{"id":391,"date":"2026-01-25T16:49:29","date_gmt":"2026-01-25T16:49:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/agenture-loop.com\/?p=391"},"modified":"2026-01-25T16:49:32","modified_gmt":"2026-01-25T16:49:32","slug":"inside-the-deserted-airport-thats-being-redeveloped-into-a-30-billion-eco-friendly-city","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/agenture-loop.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/25\/inside-the-deserted-airport-thats-being-redeveloped-into-a-30-billion-eco-friendly-city\/","title":{"rendered":"Inside the deserted airport that’s being redeveloped into a $30 billion eco-friendly city."},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Downsview Airport\u2019s Transformation into a $30 Billion Sustainable City<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Downsview Airport in northwest Toronto has seen multiple transformations over the past century. Around 100 years ago, it began as a simple airfield with a short runway and an industrial building amid farmland, later hosting De Havilland Canada, a pioneering aviation company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During World War II, the airport became a hub for warplane production. In the early 1990s, Bombardier, the Canadian aerospace manufacturer, took over, only to close the site in 2024 as operations moved elsewhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2026, the site embarks on its most ambitious chapter yet. The 370-acre area is being redeveloped into an urban district called YZD<\/strong>, a nod to its former airport call sign. The $30-billion, 30-year project will house over 50,000 residents and include 75 acres of green space. The 2-kilometer runway will be converted into a pedestrian park linking seven neighborhoods, each featuring housing, schools, libraries, shops, and community centers. Derek Goring, CEO of Northcrest Developments, emphasized the importance of preserving the site\u2019s aerospace heritage as a way to give the development character and uniqueness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Greener Future<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sustainability is central to the redevelopment. Maintaining the airport\u2019s existing industrial hangars, built between the 1950s and 1990s, will reduce carbon emissions compared with demolishing and rebuilding. These structures will be repurposed for film production, light manufacturing, and clean tech, with green roofs to improve biodiversity and manage stormwater. The runway\u2019s concrete and asphalt will be recycled for roads and pavements. Environmental specialists will address any contamination from the site\u2019s industrial and military past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Landscape architecture firm Michael van Valkenburgh Associates (MVVA)<\/strong> is designing the runway park to reintroduce native habitats and wildlife, inspired by the region\u2019s historical Carolinian forest. Re-naturalizing the site will also improve water management, using strategic planting and bioswales to reduce downstream flooding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Northcrest is also incorporating broader sustainability goals. With the site connected to Toronto\u2019s transit network, the plan promotes walking, cycling, and car-free travel along the runway, supported by wide cycle lanes and last-mile buses. Danish designers SLA are advising on \u201cCity Nature\u201d concepts to maximize green space and climate resilience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Honoring Legacy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Repurposing abandoned airfields into sustainable urban spaces is a growing global trend, with examples like Berlin\u2019s Tempelhofer Feld and Athens\u2019 Ellinikon Metropolitan Park. YZD stands out due to its central location in Canada\u2019s largest metro area, existing transit infrastructure, and city-scale ambitions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Construction of the first 100-acre neighborhood, the Hangar District<\/strong>, with 3,000 homes, begins next year, with completion expected by 2031. The development will proceed in phases over three decades, allowing designs to evolve with changing needs and technologies. Goring notes the project\u2019s ultimate goal: delivering a high quality of life while integrating seamlessly with Toronto.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Downsview Airport\u2019s Transformation into a $30 Billion Sustainable City Downsview Airport in northwest Toronto has seen multiple transformations over the past century. Around 100 years ago, it began as a simple airfield with a short runway and an industrial building amid farmland, later hosting De Havilland Canada, a pioneering aviation company. During World War II,…<\/p>\n

Read More “Inside the deserted airport that’s being redeveloped into a $30 billion eco-friendly city.”<\/span> »<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":392,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-391","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/agenture-loop.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/391","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/agenture-loop.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/agenture-loop.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/agenture-loop.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/agenture-loop.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=391"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/agenture-loop.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/391\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":394,"href":"https:\/\/agenture-loop.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/391\/revisions\/394"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/agenture-loop.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/392"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/agenture-loop.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=391"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/agenture-loop.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=391"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/agenture-loop.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=391"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}