CBRE is striving to ensure that the live-work-play development credo is more than just a trendy term.

In its newly released Fall 2025 edition of Advantage Magazine, CBRE explains how it is advising organizations on how large-scale mixed-use developments or master-planned communities can prosper over the long term.

A standout feature takes a deep dive into the anatomy of successful mixed-use communities — what separates true destinations from developments that never hit their stride. In Making New Vibrant Communities a Reality, CBRE’s development strategy and consulting team of Amit Kumar, Russell Whitehead and Christopher Kuno lays out a blueprint for how thoughtful placemaking can spark long-term vitality in fast-growing markets across Canada.

The article highlights a shift away from the old anchor-tenant playbook and toward curated, experience-driven environments. Instead of relying on a single draw, CBRE’s approach blends residential density with retail, restaurants, public squares, cultural spaces and active streetscapes. The goal is to create neighbourhoods where people want to live, work and linger — all day, all year.

Case studies show the strategy in motion. Richmond, B.C.’s Lansdowne Centre redevelopment is being repositioned as a modern town centre built around public life and community gathering. In Windsor Ont.’s Walkerville, multiple density and land-use scenarios are being modelled to ensure the right mix of homes, amenities and employment uses.

The takeaway: When design, leasing and demand forecasting work in lockstep, developers can create places that stay vibrant and relevant as communities evolve.

Check out the full story on making new vibrant communities a reality

Pictured: The future redeveloped Lansdowne Centre in Richmond, B.C.

Rendering: Courtesy of CBRE