The Grid solicited ideas from some of Toronto's smartest people for how to make the city better, no matter what the cost or feasibility. David Topping and Katie Underwood deliver the inventive results.
Below are a few of our favorites:
From Richard Florida, director, the Martin Prosperity Institute:
"Let's do New York City's High Line
one better. Toronto should start turning some of its streets into
linear parks so that we can have an entire system of green spaces
cutting through the city. We could fill these parks with grass and trees
and benches and chairs, and have separate paths for pedestrians and
cyclists."
From Jim Chan, manager, Toronto Public Health Food Safety Program:
"Toronto has miles of hidden alleyways and laneways waiting to be
reclaimed and transformed into lively public spaces. Here, when people
think of laneways, they think, 'Oh no, they're dirty, there are drug
dealers there.' But all you'd have to do is clean them up. We could hold
weekly markets with vendors and even food stands. We could hold
concerts, or film screenings, and would be perfect for pop-up
restaurants. In Toronto, there's almost no more land that you can
actually develop. Why can't we re-use underused space instead?"
From Paddy Harrington, executive creative director, Bruce Mau Design:
"Toronto needs a mountain. Where Vancouver and Montreal can gaze off
into the distance from lofty peaks, we have to settle for the CN Tower.
But how to build one?
Toronto produces close to 400,000 tons of residential garbage every year. By comparison, 450,000 tons of rock were blasted off of Mount Rushmore to create its presidential contours.
So what if we diverted all that garbage over a few years to the Billy
Bishop airport and built a mega-mountain for skiing, hiking, mountain
biking, and all the other great activities only made possible by a true
point of elevated land?...What better way to boost our own environmental profile
than to divert all that waste from those who don't want it and turn it
into something amazing?"
FULL STORY: Toronto the Better

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

King County Supportive Housing Program Offers Hope for Unhoused Residents
The county is taking a ‘Housing First’ approach that prioritizes getting people into housing, then offering wraparound supportive services.

Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing
Analysts are using artificial intelligence to supercharge their research by allowing them to comb through data faster. Though these AI tools can be error prone, they save time and housing researchers are optimistic about the future.

Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive
Cities and shared mobility system operators can do more to include people with disabilities in planning and operations, per a new report.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
planning NEXT
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie