I’ve always been intrigued by Downsview, a wide-open, underdeveloped 370-acre site just north of downtown Toronto surrounded by highways and condos. It was once home to the aircraft manufacturer Bombardier and also hosted a Canadian Forces base. But for decades, the space has remained a blank slate.
Now, finally, Downsview is becoming something: a mixed-use community with more than 54,000 residents. And not a minute too soon, given the country’s housing crisis. The $30-billion redevelopment will unfold over 30 years and include, in addition to residences, schools, community centres, parks and shopping.
Turning abandoned industrial sites like Downsview into places to live is one of the solutions put forth in this month’s sweeping Maclean’s cover story on how to address the country’s housing shortage. The editorial package is chock full of practical ideas that can be implemented immediately. Some are even happening already on a small scale and might be replicated elsewhere.
Pierre Poilievre made housing a big election issue. Many young people, anxious about where they’re going to live, were grateful that he was paying attention to their worries. If elected, can Poilievre actually fix the problem? Yes—and the April issue of Maclean’s explains how.
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—Sarah Fulford, editor-in-chief, Maclean’s
