Alex Bozikovic

In short:

Doug Ford’s obsession to expand downtown Toronto airport would be economic vandalism ‘Anything that dilutes Pearson’s hub function risks real economic harm,’ urbanist and futurist Greg Lindsay says

Would jets downtown be good for Toronto’s economy? As it turns out, no. @greglindsay.org explains the truth behind the vibes:

www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic...

Not physically

I don’t think there’s any procedural basis for what’s happening right now

“The regulations have a technical problem, and therefore we should abandon them all.”

Not a single city in the world is expanding a downtown airport right now. Not one. All of this is rationalization for the fact that executives like having an airport that nobody else uses. Textbook elite capture.

The question about Billy Bishop Airport isn’t whether it should evolve, but how it will The federal government estimates that the new preclearance facility could grow the airport’s annual economic contribution from $2.1 billion to $5.3 billion. A fully modernized Billy Bishop, with an ex...

Here’s the Toronto establishment coming to bat for their boutique airport.

Not a stitch of evidence that this expansion would generate economic benefit, but they’re going to keep saying it until it destroys the actual asset: an attractive waterfront

www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...

Some dystopian stuff

This from the mayor of Mississauga raises so many questions.

Yes it is. Leasing is hard.

How’d that happen @jbwicz.bsky.social?

The second photo shows where the complex wraps around two existing buildings. This may be the most interesting bit.

This - Mirvish Village in Toronto - is an excellent example of “break up the massing“ but it would be better as a series of truly separate buildings

Henriquez Partners Architects

one weird trick to make new buildings 100x better looking

@markmedley.bsky.social, over to you!

Doug Ford says jets are coming to Billy Bishop airport ‘one way or another’ Ontario premier said the federal government had endorsed the plan that would see longer-haul jets at the Toronto Islands airport.

Toronto’s progressive newspaper and Liberal MP’s rolling over for the permanent desecration of Toronto’s waterfront. @juliedzerowicz.bsky.social

www.thestar.com/news/gta/dou...

See also Lincoln Center in New York

It is, and equally strange that Richard Florida went to bat for it by misapplying @greglindsay.org's work.

OTOH, its small clientele includes many powerful people.

I should have known I was walking into fire here. It is a gorgeous place! It does have those things!

The Atkinson Principles feeling a lot of strain right now

"The Campaign Research survey found 70 per cent of Ontarians favour a runway extension 'to meet new federal safety regulations' "

A push poll.

Internal polling by Ford government suggests strong support for expanding Billy Bishop Airport There is overwhelming public support in Toronto and across Ontario for expanding the runway at Billy Bishop Airport, according to internal government polling obtained by the Star.

This is a push poll, by the notorious Conservative operative Nick Kouvalis, that the government has leaked to the Star

www.thestar.com/politics/pro...

The federal government has long been disproportionately interested in this airport, which carries a small amount of traffic. The Toronto Port Authority - a federal agency - spends a lot of money to justify its own existence and exaggerate its impacts.

This is true, and yet the minister chose to show up and cut the ribbon

A park is a place to be with other people. Stanley Park doesn't excel at that.

If only anyone was standing up for the value, and the potential, of public space.

The government flies a lot

Liberal MPs Take the Train to Pearson Challenge

Pre-clearance will now be available to travellers at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport | CBC News Starting Tuesday, politicians and officials say travellers headed to the U.S. from the island airport in downtown Toronto will now be able to go through customs before departing.

This gov is trying to reorient Canada away from U.S. trade. But also: spending $30m to speed U.S. flights for 4% of Toronto passengers.

Elbows up, or whatever

www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

How Old City Hall can be Toronto’s new heart Toronto’s proposed Old City Hall renovation promises a place for gathering and the arts

New ideas need old buildings. In today’s @globeandmail I showcase a vision for Toronto’s Old City Hall as a space for contemporary culture - opening this year. Let’s go.

www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic...