After decades of stagnation Ward 18 is experiencing something of a boom -- courtesy of GTA-wide gridlock and relatively low cost near-downtown lifestyles.
After decades of neglect, the many brownfields are being cleaned up, old factories torn down, warehouses and even churches redeveloped into condos and apartments. This re-development is very welcome, bringing more people into the area to open and patronize much needed new cafes, galleries, stores and restaurants.
There is, however, serious concern that the new development will not be people-friendly, green, quality-built or architecturally attractive. The Ward has many examples of ugly, gargantuan, low quality construction, which must not be repeated.
Remember: once it's built we're stuck with it for 100 years; we must get it right.
One such concerned citizen's group, Active 18, works closely with the city and developers to make sure projects are designed to suit the needs of the community, that developments match the "look" and "feel" of the neighbourhood, that they will improve the attractiveness of the area and contribute to the economic, social and artistic fabric, and not simply be quick and dirty money-making ventures.
Examples of excellent Toronto redevelopments that Ward 18 should emulate: The Wychwood Barns, Liberty Village, The Brickworks, the Distillery District, the Drake and Gladstone hotels...
Redevelopments in Ward 18 should match and exceed the best Toronto examples, anything less is unacceptable. We must imagine the kind of neighbourhoods we want, and demand that they be built. We owe this to future generations.
An important policy tool to achieve quality redevelopment is for Toronto to shift the municipal tax onto the lot beneath the buildings. Municipal taxes should be applied against the value of the land, regardless of the improvements on it, in order to not punish quality development with increased taxation.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
0 comments:
Post a Comment