Seizing the Moment: Redefining Urban Development in Toronto 

By Derek Goring

When it comes to urban development, few opportunities rival the potential of space. Situated in the heart of Toronto, the Downsview Airport Lands encompass a whopping 370 acres of untapped potential in a major city—a rarity not just in Canada but North America. Within the vast expanse lies an extraordinary opportunity: to carve out a testing ground, a veritable playground where innovative solutions can flourish, shaping the landscape of tomorrow. Our sector is ripe for progress, and with the rare affordance of space, Northcrest is focused on leading the way. 

Parallel Crises, One Major Solution: Innovation 

The need for innovation in development has never been more urgent. While other sectors such as technology and healthcare have embraced testing environments, the development sector has been relatively reticent to follow suit. As cities confront the compounding issues of population growth and housing shortages along with affordability challenges, labour shortages and the climate crisis, the status quo simply isn’t cutting it.  

This is precisely where the opportunity Northcrest has at Downsview comes into play: to champion and implement scalable solutions that deliver the highest quality of urban living, expediently and effectively. 

The Downsview Airport Lands present a unique chance to showcase the possibilities of industrialized housing construction on a grand scale. By harnessing technologies and fostering collaboration with industry leaders, we aim to create a blueprint for sustainable, scalable housing with global applicability – a true sandbox for innovation. 

While the scale of our lands is rare, we follow in the footsteps of many others who have proven that our aspirations are indeed possible. Consider, for instance, the innovative rejuvenation of London's King's Cross area, transforming a former industrial site into a bustling center of culture, commerce, and greenery, echoes the impressive repurposing of Battersea Power Station. These projects exemplify the transformation of iconic industrial landmarks into vibrant mixed-use developments—much like the former airplane hangars present a similar opportunity on our lands. 

Akin to these precedents, the conversion of the Downsview Airport Lands must recognize that genuine advancement encompasses not just what we construct, but the way we do so. Embracing resilience in its myriad forms—whether through engineering green infrastructure capable of weathering extreme climatic conditions or drastically reducing greenhouse gas emissions to curb environmental footprint—is paramount to securing the enduring prosperity and health of our future neighbourhoods. 

It's an immense challenge, but one we are uncompromisingly committed to. 

To confront this challenge effectively, it takes more than just good intentions—it requires unprecedented innovation and collaboration. By harnessing the potential of technology and adopting a mindset of continual improvement, we can transform both the way we build and inhabit cities. From implementing modular construction techniques for quicker and more efficient building to adopting smart building systems to optimize energy usage and minimize waste, the avenues for progress are extensive, and we're exploring all of them. 

Thankfully, we possess the space to both experiment and execute. It's a significant advantage. By utilizing our lands as experimental grounds for new ideas and methodologies, we aspire to motivate others to join us. Together, we can construct cities that not only endure adversity but also thrive as inclusive, vibrant, and environmentally sustainable communities. 

Synergy at Work: Harnessing Collaboration 

April is a month marked by some major milestones – for both Northcrest at large and me. It marks the departure of Bombardier Aerospace from the lands, after almost a century of the lands being a site of aerospace innovation and ingenuity. It also marks my appointment as the Chair of the Toronto Region Board of Trade’s (BOT) new Climate and Energy Council. It is a new chapter for our project, and for me in a role convening likeminded peers to further collaborate and unlock the greater potential in our city. 

Just like any worthwhile sandbox, we need to invite the best minds to participate. 

Partnerships have formed the backbone of our endeavor. Each partner brings unique insights, experiences, and skills, enriching our collective vision and driving progress forward. For example, Henning Larsen, renowned for their iconic architectural designs, SLA, celebrated for their innovative landscape architecture, KPMB, distinguished for their commitment to design excellence, Urban Strategies Inc., respected for their expertise in urban planning, and Hines, a global leader in real estate development—all these partners embody a shared commitment to excellence and sustainability. 

However, we recognize that our efforts, while significant, are just a part of a larger picture in our city. To fully unlock our city's potential, we need a collaborative, Toronto-wide approach that leverages global partnerships. Despite our project's scale, we are one player among many. To address the dual crises of climate and housing, we must act as a unified city. 

This is where the TRBOT Climate and Energy Council, and similar groups, serve as complementary catalysts to our current opportunity. I'm honoured to be appointed as the Chair for this newly formed group, where we unite as a coalition of innovators, visionaries, and changemakers, dedicated to driving sustainable progress for our environment and communities. By pooling our expertise, resources, and passion, we can magnify the impact of individual efforts and propel Toronto towards a future defined by resilience, sustainability, and inclusivity. As Chair, I am committed to fostering a culture of collaboration and cooperation, where diverse perspectives converge to generate transformative solutions—far beyond our site. 

Looking ahead, as we advance into the forthcoming phases of our project, partnerships will remain the cornerstone of our efforts. 

Seizing the Moment: Building a Sustainable Future for Toronto 

We cannot afford to squander this chance to build a better, more sustainable future for all who call Toronto home. 

With decades of experience in the industry, I understand firsthand the challenges inherent in transformative urban development. However, as we stand at the threshold of this historic opportunity, I'm optimistically reminded that there are more years ahead of us on this project than behind us. We have the opportunity to redefine the nature, pace, and, by extension, potential of urban development projects in our city. 

For me, and many at Northcrest, this opportunity epitomizes the essence of why I pursued a career in development—it's a rare chance to shape communities and foster connections in some pretty extraordinary ways. It's a significant responsibility, one that I take very seriously. We recognize that the decisions we make now will reverberate for decades to come. That's why we're committed to infusing principles of sustainability, resilience, and equity into every facet of our planning and development process, today. 

While we'll have partners along the way, we understand that our role at Northcrest is pivotal for the project's long-term success because the nature of this project extends far beyond just constructing sustainable buildings; we’re creating communities and reconnecting key parts of the city. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur with a vision, an artist seeking inspiration, or a family in search of a place to call home, we recognize the importance of Toronto being a city that fosters growth, connection, and exploration. 

This is precisely what we aim to achieve at Downsview—and we eagerly anticipate collaborating with the world's brightest minds to realize this opportunity to its fullest potential. 

  

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Derek Goring is the Chief Executive Officer at Northcrest Developments. He has 20 years of experience in real estate development, with a focus on large-scale master planned developments in the Greater Toronto Area. With roles in both public and private sector organizations, Derek has had the opportunity to work on some of Toronto’s most important city-building projects. Derek leads the development team at Northcrest, which is responsible for master planning the Downsview airport lands, securing all necessary municipal approvals, and working with partners to implement the project. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering & Management from McMaster University and an MBA from the University of Toronto. Derek has been actively involved with the Urban Land Institute for many years, and currently serves as a Global Governing Trustee, a member of the Technology and Real Estate Council, and with ULI Toronto as a member of the Advisory Board and the Governance Committee.