Originally Posted by Shiznaz
What gives you that idea? The majority of development is on 'green' land these days, as it has always been. the GTA's suburbs are growing at the fastest pace ever despite loophole filled legislation designed to curb urban sprawl. Density doesn't mean building sky-scrapers, it means using what land you already have in a more efficient manner. This would mean building in deindustrialized brown fields (the don lands), improving substandard housing (regent park)and the transportation network to deal with a more densely arranged population. Its about building mixed use neighbourhoods that are self sufficient, turning bedroom communities into fully fledged neighbourhoods. This city has so much space to rationlize outside of the downtown core as well; the inner suburbs should be where we look to increase density rather than already functionally sustainable downtown neighbourhoods.
i personally know a land developer, and the whole "not being able to develop any new land in toronto" thing is from him. i'm uncertain. but if toronto's conversions of old factories and warehouses into lofts are any indication, then it definately shows that not many people are seemingly developing new land. it's just building on what is already there.
additionally, the whole higher density building thing is out of whack. i agree with what you have to say, but all new homes/townhomes/appartments are entirely different from those of yesteryear (and have not been built in an efficient manner). look at how much smaller everything has gotten. a step into any new condo development will show you just that. sure, they are larger buildings...but typically smaller units.
i personally just moved to a new development in the yonge/yorkmills are and my home is something like 2000sq ft--but it has 5 floors. so yes, they are fitting more homes into a smaller space...and yes, it is 2000sq ft. but it doesnt help that virtually every floor is a mere 400 feet
anywhoo...who cares? it's all about cycling!