapidly intensifying development corridor. To the north, Grandview Tower is proposed at 36 storeys, while Liv on Yonge to the west calls for 12 and 44 storeys. Further north, 7200 Yonge plans 15 buildings reaching up to 55 storeys. Closer to Clark station, Veneta on Yonge is proposed at 44 storeys, and 16 Glen Cameron Road at 44 and 47 storeys. To the south, a cluster of high-rise proposals surrounds Yonge Street and Steeles Avenue, including Atlantis Condos (40 and 44 storeys), Steeles Heights (50 storeys), and the Centrepoint Mall redevelopment, with 33 buildings reaching up to 50 storeys. Even taller proposals include 88 Steeles Avenue West (41 and 58 storeys), 72 Steeles Avenue West (four towers from 38 to 60 storeys), and 7028 Yonge (three towers from 50 to 65 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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EDITOR'S NOTE: This story has been republished to remove references to the building being a rental.

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Related Companies:

Arkfield Development, Goldberg Group, RWDI Climate and Performance Engineering, STUDIO tla