Innovation

We know long-term climate resiliency is contingent on what we do, today. Aligned with Toronto's 2040 net zero carbon plan and Toronto Green Standards, we’re focused on future proofing Downsview.

We’re retaining and retrofitting most of the existing structures on a largely undeveloped site.

Our streets will be designed with all forms of movement in mind - prioritizing pedestrians, bicycles and public transport.

We are exploring innovative approaches to energy and construction that are sustainable, efficient and durable, including new ways of building, building materials, and sources of energy.

Our infrastructure is designed to be resilient, to withstand extreme weather events and we’re taking a page from mother nature: designing accessible and interconnected green spaces that support biodiversity and ecological functions.

The scale of our lands, decades of build out and PSP’s long-term ownership model offer a unique opportunity to be a destination to test, commercialize, manufacture, deploy and showcase market-transforming urban clean technologies, in one place. All reinforcing Toronto as a world leader in innovation and technology.

Our vision for the first district to be developed, the Hangar District, is to create a thriving mixed-use community. The Hangars can be retrofitted to house a rich ecosystem of start-ups, scale-ups and mature businesses. Building on our site’s legacy of innovation, our aim is for this to become home to a globally recognized Urban Cleantech Hub. Our district presents a unique opportunity to capitalize on regional strengths and catalyze the geographical clustering of companies that need room to scale up, next to transit and embedded in mixed-use communities.

In this sandbox environment, Northcrest can access the latest urban innovations for its projects, pilot them, and consider them for adoption over our 30+ year development.

Our vision is to create pedestrian-focussed and transit-connected neighbourhoods, allowing people to walk more, cycle more and roll more. Our neighbourhoods will feature broad sidewalks, short blocks that are easy to walk and a pedestrianized network of streets, including the 2.1km pedestrianized runway.

Our lands are adjacent to three subway stations and a GO train station. Yet today, as much of our site is not yet developed, ease of access to these stations from the Hangar District is limited. We are exploring short-term mobility solutions, while in parallel developing longer-term solutions. Once we have tenants on site, we will be introducing bike share options and a private shuttle service, until there is sufficient capacity to warrant bus services. While we will provide ample alternate transportation options to private cars, electric vehicle charging points are being created too.