The start of the academic year at York was accompanied by the beginning of construction of a residential development by Tribute Communities on the southern perimeter lands of the University.
It has long been a goal of the University to bring these lands to life with the development of a community that complements and integrates the university campus with the surrounding 
neighbourhood. This residential development, to be built on the southlands, has involved consultation with a wide range of experts. The development is consistent with the York University Master Plan and with the City of Toronto Official Plan and the York University Secondary Plan.
Development of these lands will contribute much-needed funds to enhance the academic and educational experience at York in ways the university could not accomplish if relying solely on traditional sources of funding, such as government allocations and fundraising. Money raised from the sale of the land will be used for a variety of purposes, such as academic and infrastructure needs, to further advance York’s stature as a world-class institution.
The development will feature up to 645 units, including single detached, semi-detached, street townhouse, and stacked townhouse units, as well as a public park. Both Tribute and York have contributed land for this park, which has been designed to be integrated with the Black Creek open space system and the parkland of the university. The lane-based concept of this community will facilitate a pedestrian-friendly environment. Parking and vehicular traffic is being designated for the rear lanes of the properties in order to diminish the presence of cars and render the streetscape more comfortable for pedestrians.
Supervision of the selection, planning, and development process is provided by the York University Development Corporation, which is mandated to “pursue opportunities for the prudent development of the perimeter lands and to ensure appropriate revenue-generation from development proposals.”