(33) 4-Plex to Mid-Rise: Best Development Opportunities in the GTA - Blair Scorgie - Scorgie Planning

Real Estate Development Insights

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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

​Scorgie Planning is a multi-disciplinary planning and urban design consultancy based in Toronto, Ontario. Founded in 2024, our company operates as a sole proprietorship in collaboration with a range of technical consultants. Scorgie Planning takes a diplomatic, rational and innovative approach to city building.

For more information, please refer to RealEstateDevelopmentInsights.Com.