Manhattanization of Toronto

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JOEL HURREN

BuzzStaff

With all this talk of "Manhattanization" in Toronto (http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2012/07/02/f-toronto-condo-boom.html ), does anyone think that our skyline will ever reach the soaring heights of Manhattan? In my opinion, if we're lucky we might evolve into Manhattan's vertically challenged friend, but I can't see us ever rivalling the Concrete Jungle.

Toronto / General Chit-Chat

ROY BHANDARI

BabbleBee

467

2 BEST REPLY

@Matthew Slutsky - the forced intensification for Toronto will come from the Greenbelt. Developers are being forced to build "up" rather than "out" especially if what the statistical gurus (RealNet) are telling us is true and we are going to need a million new homes over the next 20 years.

PHIL HURREN

NewBee

Manhattan has the advantage of a 270 degree water exposure and hence more condo and towers etc have great views.

Eventually for Toronto more condos block other condos .. unlucky if you are one of the first condo owners

If we flood part of downtown we too can increase the footprint ;-)

By the way love the new buzz chat forums !

MATTHEW SLUTSKY

BuzzStaff

1985

Nope. I think Vancouver has a better chance of it than Toronto. The problem is that Manhattan is surrounded by water, thus forcing intensification. Vancouver is surrounding by water and mountains, again forcing intensification.

Toronto on has a lake on one side, with unlimited growth potential outward.

That said, Toronto's skyline has become fantastic over the past 7 years.

YOSSI KAPLAN

NewBee

it's not all about views. 99% of NYC apartments have no views. the towers show in your photo at the South end of the island are commercial.

JOEL HURREN

BuzzStaff

I don't believe that it's 99%, maybe closer to 50%. Any apartment has a streetview, a lot of NYC apartments have central park views. A lot of Toronto condos lack a view, or will do within 5 years.

Regardless of whether or not the buildings are commercial (both photos contain ~60% commercial buildings), will we see Toronto gain the same height and density that Manhattan has?

ROY BHANDARI

BabbleBee

467

I agree with @Yossi Kaplan - it's not all about the views... in fact, views play a very small role in the grand scheme of things. Living in the city is all about convenience and having a great view is a bonus of living downtown, not a reason to.

MATTHEW SLUTSKY

BuzzStaff

1985

@Yossi Kaplan: agreed. Views are a minor aspect. You have a view, then it is gone. Of course, find a protected view and you are gold! Yes. They do exisit.

@Roy Bhandari: the Greenbelt, Places to Grow and the Oakridges Morine have been important, and are causing an increase in intensification but there are many issues with them and the distances from the core do not create the type of intensification that NYC has. Issues include: leapfrogging, no scientific research into the creation of the Greenbelt, and proximity to the city - among many others.