Here is a great case study and a good comp of what Toronto is doing to convert the Downsview airport into new development lands.

While comps are never perfect, it is key to note here that development is run by Northcrest, which is backed by a Canadian pension fund, PSP Investments. The article also notes a few other airport conversion in Berlin and Santa Monica that are either a public-private partnership, or are private done by private developers. NONE OF THOSE CONVERSIONS ARE BEING LED BY AND WATERED DOWN BY THEIR RESPECTIVE MUNICIPALITIES.

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Edmonton needs to get out of land development and housing and the Alberta government should prohibit municipalities from any involvement other than zoning and permits.
 
NONE OF THOSE CONVERSIONS ARE BEING LED BY AND WATERED DOWN BY THEIR RESPECTIVE MUNICIPALITIES.
I have first-hand knowledge that the closing of the Santa Monica airport is entirely under the supervision and design mandates of the City of Santa Monica -- don't always believe what you read and no need to shout.
 

Here is a great case study and a good comp of what Toronto is doing to convert the Downsview airport into new development lands.

While comps are never perfect, it is key to note here that development is run by Northcrest, which is backed by a Canadian pension fund, PSP Investments. The article also notes a few other airport conversion in Berlin and Santa Monica that are either a public-private partnership, or are private done by private developers. NONE OF THOSE CONVERSIONS ARE BEING LED BY AND WATERED DOWN BY THEIR RESPECTIVE MUNICIPALITIES.

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Meh. If Blatchford were being privately developed it'd be much, much more watered down.
 
The go slow approach is not accomplishing much and with all the demand for housing now, does not make sense any more. If the city was really serious about filling in older areas, it would do everything it could to encourage development here.
 
The development has been moving forward well enough. It's not like this is the last empty piece of land within city limits. At least there is forward movement, slower sure but it is happening. If we want to complain about development not moving forward, how bout pushing to get all the parking lots in the quarters filled, all the land owned by OEG, the empty lots on Jasper Ave, the BMO lot, the arlington lot, the empty lots along 105ave, the empty lots in Chinatown, the empty or dead lots in the warehouse district, empty lots in Oliver, and that's just in the core of the city.
 
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The development has been moving forward well enough. It's not like this is the last empty piece of land within city limits. At least there is forward movement, slower sure but it is happening. If we want to complain about development not moving forward, how bout pushing to get all the parking lots in the quarters filled, all the land owned by OEG, the empty lots on Jasper Ave, the BMO lot, the arlington lot, the empty lots along 105ave, the empty lots in Chinatown, the empty or dead lots in the warehouse district, empty lots in Oliver, and that's just in the core of the city.
Good point, this is not the only piece of land where development is moving ahead slowly. Also, lest we forget we are building a new park right downtown off of Jasper Ave, mainly because it was undeveloped parking lots for 30 years. While having a park there will be nice and a good solution, it really came about because of lack of private initiative to develop what is prime land. So those critics of slow development who point fingers might have some some pointing back at them.
 
I kind of wonder about Sohi's statement there that the houses are more expensive than comparable in other parts of the city. The other half and I LOOKED for comparable but weren't really finding anything that checked all of the boxes. There were a few net zero skinny house solar options that came up, but they were always in worse locations, and that has to be part of any comparison. And the district heating and cooling approach just isn't available anywhere else, and normal cold temperature heat pump falls off at -20°C and then you have to backstop with a furnace, electric heater or stove. This doesn't, because it's still exchanging heat with geology that stays 7-10°C year round.
 

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