From Runways to Row Houses: Toronto’s Ambitious Downsview Airport Transformation
Toronto’s concrete jungle is about to get a little greener, a little bigger, and a whole lot more exciting. A bold $22 billion project is underway to transform the shuttered Downsview Airport into a vibrant urban center, boasting new businesses, public parks, and residential housing for up to 55,000 people.
The developer, Northcrest Developers, has aptly dubbed this ambitious plan “the largest of its kind in North America”, and it’s easy to see why. The former airport, encompassing a sprawling 370 acres, has a rich history stretching back to 1929. It served as a crucial Canadian air base during World War II, and more recently, it was the home base for Bombardier, one of the world’s leading aviation companies.
However, the airport’s days of bustling with air traffic are behind it. In 2018, the property was sold for $635 million, giving way to a new chapter in its story, one that involves a carefully orchestrated transformation.
Beyond a mere rezoning, the Downsview project represents a radical reimagination of a historical site. Northcrest envisages a thriving urban hub with a unique blend of old and new. They intend to maintain many of the iconic architectural features of the original airport, turning its runway into a walkable promenade connecting its seven planned neighborhoods, and reimagining the airplane hangars into vibrant spaces for businesses.
This unique approach creates a compelling narrative for the project, emphasizing history and sustainability. It’s a refreshing departure from the often sterile, soulless feel of modern developments. "Over the coming decades, we will transform these largely undeveloped lands into a series of vibrant neighbourhoods. Connected to each other, with a mix of housing options, new jobs in growing industries, opportunities for new business, access to parks, community facilities and services, we will create an exciting new destination in Toronto,” the company states on their website.
Downsview promises to be a microcosm of Toronto’s future, a city grappling with rapid growth and the need for sustainable urban planning. The project is poised to offer a comprehensive solution, addressing housing shortages, job creation, and the need for vibrant public spaces. Its ambitious scale, coupled with its focus on sustainability and community engagement, sets it apart from other, often less successful, attempts at new city creation.
The project’s creators are mindful of the pitfalls that have plagued similar ventures in recent years. While celebrity-backed projects like Kanye West’s Yeezycosystem and Akon’s Akon City have faltered, and the high-profile California Forever initiative faced its own hurdles, Downsview appears more grounded in reality.
Downsview builds upon an existing infrastructure, leveraging the footprint of the defunct airport instead of starting from scratch. This strategic approach, combined with a more realistic timeline, makes it a project that seems less quixotic than its counterparts.
The first phase of the Downsview project is anticipated to be completed by 2026, with the entire urban space expected to reach full completion in 30 years.
Downsview’s ambitious project resonates with a growing global trend of repurposing airports. As the aviation industry grapples with evolving needs and the rise of sustainable alternatives, airport real estate is increasingly being reimagined. From repurposing old runways into urban farms to transforming terminal buildings into mixed-use development spaces, the world is waking up to the potential of repurposing airport infrastructure.
The Downsview project stands out as one of the most ambitious and forward-thinking examples of this trend. It’s a testament to Toronto’s commitment to sustainable development and its willingness to embrace innovative solutions to address the challenges of urban growth.
But Downsview isn’t just about buildings and infrastructure. Ultimately, its success hinges on its ability to cultivate a sense of community, creating a space that people feel connected to and invested in. Northcrest’s vision goes beyond just brick and mortar; it wants to create a place with a soul, a place where people want to live, work, and play.
The future of Downsview is a promising one, a beacon of hope in a world facing the challenges of urbanization, climate change, and economic uncertainty. It’s a bold experiment, a testament to human ingenuity and a reminder of the potential for transformative projects to reshape our cities and our future.
The success of Downsview will be a benchmark for other similar projects around the world. Will it be a model for the future of urban development, or will it become another casualty of unrealistic dreams? Only time will tell. But one thing is certain: the world will be watching, hoping for a successful transformation that paves the way for a more sustainable and equitable future for our cities.
