Here in downtown Toronto, you don’t have to walk far to find yet another construction site for a new ‘luxury’ highrise condominium project. However, this isn’t just isolated to Toronto. Around North America, Australia and even some parts of Europe, the construction of large scale condominium developments is in full force throughout the downtowns of many major urban centers. This resurgence of living downtown has certainly had some positive effects on the urban fabric of these downtowns. These residents help any number of businesses throughout the downtown and help to create a real center again in many of the major cities throughout the world. The larger number of residents throughout the center of the city also provide it with increased safety and a larger retail presence.
Yet, all this comes with a price, especially when every little bit of space is now being replaced with yet another condo tower. In Toronto, this is very much a reality. The condo projects in the City Place development is a prime example. City Place is a massive multi-building development on the west side of downtown Toronto. In theory, the project seems like a good idea. The project tries to create a neighbourhood atmosphere for it’s residents while providing those that live in City Place with easy access to the downtown and some spectacular views from their condos. Yet, is a project like this too much? Walking around City Place provides a different reality: a neighbourhood full of giant similiar looking glass condo towers providing absolutely no sense of place and no sense of scale from street level.
But the faceless feel of some of the condos isn’t the only issue. All these private ‘luxury’ condo developments are closing off many prime sites throughout Toronto that could be used for something more public. Greenspace is an obvious choice, yet in the case of Toronto, the real need for the city are an increase in attractions that attract both locals and tourists alike. Instead, these highrise condos provide another skyscraper that can really only be enjoyed by those that live there.
In the end, while there is absolutely nothing wrong with the development of many of these new downtown condominium projects, it is perhaps the sheer number that is most alarming. While more and more condo towers get built, it creates a downtown that is less commercial and more residential and a downtown that is less public and more private.
