Toronto Transforms Former Airport into a Forward-Thinking Urban Center within Metropolis
Toronto's Ambitious Transformation: A Look at the $30 Billion Downsview Airport Redevelopment
Toronto's vision for a bustling urban center includes breathing new life into an old, defunct airport. Once known as the Downsview Airport, this historic aviation base will undergo a colossal $30 billion revamp, offering various businesses, numerous residential properties, and public parks spanning as far as 85,000 homes. The project boasts being "the largest of its kind in North America."
Originally opened in 1929, Downsview Airport played a pivotal role during WWII as a Canadian air base. More recently, it served as Bombardier's operational base, one of the world's leading aviation corporations. In 2018, the site was sold for $635 million and is now in the early stages of reinvention.
Leading the project is Northcrest Developers, an ambitious company with big dreams for the former airport lands. Their vision involves the metamorphosis of underdeveloped zones into a series of dynamic neighborhoods, boasting an array of housing options, employment opportunities in burgeoning industries, various entrepreneurial prospects, and access to parks, community facilities, and local services. This exciting new urban destination in Toronto promises to serve as a trailblazing beacon for the city.
The original airport infrastructure will play a significant role in shaping the new project. For instance, the runway will be converted into a picturesque pedestrian promenade, connecting people to the seven meticulously planned neighborhoods. The repurposed hangars might also serve as homes for innovative companies, as hinted by a Northcrest executive in a conversation with Business Insider. Furthermore, there are expectations that the project could generate an impressive 40,000 jobs.
Many have taken to constructing new cities as of late, with celebrities like Kanye West and Akon, alongside wealthy Bay Area tech executives, dreaming big on urban developments. However, these projects often struggle to bridge the gap between developers' ambitions and achievable reality.
Unlike these struggling projects, Downsview's redevelopment represents a unique opportunity, as it builds upon an existing infrastructure that would have otherwise been demolished. Moreover, the project has set realistic timelines, with the first phase expected to be completed by 2026, though the urban space may not reach full completion for another 30 years.
Striking Differences
As opposed to other urban projects that may focus on niche or private developments (e.g., luxury housing or tech campuses), Downsview's redevelopment stands out with its comprehensive approach to creating a bustling, multi-use urban hub that emphasizes sustainability and community integration. By collaborating with partners like Hines and Northcrest, and involving architects and designers worldwide in its design, the project demonstrates a commitment to long-term success.
Furthermore, Downsview's redevelopment relies heavily on extensive public consultations and partnerships with government entities, ensuring that community needs are met and fostering a sense of unity and belonging among its future residents. As a result, Downsview's transformation represents an exciting example of large-scale, sustainable urban development and serves as a beacon of hope for the city of Toronto's growth and prosperity.
- This $30 billion Downsview Airport redevelopment in Toronto aims to build various businesses, residential properties, and public parks, spanning as far as 85,000 homes, making it largely a multifaceted urban hub.
- Unlike other urban projects that focus on luxury housing or tech campuses, Downsview's redevelopment stands out with its comprehensive approach to sustainability and community integration.
- The repurposed hangars in the Downsview Airport redevelopment might serve as homes for innovative companies, as Northcrest executives have hinted to Business Insider.
- The Downsview Airport redevelopment, unlike other struggling projects, builds upon an existing infrastructure and sets realistic timelines, with the first phase expected to be completed by 2026.
