Blog > Proposed New Communities in North Markham: What Thousands of New Homes Could Mean for Homeowners
Proposed New Communities in North Markham: What Thousands of New Homes Could Mean for Homeowners
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By Michael John Lau, REALTOR® · Serving Markham & York Region, Ontario · Updated November 2026
Two proposed communities in north Markham, Upper Markham Village (about 368 hectares) and Robinson Glen East (about 2,500 homes), could add thousands of homes over time. Both are still proposed. Approvals are pending and Council timing has not been set. For homeowners, the effect on value will depend on how fast homes are built, what types are built and local demand.
Why Markham homeowners are asking about north Markham's new homes
Headlines say thousands of new homes could be coming to north Markham. For a homeowner, the first thought is often simple: what does that do to my home?
It is a fair question. Your home is likely your largest asset, and it holds your family's plans. But a number on a planning map is not the same as homes on a street.
Here is the calm version. Upper Markham Village and Robinson Glen East are proposed. Approvals are still pending, and Council timing has not been set. New communities like these usually move through years of planning and servicing before the first family moves in.
Michael John Lau, REALTOR®, follows these files closely because his clients ask about them. This guide explains what is proposed, what is built today and how to think about your own street.
A family looking at a north Markham map
Picture a young family at their kitchen table with two tabs open. One shows a resale home near Cornell or Box Grove: real rooms, a real backyard and a school catchment they can check today. The other shows a planning map of farmland to the north, with future parks and schools drawn as shapes.
The resale home offers certainty: keys this year, a known commute, neighbours they can meet. The proposed community offers possibility: new homes, new parks and new schools, someday.
Neither choice is wrong. The family's job is to decide which matters more right now, certainty or possibility. Michael John Lau's job is to make sure they choose with clear facts, not headlines.
What is proposed vs what is built
Three files are drawing the most attention. All three remain proposed.
| Proposed file | Location | Proposed program |
|---|---|---|
| Upper Markham Village (PLAN 24 200026) | About 368 ha between Elgin Mills Rd, Hwy 48 and greenbelt lands, Major Mackenzie Dr and McCowan Rd | About 42,000 residents, 3,000 to 5,000 jobs, five elementary schools, 20 ha of parkland |
| Robinson Glen East (PLAN 25 116785) | Between Robinson Glen Creek and McCowan Rd, Major Mackenzie Dr and Elgin Mills Rd (Ward 6) | About 2,500 homes, 15.5 ha of parkland, one elementary school |
| Metropia, 2 University Blvd (PLAN 23 118112) | 2 University Boulevard (Ward 3) | 987 residential units, towers of 41 and 45 storeys, new public park (as proposed) |
Sources: City of Markham Public Meeting Notice, Public Meeting Information Report and development application materials. All three files remain proposed.
Upper Markham Village
The Upper Markham Village Landowners Group has proposed a new secondary plan community (City file PLAN 24 200026). According to the City of Markham's Public Meeting Notice, the area covers about 368 hectares, generally bounded by Elgin Mills Road to the north, Highway 48 and greenbelt lands to the east, Major Mackenzie Drive to the south and McCowan Road to the west.
The City's Public Meeting Notice described a community of about 42,000 residents and 3,000 to 5,000 jobs, supported by five elementary schools and 20 hectares of parkland.
The application remains under review, and Council timing has not been set.
Robinson Glen East
Robinson Glen East (City file PLAN 25 116785) proposes expanding the Robinson Glen Secondary Plan boundaries. The City's Public Meeting Information Report describes about 2,500 homes, 15.5 hectares of public parkland, one elementary school and one place of worship.
The area sits between Robinson Glen Creek and McCowan Road, and between Major Mackenzie Drive and Elgin Mills Road, in Ward 6.
The application remains under review, and Council timing has not been set.
Metropia at 2 University Boulevard
Enterprise Boulevard Inc., care of Metropia Developments, has proposed a development at 2 University Boulevard in Ward 3 (City file PLAN 23 118112). As described in City development materials, the proposal includes 987 residential units, a new public park and towers of 41 and 45 storeys.
It remains proposed, and details may change through the City's review.
