My piece on Toronto schools and what should happen to them: keep them public (and if they are sold, sell them smart). theglobeandmail.com/canada/toronto…
These places have important public functions and government should figure out a way to maintain them 2/
News: the board’s real estate agency says they may have six or seven big sites for redevelopment. They floated this apparently theoretical proposal for 1 Danforth Ave. 3/
This is that site. One of the easiest targets, in a political sense, in the whole system, but the building is a masterpiece. 4/
The city agency @_CreateTO should take over this work. It will require creative and ambitious development to take care of these places. 5/
Finally: many of these buildings have been allowed to crumble for 20 years (cc @Fix_Our_Schools) But many of them are important. This situation requires expert architectural and heritage advice. instagram.com/p/CB1kKMfAuvQ/… 6/
Here is another plan TLC shared. It is for @YORKMEMO_TDSB. A complete demolition of the school and most of the civic building next door; community centre; and townhouses. Maximal loss of public space and heritage; small financial return; low density next to transit. 7/

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More from @alexbozikovic

3 May
The First Parliament site is back in the Toronto news, so here’s a thread on be competing plans. 1/
Here’s the latest version that the province has flooded. The site to the north is currently a big box and car dealerships. The First Parliament site is to the south. 2/
The provincial plan (left), shows two buildings with larger footprints. The one to the west would have a library facing the park. City (right), smaller footprints. 3/
Read 5 tweets
21 Apr
Here’s the city of Toronto, without anyone much noticing, banning tall buildings in most of its eastern downtown. Max heights mostly 30m or less. 1/ app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgen… #topoli
This very consequential policy was finished through public consultation that attracted fewer than 300 people, total. 2/
This is profoundly bad policy in terms of economic development, efficient use of infrastructure, housing supply, climate resilience. 3/
Read 8 tweets
21 Apr
A New Urbanist development in Ontario: Replacing a farmers’ field to build homes for retirees who will drive everywhere. theglobeandmail.com/business/indus…
This looks like it will be marginally better than the usual sprawl. But even in this drawing you can see it’s on the edge of farmland. 2/
“People should be able to take care of their ordinary needs within walking distance,” says Andres Duany 3/
Read 5 tweets
19 Apr
“Parkdale does not need more intensification.” Here’s a Toronto city org approvingly sharing anti-development rhetoric.
Yet this anti-development preservationist explains the importance of housing supply 2/ Image
Never mind the last paragraph, this time is different 3/ Image
Read 9 tweets
12 Mar
A solid piece on the aggressive business practices of big corporate landlords in Toronto
Crucial point about what's happening: big pools of capital are buying old (often decrepit) buildings and pushing hard for higher rents and new tenancies Image
This is totally different from *building* new housing, which is what developers often get called out for.
Read 9 tweets
6 Mar
“Cities are places of opportunity and cohesion, and people want to live there. Yet our planning and politics make this far too difficult. The COVID-19 pandemic is the moment to change that.” My piece @globeandmail: theglobeandmail.com/opinion/articl… 1/
Cities aren’t dead. More of us should live there. 2/ Image
Our society has experienced dramatic demographic changes, and planning policy isn’t catching up. 3/ Image
Read 8 tweets

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