Spanning four volumes totalling more than 1,500 pages, Sidewalk Labs’ master plan for a smart-city development on Toronto’s waterfront has the look of an encyclopedia set.For many closely watching the proposed development, however, the plan comes with as many questions as it does answers.The Master Innovation and Development Plan, titled Toronto Tomorrow: A New Approach for Inclusive Growth, offers a vision of how the Google sister company aims to transform the area through innovation and technology.We look into some of the biggest questions that emerge from the plan, including how far the smart city will stretch, how much will the government pony up in payouts and just who will oversee the promised land of innovation. 1. How far will the Sidewalk stretch?Monday’s report made clear that Sidewalk Labs is eyeing much more land than the 12 acres in Quayside put in play by Waterfront Toronto’s initial Request for Proposals (RFP). Sidewalk and its local partners plan to develop the western part of Villiers Island — city-owned land not part of the existing deal — which would be home to an expanded Google Canada headquarters as well a blend of commercial and residential space.Those developments are the first steps to creating a 190-acre Innovative Development and Economic Acceleration (IDEA) district.In an open letter, Waterfront Toronto Board Chair Stephen Diamond called the concept of the IDEA district “premature.”“Waterfront Toronto must first see its goals and objectives achieved at Quayside before deciding whether to work together in other areas,” Diamond’s letter reads.2. Who’s in charge of the IDEA district?The IDEA district has the power to galvanize economic growth and foster innovation, the master plan says. But its success will depend on who’s overseeing it.The proposal calls for the appointment of “a public administrator that can prioritize innovation and new approaches with ...
|