Timeline reality: plans come long before shovels
A proposed community has to clear many steps before homes are built. These usually include:
- Council decisions on the secondary plan or Official Plan Amendment
- Detailed planning applications for each phase
- Water, sewer and stormwater servicing
- Roads and transit connections
- School board planning for new schools
No occupancy dates have been confirmed for these proposed communities, and Council timing has not been set. Anyone promising a move-in year today is guessing.
How this touches today's Markham market
The October 2026 snapshot
Here is where Markham stood in October 2026, according to the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board (TRREB) Market Watch:
| Markham, all home types | October 2026 |
|---|---|
| Sales | 260 |
| Median price | $1,050,000 |
| Average price | $1,117,006 |
| Months of inventory (trend) | 4.1 |
Source: TRREB Market Watch, October 2026.
Those numbers describe today's market. The proposed communities would add homes over many years, not overnight.
Will new homes lower my value?
The honest answer is that no one knows yet. The effect would depend on three things:
- Pace: how quickly homes are approved, serviced and built.
- Product mix: whether new homes compete directly with yours, such as detached versus townhomes or condos.
- Local demand: how many buyers want to live in Markham when those homes arrive.
New parks, schools and roads can also shape how buyers see an area. Michael John Lau shares this as market commentary, not a forecast. For the wider housing picture, read Canada's 658,000-home shortage and Markham's role.
Resale now vs waiting for new construction
- Timeline: a resale home can be yours this year. A home in a proposed community may be years away.
- Risk: proposed plans can change before approval, and pre-construction prices can differ from the value at closing. See appraisal gap risk in Markham pre-construction.
- School need: if your children need a school now, a resale home lets you check today's catchment. Read the Markham school catchment guide for buyers.
- Deposit comfort: pre-construction usually means deposits paid over time before you move in.
Related reading
- Canada has a 658,000-home shortage, and Markham is at the centre of the solution
- 60-plus pre-construction condo projects: Markham's biggest development boom
- Box Grove is Markham's next neighbourhood to watch
- Best schools in Markham: a buyer's guide to school catchments
- Appraisal gap risk in Markham pre-construction
Talk through your street before the headlines settle
Every address sits differently on the proposed map. Michael John Lau can walk you through how these proposals could touch your street, your home's value today and your next move, with no pressure.
Thinking of selling?Book a conversationCall 416-700-0286Frequently asked questions
Will new homes in north Markham lower my home's value?
No one can say for sure. Upper Markham Village and Robinson Glen East are still proposed, and new communities usually take years of planning and servicing before homes are built. Any effect on value would depend on how fast homes are built, the types of homes and local demand at the time.
Where is Upper Markham Village and when will it be built?
The proposed Upper Markham Village covers about 368 hectares, generally bounded by Elgin Mills Road, Highway 48 and greenbelt lands, Major Mackenzie Drive and McCowan Road, according to the City's Public Meeting Notice. It is still proposed, approvals are pending, and no build timeline has been confirmed.
Which new schools are planned in Upper Markham Village and Robinson Glen East?
The proposed Upper Markham Village plan includes five elementary schools, according to the City's Public Meeting Notice, and the proposed Robinson Glen East expansion includes one elementary school. School names, school boards and opening years have not been confirmed.
Should buyers choose Markham resale now or wait for new construction?
It depends on your timeline and comfort with risk. A resale home gives you a known home, street and school catchment now. A future new-build home may take years to plan and build, and the details can change before approval.
Are Upper Markham Village, Robinson Glen East, and Metropia's 2 University Boulevard plan approved yet?
No. All three remain proposed, approvals are still pending and Council timing has not been set.
What is proposed at Metropia's 2 University Boulevard site?
Enterprise Boulevard Inc., care of Metropia Developments, has proposed a development at 2 University Boulevard in Ward 3. As described in City development materials, it includes 987 residential units, a new public park and towers of 41 and 45 storeys. The application remains proposed, and details may change through the City's review.
Michael John Lau, REALTOR®
Serving Markham & York Region, Ontario
416-700-0286 · info@callmikelau.com · callmikelau.com
This article is market commentary, not a forecast. All three communities discussed are proposed, and approvals are pending. Details may change through the planning process. Market figures: TRREB Market Watch, October 2026.
