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WislaHD said:
This is definitely exciting for us!

Why do you guys think they would choose Toronto as their test-site?
Click to expand...

Large dense metropolis, development of a large parcel in a prominent area, utility-level works required anyway, good but arms-length government relationship via Waterfront Toronto.

Might have been able to find a similar candidate city in the US that matched or came close to Toronto, but Trump...
 
The immediate availability of a large urban site within a major downtown with strong growth pressures and the ability to sole source construction to a single developer (google).

I'm sure they would much rather an SF or NYC location, but Toronto is ready to go now, developing a project from scratch there will take a few years, which is eternity in the tech world.
 
I would imagine that developing in SF is hard enough as-is (it is a city that managed to kill a Star Wars museum of all things), and NYC has a dearth of readily available and affordable blocks of land (maybe out in Queens or Brooklyn, but certainly not Manhattan).
 
From the June WT Board Meeting CEO Report (p.2):

Quayside
On April 27, 2017 Waterfront Toronto received submissions in response to the Quayside Innovation and Funding Partner Request for Proposal (RFP). The goal is for the Innovation and Funding Partner (the Partner) to help create, realize and fund an unparalleled vision for sustainable urban development on Toronto’s eastern waterfront, specifically the Quayside development opportunity. Together, Waterfront Toronto and the Partner will identify and define the necessary partnership model, strategies, infrastructure, measurable outcomes and downstream partners to ensure Quayside is a globally-significant demonstration project that addresses common urban challenges, such as the increasing disparity in housing affordability and the imperative to address climate change. With the guidance of our Fairness Advisor, Waterfront Toronto and Subject Matter Experts completed their evaluation of the submissions and recommended a short list to the Quayside Steering Committee which was approved. Waterfront Toronto is now in the process of conducting a series of Commercially Confidential Meetings with each proponent leading to a final submission from each team in mid-August. Once selected, Waterfront Toronto will enter into negotiations with the preferred proponent and bring forward a request for approval from the Board, most likely in October.

George Brown College (GBC) Block 3
GBC is currently moving ahead with selecting members of their design team, including an architect, to advance the detailed design of the project. GBC is also working to obtain the necessary municipal planning approvals which includes a minor variance for additional height to accommodate the daycare facility. Meetings are set up between Waterfront Toronto and GBC to discuss sustainability efforts and DRP commitments for the project. Construction for this site is targeted to commence in the next few years. As part of Waterfront Toronto’s obligations to GBC, staff continues to pursue the issuance of a Record of Site Condition with the MOECC prior to start of construction.

http://waterfrontoronto.ca/nbe/wcm/connect/waterfront/3426ecec-31a9-4572-8488-cebd99a99c8b/Board+Item+6+-+CEO+Report+-+June+13,+2017.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CONVERT_TO=url&CACHEID=3426ecec-31a9-4572-8488-cebd99a99c8b
 
WT CEO Update from the Sept Board Meeting:

Quayside
On August 22, 2017 Waterfront Toronto received the Best and Final Offer (BAFO) submissions in response to the Quayside Innovation and Funding Partner Request for Proposals (RFP). The BAFO submission is the second of two submissions in the RFP process. The goal is for the Innovation and Funding Partner (the Partner) to help create, realize and fund an unparalleled vision for sustainable urban development on Toronto’s eastern waterfront, specifically the Quayside development opportunity. With the guidance of our Fairness Advisor,Waterfront Toronto and Subject Matter Experts completed their evaluation of the submissions and will recommend a preferred proponent to the Quayside Steering Committee on September 11, 2017. After receiving confirmation of the preferred proponent from the Steering Committee, and with guidance from the Investment and Real Estate Committee of the Board (IREC), Waterfront Toronto will enter into negotiations with the preferred proponent regarding the terms of a partnership. A request for approval will be brought forward, through IREC, to the Board in October.

http://waterfrontoronto.ca/nbe/wcm/...&CACHEID=89a6924b-b495-4311-9ac8-51987374f61f
 
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