integrated urbanism

Buzzelli, Chang, Lam, Shakura

Christos Marcopoulos

                                                                                                                  site photos

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1990s-Present


In 1994, the city of Toronto announced the decommissioning of the Canada Forces Base Toronto, leaving a huge void of uncertainty for the future of the 500 acre site. Local residents were concerned over the loss of jobs caused by the decomissioning, losing up to 370 military and 610 civilian jobs.
In 1994, the Canadian Forces Base at Toronto was decomissioned, leaving an uncertain future for Downsview. Local outrage spread as a 610 civilian and 370 military jobs were lost.

















In 1999, the first official secondary plan for Downsview was drafted, highlighting the desire to create the largest Canadian urban park.  In the same year, Parc Downsview Park held a design competition for this park. A year later, The Office of Metropolitan Architecture, led by Rem Koolhaas and Toronto’s very own Bruce Mau, had won the proposal. However, the project would not come into it’s full fruition due to unstable support and financial concerns. These factors delayed construction for the Downsview Park we know today until the 2006s.

28.  1999, Downsview Park Competition RFI,  National Post Archive. Jul 24, 1999, page 69 - National Post at Newspapers.com

29.  Brown + Storey’s finalist proposal for Downsview Park. Downsview Park Competition (brownandstorey.com)

30.  James Corner + Stan Allen’s finalist proposal for Downsview Park. Source: Marco Polo, “Environment as Process” Canadian Architect, October, 2000.

31.   Office for Metropolitan Architecture’s winning proposal for Downsview Park. Source: Marco Polo, “Environment as Process” Canadian Architect, October, 2000.

32.  Concern over the delay of Toronto’s “Central Park”. Source: 2010, Toronto Star Archives.

33.  Public concern over Downsview Park and change in ownership. Source: 2013, Toronto Star Archives.

34.  Post-competition process. Source: 2006, Toronto Star Archives.
















From the 2000s, the site wasn’t wholly empty.  The site had held many large scale temporary events to fill the use of the largely abadoned site, such as the papal visit in 2002, SARSfest, Caribana, and rave festivals.



36.  1994, Toronto Star Archive. Feb 23, 1994, page 13 - The Toronto Star at Newspapers.com

37.  Radiohead concert held at Downsview, which resulted in a concert collapse. Source: Stage design in fatal Radiohead concert collapse called for parts that didn't exist, witness says | CBC News

38.  1994, Toronto Star Archive. Feb 23, 1994, page 13 - The Toronto Star at Newspapers.com

39.  1994, Toronto Star Archive. Feb 23, 1994, page 13 - The Toronto Star at Newspapers.com




In recent past, the city had recognized new potentials for the site, both infrastructurally and in terms of community building. A new GO train extension and station, as well as urban agriculture initiatives, which continues to define Downsview’s social and infrastructural landscape today.



42.  Community public events at Downsview Park. Source: 2009, Toronto Star Archives.