Alinea Land Corporation has proposed a huge, 36-building mixed-use development for an empty 121-acre site it has owned for two decades at 1200 King Rd. in Burlington, Ont.

The full scope of the project would see the development of: approximately 8,800 residential units; 600,000 square feet dedicated to institutional and educational uses; 175,000 square feet of commercial space; 141,000 square feet of office space; 126,000 square feet of retail space; a community centre combined with an arena and ice pad; a hotel; and approximately 9,100 underground and surface parking stalls.

“The proposal contemplates a broad mix of housing, retail and commercial uses, public spaces, active transportation infrastructure, recreation and entertainment uses, and institutional and educational components,” Alinea president and chief executive officer Paul Paletta wrote in an email interview with RENX. 

“The intent is to create a destination that is economically significant, highly livable and strongly connected to the surrounding community.”

Burlington is a growing city in the Greater Toronto-Hamilton Area, bordering Lake Ontario between the two larger cities.

Development to be undertaken in phases

The proposal includes 36 buildings rising up to 53 storeys in 26 development blocks, with Giannone Petricone Associates as the lead architect. Construction would be done in phases and last several years.

“This is the kind of development that will be financed in phases and through multiple sources of capital, rather than through a single funding event,” Paletta wrote.  

“We would expect the capital stack to include a combination of landowner equity, private development capital, conventional financing, development and operating partners, and, where appropriate, government participation in components that deliver a clear public benefit.”

Even with all of this development, about one-third of the site would be set aside for natural heritage, parkland and open spaces.

The King Road site

The site is on the west side of King Road, between Highway 403 to the north and the Lakeshore West rail corridor to the south. The Aldershot GO Transit station is just to the southwest and there are also Burlington Transit routes nearby.

“This is a large and ambitious site, so the concept will continue to evolve,” Paletta wrote. “But the central idea is clear: 1200 King Road is being planned as a complete community with regional significance.”

The land has been designated for mixed uses and Alinea has applied for both residential and employment uses for the site. It’s expected that initial zonings and approvals will be completed this year. The goal is to start earthworks at some point in 2027.

“Opportunities of this scale, in this location and with this level of connectivity, simply do not come along very often anywhere in the GTA,” Paletta wrote.

“Its proximity to the Aldershot GO area and major transportation corridors makes it a natural location for a development intended to serve not only future residents, but also employers, institutions, visitors and the broader region.”

Alinea’s history

Family-owned and Burlington-based Alinea grew from a single meat processing plant in Hamilton to become one of the largest developers of revenue-producing commercial and industrial properties, as well as residential projects, in the Halton and Hamilton regions.

Alinea is the largest private-sector land owner in the Burlington area, with more than one million square feet of existing tenanted commercial and retail development and a large inventory of future development sites. 

While much of Alinea’s previous activity revolved around acquiring land, the focus now is on developing it.

Alinea’s Burlington development pipeline

Alinea’s broader publicly identified development pipeline also includes Bronte Creek Meadows, Eagle Heights and Appleby GO West in Burlington.

“Each of those projects is at a different stage, but collectively they speak to Alinea’s confidence in the Burlington market and our commitment to helping shape the next generation of growth in the city and surrounding area,” Paletta wrote. “We are focused on creating vibrant, sustainable communities through long-range thinking, responsible stewardship and strong partnerships.

"We believe that is how durable value is created – for investors, for partners and for the future residents of the communities in which we build.”

The Appleby GO West site encompasses 51 acres at the intersection of Appleby Line and Fairview Street, adjacent to the Appleby GO Transit station and close to Appleby Village and Sherwood Forest Park. 

There are plans for it to include a variety of housing options, neighbourhood-oriented retail and essential services, community amenities and outdoor spaces. Buildings are proposed from 12 to 45 storeys.

Eagle Heights, also located near the Aldershot GO Transit station, is proposed to feature more than 900 single-family homes and townhomes. Almost one-third of the 252-acre site will remain undeveloped and preserved in a natural forested state.

Bronte Creek Meadows is located across the street from Bronte Creek Provincial Park and is the largest parcel of vacant land within the urban boundary of Burlington. It has development potential as a future mixed-use community.