Toronto developers aim to transform an old, derelict airport into a thriving city centre. Downsview Airport, once a renowned aviation base, will become a $22 billion project providing new businesses, parks and homes for up to 55,000 people. The developers behind the project call it “the largest project of its kind in North America.”
Downsview Airport covers approximately 370 acres and was originally 1929 and It served as a Canadian Air Force base during World War II. In recent years it has become the base of operations for Bombardier, one of the world’s largest airlines. The site was sold for $635 million in 2018 and is currently undergoing a renovation.
Northcrest Developers, the company behind the project, envisions a thriving city center that will retain many of the original airport’s architectural features, including the runway and 11 hangars. “Over the coming decades, we will transform these largely undeveloped lands into a series of vibrant communities. Through a variety of housing options, new job opportunities in growing industries, and With the interconnectedness of new business opportunities, parks, community facilities and services, we will create an exciting new destination in Toronto.
As an example of how original airport infrastructure can be written into the DNA of a new project, the developers hope to transform the structure’s runway into a walkable promenade that will connect people to the seven different neighborhoods planned for the project. Meanwhile, a Northcrest executive told Business Insider that the former hangar may become a space for the company’s operations. The developer also claims the project will create up to 40,000 new jobs.
A lot of people have been trying to build new cities lately. In particular, celebrities (like Kanye West and Akon) and wealthy Bay Area tech executives (Californication Forever) have tried to pour money into new urban projects. These projects often run into trouble. The gap between developer aspirations and executable reality is often too large to bridge.
However, unlike many other projects, the Downsview project is built on top of existing infrastructure that might otherwise be bulldozed. It also has a more realistic timeline than some of the more unrealistic projects announced in recent years. The first “phase” of the Downsview project is expected to be completed in 2026, but the developers do not expect the urban space to be fully completed for 30 years.
