A new Toronto housing development is making national headlines for its unconventional design, which trades typical city blocks for a network of parks and semi-public spaces.
Driving the news: The proposed plan for Downsview West, slated to be built on the grounds of a decommissioned Air Force base, involves a transit-oriented neighbourhood with as many as 8,800 homes, 1,700 of which will be considered affordable housing.
- One innovative design idea includes repurposing a plane runway into a pedestrian thoroughfare dotted with shops, restaurants, schools, and a library.
Zoom out: The leading force behind Downsview West is Canada Lands, a self-financing Crown corporation responsible for managing federal properties. As a developer, it’s been behind several recent housing proposals veering from the status quo in major cities.
- The Globe and Mail called the Wellington Basin project in Montréal “revolutionary,” while the Jericho Lands project in Vancouver has been touted for its Indigenous participation.
Why it matters: Canada Lands could soon be busy mounting more novel and affordable housing projects. In August, the feds created a bank of 56 federal properties able to support housing and gave Canada Lands the power to deliver housing solutions faster.—QH
