4-Plex to Mid-Rise: Best Development Opportunities in the GTA - Blair Scorgie (#33)
Blair is the Managing Principal of Scorgie Planning. Professional Planner and Urban Designer with over fifteen years of experience.
Blair is a contributing author of “House Divided”, an anthology published by Coach House Books that is focused on addressing Toronto’s housing crisis. He is also a co-author of “The House is on Fire”, a report prepared under the direction of SvN Architects + Planners Inc. that is focused on utilizing the Official Plan as a means of comprehensively implementing the City of Toronto’s TransformTO Net Zero Strategy.
Join us in this informative episode where we sit down with Blair Scorgie, an accomplished Registered Professional Planner and urban designer based in Toronto. With over 17 years of experience spanning public policy, secondary plans, mid-rise housing, and development approvals, Blair brings a deep and practical understanding of Toronto’s complex planning environment.
In this conversation, we focus on a central question facing many new and aspiring developers today:
What is the best type of development project to pursue in Toronto right now—and why?
Blair walks us through the current approval climate across the GTA, comparing various typologies such as multiplexes, laneway and garden suites, six-plexes, and mid-rise buildings. We unpack which forms are actually getting built in today’s market, and which ones may be more aspirational than feasible. Blair also shares updates on recent policy shifts and what they mean for builders hoping to make a meaningful contribution to Toronto’s housing supply.
A must-listen for real estate developers, investors, and planners seeking clarity on what types of projects pencil out—and what to watch out for. This episode blends insider knowledge, policy breakdowns, and real-world strategies to help you navigate development opportunities in Toronto and the GTA.
Topics Covered
Navigating Toronto’s Real Estate Development Landscape
Multiplexes, Garden Suites, and Laneway Units: What Actually Works
The Rise (and Roadblocks) of 6-Plexes in Toronto
Major Streets and Mid-Rise Projects: A New Breed of Developer
How to Avoid the Most Common Approval Pitfalls
DC Charges, Site Constraints, and Garbage Loading (Yes, Really)
Precedent, Zoning, and the Power of Pack Meetings
The Appeal Process Explained: Major Streets Under Review
Why 3.5 Storey Walk-Ups May Be the City’s Most Underrated Typology
Blair’s Ideal Project: What He’d Build Today with $5M
What’s Missing in Our Housing Strategy: Transition Zones and Design Clarity
Advice for First-Time Developers in Toronto and the GTA
Construction Innovation Checklist
This document is a supplementary resource to
episode #24 of the Real Estate Development
Insights Podcast in which Payam Noursalehi shares a practical framework for evaluating and selecting the most suitable innovative systems for your next project.
