While Berlin continues to ponder the future of its vast former airport lands, Toronto is taking a decisive step, converting the defunct Downsview Airport into a sprawling new city district. This ambitious Canadian undertaking, slated to accommodate 50,000 residents, presents a compelling case study for urban development and sustainability, prompting a critical look at what Berlin might learn from its transatlantic counterpart.
Berlin’s Airport Dilemma: Unfulfilled Potential
For decades, Berliners enjoyed the convenience of two inner-city airports. However, this era concluded with the full operationalization of Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER). The last scheduled flight from Tegel (TXL) departed in November 2020, and Tempelhof ceased operations twelve years prior. Yet, these significant urban spaces remain largely undeveloped.
Tempelhofer Feld has evolved into a popular recreational area and event venue. Meanwhile, military properties at Tegel were still being used for helicopter flights until recently. Despite grand plans, tangible progress has been slow. At Tegel (approximately 500 hectares), the vision includes the Urban Tech Republic, a research and industrial park for urban technologies, a residential district for over 5,000 homes and 10,000 residents, and a landscape park. Similar considerations exist for Tempelhof (approximately 380 hectares), where the original airport building is earmarked for comprehensive restoration and potential conversion into a convention center. However, a glance at Canada’s approach might evoke a sense of envy.
Toronto’s Bold Vision: YZD – A New Urban Epicenter
In Toronto, the Downsview Airport officially closed its doors in 2024. Yet, work on a significant new project is set to commence as early as next year. Across 150 hectares, a completely new district will emerge. While this area is less than half the size of Berlin’s former airports, it is designed to accommodate around 50,000 residents and incorporate a substantial 30 hectares of green and open spaces. As reported by CNN, the district, named “YZD” after the airport’s old abbreviation, represents North America’s largest urban development project.
Naturally, the full realization of this project is projected to take approximately 30 years and cost an estimated 30 billion dollars (about 25.6 billion euros). Nevertheless, the urban planners’ vision is nothing short of spectacular. The two-kilometer runway at Downsview is envisioned as the central spine of this new part of Toronto, connecting seven distinct neighborhoods, each with its own unique character. “The old runway serves as a ‘connector’ – linking everything together and ‘honoring the site’s aviation and aerospace heritage,'” Derek Goring, CEO of Northcrest Developments, the primary company responsible for the project, told American media.
The plans also include schools, shops, community centers, and business locations. Instead of immediate demolition, existing buildings will primarily be repurposed, offering a significant advantage in terms of climate protection. The roofs of the airport hangars are to be equipped with green spaces designed to absorb rainwater. Specialized environmental consultants will also assess the existing building fabric for any potential contamination from the site’s long military use.
Sustainable Mobility and Ecological Restoration
The existing infrastructure of the Canadian city will, of course, be utilized. However, the new areas will also feature their own bus system, car-free zones, and bicycle paths. “This doesn’t mean there will be no cars – the runway is actually the only car-free zone,” Goring clarified, “but we are trying to make walking and cycling the easiest, safest, and most convenient ways to get around.”
Another objective for the project developers, who engaged the landscape architecture firm Michael van Valkenburgh Associates (MVVA) for planning, is to restore natural habitats for animals. With the construction of the airport over 100 years ago, vegetation was displaced, disrupting a crucial bird migration route, explained MVVA partner Emily Mueller De Celis. They now aim to reverse this. Furthermore, this “renaturalization” will bring additional benefits to Toronto itself. The YZD site is located at the city’s highest point and, through planted channels that collect and filter rainwater, will reduce the risk of flooding.
Phased Development and Quality of Life: A Model for Berlin?
Sustainability plays a crucial role in Northcrest Developments’ plans, not only in the green spaces concept but also in residential construction. They are not rigidly committed to defining the final concept at this early stage, Goring noted. After all, the project is planned for 30 years, and they do not want to be forced to dictate in 2025 exactly what the future will look like. Residential construction will therefore proceed in phases. The first units are expected to be ready for occupancy by 2031. This approach allows for investment in the project, generating profits that can then be reinvested in the further expansion of YZD.
Whether Toronto will ultimately deliver the promised living space for 50,000 citizens remains to be seen, and given the profit ambitions, there is no mention of “social housing.” However, Berlin could certainly take a leaf from this flexible, future-oriented design freedom. After all, as Goring added, referring to the Canadian endeavor, “ultimately, it’s about providing a really high quality of life.” And what could be a more significant contribution to alleviating the difficult situation in Berlin’s housing market than enhancing the quality of life in the German capital?
Source: https://www.morgenpost.de/berlin/article410690402/hier-kann-berlin-was-lernen-toronto-baut-flughafen-zu-riesigem-viertel-um.html
