CF Markville Redevelopment — What Buyers and Investors Need to Watch Right Now
With Phase 1A zoning approved in December 2025, CF Markville has crossed from proposal to approved development. But what actually happens next — and when? Michael John Lau maps every milestone, the infrastructure timeline, and the SmartCentres development happening simultaneously on Highway 7.
With Markham Council’s December 16, 2025 approval of Phase 1A zoning for Cadillac Fairview’s Markville Mall redevelopment, the project has crossed from proposal to approved development. But for buyers and investors who want to understand what to actually watch — the specific milestones, the timeline signals, and the market implications — understanding the phased structure and the infrastructure conditions is essential. Michael John Lau, top real estate agent in Markham Ontario, is tracking every significant development in this file.
What “Approved” Actually Means — and What Still Needs to Happen
Phase 1A includes two towers with 700 units. Phase 1B — three additional towers with 1,181 units — requires CF to demonstrate sufficient transportation and utility capacity before it can proceed. Zoning approval is not a green light for construction. The sequence from zoning approval to occupancy is:
Step 1: Site Plan Approval — Reviews detailed design, landscaping, servicing, and public realm. Typical timeline: 12 to 24 months from submission.
Step 2: Building Permit Issuance — Follows site plan. Additional 3 to 6 months for a project of this complexity.
Step 3: Construction — 24 to 36 months per tower. Phase 1A first occupancy: realistically 2030 to 2032.
The Infrastructure Context — What Is Already Planned
The timing of Phase 1B is connected to broader infrastructure investments in the central Markham corridor:
- McCowan Road widening from 14th Avenue to Highway 7, from four to six lanes with Transit-HOV facilities — construction starting 2028 per York Region’s Road Construction Schedule.
- Kennedy Road widening north of Highway 407 to Highway 7 for Bus Rapid Transit facilities — construction starting 2027.
- Highway 7 East BRT extension from Kennedy Road to the Cornell Bus Terminal — 6 kilometres of BRT supporting 45,000-plus new residential units, connecting Markham Stouffville Hospital, York University, the Pan Am Centre, CF Markville, and the Cornell Bus Terminal.
When these transportation network upgrades are confirmed and funded, Phase 1B’s capacity condition becomes satisfiable — and the pace of the broader redevelopment accelerates. Watch York Region’s McCowan Road widening tender (expected 2027) and the Highway 7 East BRT Environmental Assessment approval as the two most important Phase 1B triggers.
Neeraj Moolchandani, REALTOR® at Kaizen Real Estate, actively monitors the Highway 7 corridor development pipeline — including both the CF Markville redevelopment and the SmartCentres development at 3083 Highway 7 — on behalf of investor clients evaluating pre-construction opportunities in central Markham. His real-time awareness of infrastructure approval milestones, pre-construction registration windows, and comparable corridor pricing gives investors the context needed to time their decisions. Contact the Kaizen Real Estate Team at (647) 370-8885.
The SmartCentres Development — The Other Major Highway 7 Approval
A major redevelopment proposal for the power centre at 3075 to 3175 Highway 7 (beside Longo’s and Home Depot) was approved by Markham Council in December 2025. The application from Calloway REIT and SmartCentres REIT will transform the site into a four-phase mixed-use community with more than 3,100 new homes.
The combined impact of CF Markville’s 4,340 homes and SmartCentres’ 3,100 homes — plus the Kingdom Development proposal at 4077 Highway 7, the Remington Group’s Downtown Markham towers, and other active Highway 7 corridor projects — represents a total of well over 10,000 new residential units planned or approved along Markham’s main commercial corridor in the coming decade.
What Buyers and Investors Should Watch For
Phase 1A Site Plan Approval. When Cadillac Fairview submits its site plan application — likely 2026 to 2027 — it will reveal the specific tower designs, retail mix, public realm design, and exact construction timeline that buyers and investors need to evaluate the investment case.
Pre-Construction Launch Announcement. CF Markville Phase 1A units will be offered as pre-construction condos when CF is ready to launch sales — likely 12 to 18 months after site plan approval. This is when pricing, floor plans, and buyer incentives become publicly available.
Transportation Infrastructure Confirmations. York Region’s McCowan Road widening timeline and the Highway 7 East BRT Environmental Assessment approval are the triggers that will accelerate Phase 1B and make the broader CF Markville vision financially viable. Michael John Lau, top real estate agent in Markham Ontario, monitors the CF Markville planning file and will provide registered buyer clients with early notification when the pre-construction launch approaches.
Michael John Lau is a licensed REALTOR® and CPA/CMA at Kaizen Real Estate (eXp Realty, eXp Luxury), serving buyers and sellers in Markham, Ontario and across York Region. Licence #4784577. Office: 8763 Bayview Avenue #127, Richmond Hill, ON. Neeraj Moolchandani is a licensed REALTOR® at Kaizen Real Estate, specializing in residential and investment real estate across Markham and York Region. Development information sourced from City of Markham planning records, Markham Review, and Penticton Herald at time of writing. All timelines and plans subject to change.
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