Two townhome projects being developed in Etobicoke by Dunpar Homes are designed to address the lack of missing middle housing in the local market, offering spacious, family-oriented housing at a competitive cost.

Dunpar, a builder and developer based in Toronto, launched sales of Earlington Towns and Lambton Towns in early October. The townhome developments are on opposite sides of the Humber River, with the Lambton Golf & Country Club as a shared landmark.

Totalling 106 back-to-back townhomes, the four-storey buildings will feature a collection of three-bedroom units with approximately 1,700 square feet of space. The homes offer ample space on the main floor for the dining and living areas, two-car parking and proximity to good schools.

There is a “serious shortage of missing middle housing in Etobicoke,” and Toronto in general, Luke Johnston, executive vice-president of development and general counsel of Dunpar Homes, said in an interview with RENX Homes.

This particularly affects young couples who desire a home that is bigger than “the shoebox in the sky they’re living in now,” he said, but cannot afford a resale semi-detached home in these areas.

“This is a perfect product for them,” he said about Earlington Towns and Lambton Towns.

Projects in 'premium' locations

While the projects have similarities, such as each unit having a private rooftop terrace, there are also significant differences. For one, Earlington Towns consists of 10 units, while Lambton Towns is significantly larger with 96 units.

Prices for Lambton Towns are to start from $1.3 million, while Earlington Towns homes will be closer to $1.5 million, Johnston said. Such prices are lower than a comparable semi-detached resale home, he added.

“In a typical townhouse, you don’t have the same amount of living space, you don’t have three bedrooms, you don’t have rooftop amenity,” Johnston said. But these elements are to be present in both projects, making them "feel more like a traditional, semi-detached house."

The locations for Earlington Towns and Lambton Towns are “premium,” he added, noting the quality schools in the area (particularly Earlington Towns in The Kingsway neighbourhood). Lambton Towns is also adjacent to an upcoming commercial building on St. Clair Avenue planned to hold restaurants, a gym and other amenities.

Residents of Earlington Towns can share the amenities of an adjacent midrise, which is Dunpar’s 131-unit purpose-built rental building, such as a gym and a party room.

A typical purchaser for both developments is expected to be a first-time homebuyer or a young couple aiming to move up from a condo to a townhome “where they can mature in place and raise a family,” Johnston said.

Downsizers are also anticipated to be interested in Earlington Towns, which will give the demographic an opportunity to change out of their single-family homes in the area.

Construction on Earlington Towns started less than two years ago while work at Lambton Towns launched in the last year. Occupancy for the two projects is anticipated to begin in the spring of 2027.

Dunpar's townhome developments

The dearth of missing middle housing is a problem also afflicting the townhome market, Johnston said, which has fuelled considerable demand from purchasers who are on the sidelines in their rental unit or condo.

To capitalize on the demand for townhomes, Dunpar has plans for similar developments.

One is planned for Mississauga’s Clarkson neighbourhood, with construction expected to commence in 2027. Another is Oakville Ravine Towns, a limited collection of three-storey executive townhomes starting from $1.5 million.