Chief Planner Jennifer Keesmaat has broken rank from Mayor John Tory on the issue of whether to replace or remove an elevated highway along the city's waterfront. The cost to replace the expressway, $919 million, is more than removing it.
"Toronto chief planner Jen Keesmaat is calling for the removal of the eastern Gardiner, putting her at odds with the mayor on one of the most important issues facing the city," reports Oliver Moore.
Keesmaat's prompted the coverage by making the following remarks in support of removing the elevated roadway recently at a conference in Toronto: "This is a decision that needs to be made by looking into the future and thinking about the kind of city we want to be in the future….We have an opportunity to create a grand new landscape in our city." Mayor John Tory supports the more expensive proposal to leave the road in place.
According to Moore, "[t]he decision over the eastern stretch – with a price tag that could range up to close to $1-billion – is set to come to council in early June." The article also includes a discussion about city staff speaking out on this issue and others. Until Keesmaat's recent remarks, a report by Waterfront Toronto had offered the most pointed opposition to the idea of replacing the elevated roadway.
FULL STORY: Toronto chief planner at odds with mayor over eastern Gardiner removal
Toronto City Council Decides to Rebuild Gardiner East Expressway
Coulda, woulda, shoulda. The Toronto City Council sided with Mayor John Tory this week to rebuild an elevated freeway in downtown rather than tearing it down.
Proposed Toronto Highways Raise Environmental Concerns
Opponents of two new planned highways in greater Toronto argue the construction of new roads is 'short-sighted at best' and would threaten the region's greenbelt areas.
Opinion: Build Housing, Not Expressways
As it rebuilds the Gardiner Expressway, Toronto could use the opportunity to create more real estate for affordable housing.
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.
San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths
Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.
Adaptive Reuse Will Create Housing in a Suburban Texas Strip Mall
A developer is reimagining a strip mall property as a mixed-use complex with housing and retail.
Study: Anti-Homelessness Laws Don’t Work
Research shows that punitive measures that criminalized unhoused people don’t help reduce homelessness.
In U.S., Urban Gondolas Face Uphill Battle
Cities in Latin America and Europe have embraced aerial transitways — AKA gondolas — as sustainable, convenient urban transport, especially in tricky geographies. American cities have yet to catch up.
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.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
Custer County Colorado
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont