On 10/20/2022 at 3:21 PM, StAgre said:

Fair point regarding pre-pandemic passenger numbers, and I'm fully on board that the airport is a better experience than YYZ having flown through Billy Bishop a few times myself.

I also think demolishing it to expand the park is a waste as well - that's the "I hate the airport and I just want it gone" approach.

That said, I think there's a fair argument that there are better uses of that land than the airport from a financial and quality of life perspective as well. A good example is the neighborhood of Ijburg in Amsterdam. It's a newly built residential neighborhood on reclaimed land in the bay: https://goo.gl/maps/FxqmkvU2Nmu7A3yq8

 

You may have a point. European cities seem to have been able to pack more people (and value) into a small area. I'm sure it has a lot to do with history. It would be interesting to see an actual head-to-head comparison though. 

 

On 10/20/2022 at 3:21 PM, StAgre said:

I think there's a fair argument that given Toronto's obvious shortage of housing, and the revenue and economic activity that an urban neighborhood generates, that YTZ is not maximizing the opportunity cost of the land it sits on.

 

If we take that argument to an extreme, neither is the CN Tower, or  Ontario Place (or High Park for that matter), but nobody is really calling for the closure/teardown of either of those sites......and it would be much easier to build access to those sites than to the island.

Why would we remove a piece of transportation infrastructure from a growing city instead of figuring out how to maximize its utility? Makes no sense...

And to be clear....maximizing utility happens naturally as a business (airline) strives for profitability. The city would just need to play ball and help make access easy.

DB

There is no question, is there, that Toronto needs more parkland to serve the increasing population but, maybe the airport land isn't where we need it. The 20 acre Rail Deck Park over the railway lands might have been a good idea but the developer who owns the required airspace is offering only 11 acres. Acquiring land to assemble a decent park where it is really needed may be almost impossible.

John Tory elected for a third term. Airport viability discussions will be safe for at least another 4 years!

42 minutes ago, Doering said:

John Tory elected for a third term. Airport viability discussions will be safe for at least another 4 years!

I guess that settles that then. 

DB