2023 Spring Issue - 45

merely bricks and mortar and-even more
important-a community.
Howard instilled in me the essential
nature of placemaking. Success, he would
tell me, depends on more than the completion
of a building. We must build for
the long term. We must build something
that people will love to live in and be a
part of the neighborhood.
Under Howard's leadership, I worked
on phase one of the Lawrence Heights
revitalization project-an ambitious
undertaking that will ultimately result in a
vibrant, mixed-use neighborhood defined
by the construction of more than 4,000
new private housing units and the replacement
of over 1,200 Toronto Community
Housing units.
This project is the reason I joined
Metropia. It is a planner's dream to help
develop a community that will appeal to
both current and potential residents; a
community that prioritizes parks, schools,
and affordable housing; and a community
that incorporates sustainable practices
and embraces modern planning practices
for the greater good.
I was especially impressed and energized
by the engagement of Lawrence
Heights residents. Local groups were not
only vocal but also proactive. For instance,
community members crafted a social
development plan that resulted in scholarships,
workforce training, and jobs for
neighborhood residents.
Obtaining Approvals
My next challenge took me to the corner of
Bloor and Dufferin, where a 7.3-acre (3 ha)
site was designed along transit-oriented
principles. The raw numbers give some
sense of the magnitude of the project:
170,000 square feet (68,800 sq m) of
retail uses, 52,000 square feet (21,000 sq
m) of office space, and 2,200 new residential
units, among other elements-which
include a public park and a community
hub with a daycare facility.
Obtaining the required approvals was
by no means a sure thing, in part because
some of the facilities had to be integrated
into heritage properties on the site. The
process proved to be an education in the
value of communication and collaboration.
Three levels of government played a role.
A passionate residents' group advocated
for people living in and around the neighborhood.
In the end, common ground was
achieved-and a strong public/private
partnership was formed.
At this stage of my career, I felt that I
had expanded my skill set. I had spent
almost 20 years securing approvals for
an array of urban and suburban development
projects. I had been a senior planner
and a project manager. I had faced
and overcome a range of challenges and
obstacles. I was ready for something that
was grander in scale.
I was ready for Downsview.
This is the big one-and I am excited to
be playing a senior role with responsibility
for securing a huge range of municipal
approvals, including land use entitlements
and official plan and secondary
plan amendments. I'm also overseeing the
project schedule and design, among other
roles. In essence, my job is helping bring
this amazing and ambitious project to life.
What inspires and motivates me is
the vision that my Northcrest colleagues
and I have for this site. We are building
Toronto's next destination for innovation,
employment, and vibrant public spaces.
Seeing Downsview's rebirth through will
require all the skills I've developed in my
career-along with the perspectives and
insights I've gathered during my time with
the Institute. The ULI ethos-responsible
use, sustainable communities-continues
to serve as a professional compass.
Over the next 30 years, the Downsview
site will be transformed into a series of
walkable, sustainable, low-carbon communities.
There will be good jobs and great
amenities. There will be acres of parks.
What was once a runway will become a
community connector.
Downsview will be a place that people
love to live in. And I love that I am lucky
enough to be a part of that thanks, in no
small part, to the experience, skills, and
mentors ULI has helped me acquire over
nearly 20 years. UL
WLI Toronto founders Kristy Shortall, senior vice president, development, Northcrest
Developments; Laurie Payne, executive vice president, development, Osmington; Leslie Woo,
chief executive officer, CivicAction; Anne Morash, senior vice president, multiresidential,
GWL Realty Advisors; and Godyne Sibay, regional partner, McCarthy Tétrault.
KRISTY SHORTALL is senior vice president,
development, for Northcrest Developments and a
founding committee member of ULI Toronto.
SPRING 2023
URBAN LAND
45
COURTESY OF LESLIE WOO

2023 Spring Issue

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of 2023 Spring Issue