Sidewalk Labs Cancels Plan To Build High-Tech Neighbourhood in Toronto Amid COVID-19 (www.cbc.ca) 37
New submitter Bradmont shares a report: Sidewalk Labs, a Google-affiliated company, is abandoning its plan to build a high-tech neighbourhood on Toronto's waterfront, citing what it calls unprecedented economic uncertainty. The project, dubbed Quayside, still didn't have all of the government approvals it needed to go ahead. Many had raised concerns about the privacy implications of the project and how much of the city's developing waterfront Sidewalk Labs wanted to control. The so-called "smart city" was set to feature a range of cutting edge technology, from residential towers made of timber to the use of autonomous cars and heated sidewalks. "As unprecedented economic uncertainty has set in around the world and in the Toronto real estate market, it has become too difficult to make the 12-acre project financially viable without sacrificing core parts of the plan we had developed," company CEO Dan Doctoroff said in a statement.
Toronto Mayor John Tory was quick to issue a statement saying he regrets the company's decision, but anticipates others will step in to develop the area. "Toronto's economy will come back strong after COVID-19 and we will continue to be a magnet for smart people and smart companies," he said in an email. Tory also said he plans to push Waterfront Toronto and both the provincial and federal governments to make sure any new development in the area will create new jobs and a "carbon-neutral neighbourhood" with affordable housing units and "better transportation and sustainability features."
Toronto Mayor John Tory was quick to issue a statement saying he regrets the company's decision, but anticipates others will step in to develop the area. "Toronto's economy will come back strong after COVID-19 and we will continue to be a magnet for smart people and smart companies," he said in an email. Tory also said he plans to push Waterfront Toronto and both the provincial and federal governments to make sure any new development in the area will create new jobs and a "carbon-neutral neighbourhood" with affordable housing units and "better transportation and sustainability features."
Another one bites the dust (Score:3)
Another one bites the dust
Another one bites the dust
And another one gone, and another one gone
Another one bites the dust
Hey, I'm gonna get you, too
Another one bites the dust
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
It's pronounced "KEYside" now "KWAYside" (Score:2)
Part of our English heritage.
https://dictionary.cambridge.o... [cambridge.org]
Re: (Score:2)
Well, there's your problem - workers needed onsite kept getting lost because they were trying to use Google Maps to get to a place named "Keyside".
Re: (Score:2)
Incidentally, in America it can be pronounced three ways. I was raised with "KWAY", but it can also be "KEY" or "KAY".
https://www.merriam-webster.co... [merriam-webster.com]
Re: (Score:2)
Yup, knew some Canadians by the same last name, they pronounced it kway.
But "keyside" is obviously the best in this case. (According to me, and my gut, obviously)
Where did OP even come from though? Just tossing out some knowledge even though there was no reason to ?
Re: (Score:2)
Likely because the now-defunct project was "dubbed Quayside", according to the article.
Re: (Score:2)
That doesn't have a pronunciation attached to it, thought, does it ?
Re: (Score:2)
Really? As an Indian now living in Australia, I've only every heard it pronounced like "key" - are there people who unironically pronounce it "kway"?
They never did anything (Score:3)
Re:So why is this news? (Score:2)
Because if who posted it. You'll see a pattern.
Ideal time to build 'future city'. (Score:4, Interesting)
People realize remote work works and everything is on firesale right now.
Go find some plot of land in the middle of nowhere Canada, US. Run fiber to it. Design it around walkability and sustainability. Hell, 12 acres in most places would probably cost less than permits in Toronto.
Re: (Score:2)
Definitely anything tech/IT related can all be done remotely, unless you're literally wiring a data center, and even then you go back home once that's done.
The combination of dark fiber, and more access to shipping means you can work/make from anywhere in the U.S. There's no reason you can't live in rural Indiana unless you need to visit museums, nightclubs every day.
Re: (Score:2)
I live closer to a children's museum (by time) in an entirely different city than most Chicago residents are from Chicago museums.
Combine that with good climate and decent location (Score:1)
Go find some plot of land in the middle of nowhere Canada, US. Run fiber to it. Design it around walkability and sustainability.
I also think this is a great idea, I have a few additions:
1) Put it somewhere within two hours or so of a major airport. Even though people will happily spend a lot of time very remote just working, they want to be able to travel sometimes as well without major issues.
2) Make sure the climate is good in the location you choose, so people can spend a lot of times outdoors...
Re: (Score:2)
2) Make sure the climate is good in the location you choose, so people can spend a lot of times outdoors...
To some of us Canadian and Nordic climate is "good" and we do spend a lot of time out side.
Re: (Score:2)
Pay the employees with company scrip that can only be used at the store they provide.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
This is one of the best ideas I've ever seen on Slashdot, I wish I had mod points today.
Re: (Score:2)
"Build it and they will come" is bullshit. Just how successful was Novosibersk in Soviet Russia?
My inlaws live in small-town Ontario. They've been there for hundreds of years as farmers and shopkeepers, and have pretty much thought the same way for that entire time. Their town is lately marketing itself for tourism and retirement living. Poor choices if COVID stays around. We call it Southern Ontario, but it isn't Florida or Arizona. Few young people are willing to stay there; none willing to go there. The
not fully true (Score:2)
Toronto has no future (Score:2)
it is well and truly fucked now that China has weaponized international travel and turned multiculturalism into a death cult
At least one good thing came out of COVID-19 (Score:2)
Why not delay (Score:2)
At my work because of COVID-19 we are delaying some projects until next quarter or next year, due to the face we don't have the budget for it. Being that the whole economy is getting hit, I doubt its competitors are going to get too much traction.
John Tory was right about one thing (Score:2)
Failed to Mention 24/7 Surveillance (Score:3)
Orwellian dream come true. Who wouldn't want that....
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Google is blaming COVID for the cancellation but the reality is it's because of Public Opposition to the project. This has been heavily opposed by Vancouver residents which is why the government has not moved on the proposal. NIMBYism got the project, not COVID.
Re: (Score:2)
They missed the "polite Canadian" problem: Google tried to run roughshod over their own local advisors, because they didn't swear and curse. Instead the advisors reached out to their city councilors and made sure Toronto wouldn't fund Google's scheme.
Revenge is a dish best served cold? Yup, it's a cold country.
Re: (Score:2)
How are heated sidewalks and robotic garbage systems "new" technologies?
We have heated floors and trash compactors in the building I live in *now*. What, they have an automated truck pick up their garbage bin instead of dudes?
Oh, I forgot - residential towers made of timber. *earth-shattering* (and I'm well aware of recent advances in timber allowing higher building codes to be permitted, but this doesn't seem like the mark of some tech-forward ... anything)
Cutting Edge Technology? (Score:2)
"cutting edge technology, from residential towers made of timber"
The Cutting Edge Technology of making "towers" out of timber is how to make the bribes to get them to pass the City Fire regulations ...
yes covid (Score:2)
and not because no one wanted your shitty idea in the first place.
You've gotta be kidding me (Score:2)
...with affordable housing units and "better transportation and sustainability features."
Re: affordable, what's his definition of affordable? There's nothing in downtown TO that anyone who isn't on a financial services wage can afford. It's a city of haves & have nots. Child poverty is more than 50% in multiple areas. Most people can't live on what they earn there.
Re: better transportation, yeah, that's setting the bar low. It'd be hard to make anything worse.
Re: sustainable, you mean enact building regulations that ensure adequate insulation for Ontario winters? You know, so that you don'
Because COVID-19 (Score:3)
If you are having doubts about your big new project, or if you want to cancel something, or you just don't want to do something you were committed to doing, just say COVID-19. It's the new excuse for everything.