Blog > Leslie Street & Highway 7
Leslie Street & Highway 7 — 1,183 New Homes Coming to a Key Markham Corridor
The Highway 7 and Leslie corridor — a major Markham employment and transit hub — is getting a significant new mixed-use community.
What's the development at Leslie Street and Highway 7? Shatsford Developments is moving forward with 1,183 residential units at 8432/8500 Leslie Street and 220 Commerce Valley Drive West, after Council approved the Official Plan and zoning amendments. The plan features four buildings (9, 12, 38, and 42 storeys) with ground-floor commercial, a new public road, and a future public park — intensifying a key employment and transit corridor near Highway 7 and Leslie. Final amendments still return to Council.
The Highway 7 and Leslie corridor — a major Markham employment and transit hub — is getting a significant new mixed-use community. Michael John Lau, a top real estate agent in Markham and a CPA/CMA, breaks down the Shatsford proposal and what intensifying this jobs-and-transit corridor means.
Note: Council approved the Official Plan and zoning amendments for this project, but final amendments still return to Council and further steps remain before construction. Details and timelines can change. Confirm current status with the City of Markham. Figures below are as reported.
The Plan: 1,183 Units Across Four Towers
Shatsford Developments Inc. is proposing 1,183 residential units at 8432 and 8500 Leslie Street and 220 Commerce Valley Drive West. As reported, the plan includes:
Four buildings, 9 to 42 storeys
A mix of building heights — four towers at nine, 12, 38, and 42 storeys — creating a varied skyline and a substantial number of new homes (a mix of condo and rental product) in a single community.
Ground-floor commercial
Commercial space on the ground floor, bringing retail and services to the community and animating the street — a hallmark of good mixed-use, transit-oriented design.
A new public road and future park
The development includes a new public road and a future public park — community infrastructure that improves connectivity and livability in the area.
Existing offices remain
Two existing six-storey office buildings on the site would remain in operation — preserving employment space while adding residential density around it. That live-work integration is part of the appeal.
Why This Corridor Matters
The Highway 7 and Leslie area is one of Markham's most important employment and transit corridors. Adding residential density here is significant for several reasons:
Jobs, transit, and amenities on the doorstep
This corridor is close to major employment (including Markham's business and tech clusters), transit along Highway 7 (including VIVA bus rapid transit), and abundant amenities. Adding homes here means people can live close to where they work and connect easily — the essence of transit-oriented development.
Live-work integration
By keeping the existing office buildings and adding residential density around them, the project supports a live-work environment — reducing commutes and creating a more vibrant, mixed-use district.
Part of the Highway 7 growth story
The Highway 7 corridor is a focus of Markham's transit-oriented growth, from Downtown Markham eastward. This project adds to that corridor's evolution into a denser, more urban, live-work-connect environment.
What It Means for Buyers, Renters, and Investors
For buyers and renters
The plan adds a mix of condo and rental homes in a jobs-and-transit-rich location — appealing to professionals who want to live near work, transit, and amenities. More supply in a connected area expands options.
For investors
Homes near major employment and transit tend to see steady rental demand. A location close to Markham's business clusters and Highway 7 transit is a fundamental worth understanding — while also weighing new supply and current market conditions.
For the area
Intensification of this corridor adds vibrancy, amenities, and housing to a key employment district — supporting Markham's broader goal of complete, transit-oriented communities. Nearby residents will see the area grow denser and more urban over time.
The Bottom Line
The Shatsford project at Leslie and Highway 7 brings meaningful new mixed-use density to one of Markham's core employment and transit corridors — adding homes close to jobs, transit, and amenities. For buyers, renters, and investors interested in this connected, urban part of Markham, it's a notable development to understand. As with all such projects, final approvals and construction timelines are still to come.
Michael John Lau, one of Markham's leading REALTORS® and a CPA/CMA, helps clients understand how corridor developments like this shape Markham's market — bringing an analytical perspective to what intensification means for value and opportunity. If the Highway 7 and Leslie area interests you, let's talk about what it means for your plans.
Frequently Asked Questions
Understand Markham's Corridors
Michael John Lau, REALTOR® CPA, CMA, helps clients understand how corridor developments shape value and opportunity. Interested in the Highway 7 area? Let's talk.
Michael John Lau is a licensed REALTOR® and CPA/CMA at Kaizen Real Estate (eXp Realty), Licence #4784577, serving Markham and York Region. Council approved Official Plan and zoning amendments for this project, but final amendments still return to Council and further steps remain; details and timelines are subject to change and not guaranteed. Figures are based on public reporting. This is general information, not investment advice. Not intended to solicit clients currently under contract with another brokerage.
More From the Blog
