One Urban’s journey began in the mid-2010s when Nick Stillo, Principal and COO, joined forces with his father Domenic Stillo, President and CEO, to steer a family enterprise from commercialindustrial construction into residential development. At that time, Nick recalls, they realized that “land values had soared to the point where retail-only projects no longer pencilled out without density.” That realization led to the birth of One Urban—a privately held, Toronto-based real estate development firm dedicated to creating and the creation of Class A, purpose-built rental communities on infill lots that “respond directly to the lifestyle needs of today and tomorrow.” Early on, Nick and Domenic were joined by Nick’s brothers-in-law, who brought valuable experience from outside the real estate world. One came from the banking industry and helped structure the company’s financial foundation and treasury. The other, with a background in technology, helped modernize property management operations, managing systems and tools that improved efficiency and tenant experience. Together, this close-knit team combined family trust with professional expertise to lay the groundwork for One Urban’s innovative and growth-driven approach to development. The company’s first project was a four-storey mixed-use condominium at 430 Essa Road in Barrie, which comprised 71 sold residences above eight strata-titled retail bays. Following the success of that project, One Urban has continually grown and continuously refined their vision. Nick explains that a pivotal moment arrived in 2019 when he was introduced to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s Rental Construction Financing Initiative (now the Apartment Construction Loan Program). “The incentives to build and hold rental JUNE 2025
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