Alan is a seasoned veteran and innovative leader in Toronto development. He is well-tuned to the real estate challenges in Toronto and the surrounding area. He believes that with an increased growth in our housing market we must ensure infrastructure develops alongside. When he’s not developing housing markets across North America he can be found skiing and playing golf with his family, and volunteer work with ULI through its mentorship programme and serving on the Board of BILD Toronto.

Q. Why did you join ULI?
A. I have been a ULI member for several years now, and I was drawn to it because it attracts people involved in the industry including all types of real estate as well as government, finance and academia. ULI exposes its members to many different perspectives, helping to keep everyone well-informed.

Q. What benefits does ULI bring to you? Your company?
A. Individual: ULI is a great educational resource. Over the years, I’ve attended ULI programs in the States, including the 1997 ULI Real Estate education program in San Francisco. Because its membership is so widespread throughout North America, ULI offers a broad range of information, products and opportunities through its events and publications.
Company: ULI personalizes companies. It provides an opportunity for those of us in the industry to find out more about real estate people and projects first-hand.

Q. Can you tell me a bit about your development career to date?
A. I studied architecture at the University of Toronto (UofT), where I also enjoyed a term studying in Europe. After graduating, I worked in London, England, for award-winning design firms. When I returned to Toronto, I worked for KPMB Architects and Diamond Schmitt Architects. After a few years of working in as an architect, I decided to return to UofT to complete a Master of Business Administration (MBA) where I focused on both real estate and development. Between my first and second year, I took an internship placement with Wittington Properties, which is part of the Weston Group. A neighboring property owner was Concord Adex and as you know, I ended up working for Concord for almost 10 years. As their VP of Development, I helped shape City Place, downtown Toronto’s condominium community where eventually 15-18,000 people will reside. At City Place, 50% of the land is designated for open space, public art and other community amenities like day care centres. By the time I decided to leave Concord to take on my current role with Great Gulf, I had worked on 20 buildings with 20 more in the pipeline.

Q. What are some of the projects you are helping Great Gulf push forward?
A. Some of our major projects include: One Bloor, where we are looking forward to construction starting in March; the recently completed X and X2 condos on Jarvis, that we are hoping to be in the ground shortly; the redevelopment of the Toronto Sun block around King and Sherbourne Streets, and Parkside at the foot of Sherbourne and Queens Quay.

Q. How would you describe the changes Ontario’s housing market is experiencing?
A. Over the last ten years, we have seen the market share of high-rise development grow from 25% to over 50% of all housing built in the GTA. This percentage is increasing because of limited land supply, restrictions in the Greenbelt Act, increased costs of infrastructure and rising development charges. This pattern will continue within Ontario’s growth strategy, including more medium and high-density housing in the suburbs. Many shopping malls are now adding mixed-use retail-residential within their parking lots. And they should. However, for the amount of development we are seeing, we need to ensure our infrastructure keeps up. Ontario’s housing vacancy rates are low, and based on housing needs today and in the future we must ensure that all residents have a place to live, whether it’s close to the City or in the GTA and surrounding areas.

Q. What has been the biggest career lesson you have learned?
A. To be successful in any career and in business you need to have enthusiasm and passion for what you do. It’s a good time to be a developer in Toronto, to get excited about how the City is evolving and how its real estate market is developing, to be part of that story.
Deborah Seaton,
ULI Communications Committee
Edenbridge Developments