New downtown plan aims to keep the core of Toronto lit

May 21st, 2018  |  Canadian Business

With the prospect of more high-rise buildings one the, well, rise, many are concerned about the affect they will have on the amount of sunlight that is shed on the downtown core. Among them is 66-year old George Traini. Traini has lived just north of the Art Gallery of Ontario for four decades and enjoys exploring the area during sunny afternoons. The idea of high-rises coming in and disrupting the natural sunlight in the area worries him greatly.

"Morning sun is sunlight, Vitamin D, it makes for a healthy lifestyle," he said. "No one wants to live in constant darkness."

And, as it turns out, Traini is not alone in his concern. City planners, residents, and councillors have all voiced their trepidations about allowing so many high-rises in the area. As a result, city council will see a document that has been years in the making, ensuring that the downtown core continues to see plenty of sunlight. This marks the first major downtown Toronto planning update since the 1970s.

The 25-year downtown plan focuses on the point that livable areas require plenty of sunlight, and it looks to protect the area’s parks and open spaces.

"TOcore says that you can build this tower, so long as there isn't increased shadows on the local park," says downtown city councillor Joe Cressy. "It's about making it livable."

"We work really hard to shape the kinds and size of buildings and how buildings are placed, so we maintain some access to sunlight on our public streets and in our parks and open spaces," echoed Gregg Lintern, the city's chief planner.