Within a $22 billion plan to transform an airport runway and 11 hangars into a city of 55,000

Toronto’s former Downsview Airport is getting a $22 billion makeover that will turn the historic airport into a vibrant new community for 55,000 residents.

But this isn’t your typical suburban development, this one comes with airplane hangars, a mile-long runway and enough retro charm to make it a must-see.

Forget the bulldozer of the past, too.

Northcrest Developments, the masterminds of the colossal project, is betting that preserving the airports’ original infrastructure will give the neighborhood an irresistible edge.

It’s hard to make a planned community look authentic when everything is brand new, Derek Goring, CEO of Northcrests told the Wall Street Journal. So we really decided to build on the legacy of aerospace.

The result? The projects’ first neighborhood, a 50-acre center filled with 2,850 homes, will be anchored by those massive hangars. These structures, relics of another era, are expected to become a magnet for both residents and visitors.

Meanwhile, the old track will be transformed into a lively pedestrian promenade, complete with fashion shops, restaurants, patios, schools and even a library.

In total, the massive redevelopment will create more than 28 million square feet of residential space, 7 million square feet of commercial property and 74 acres of parkland, The Journal reported.

Encompassing seven different neighbourhoods, this ambitious development will unfold in phases over the next 30 years, making it one of the largest real estate ventures in Canadian history.

Northcrest is taking inspiration from high-profile projects like New York’s High Line, where an old rail line was reborn as a vibrant park. Goring is confident that Downsviews’ unique features will set it apart.

The hangars and runway “will make this place unlike anything else, and from the developers’ point of view, it’s like marketing 101,” Goring explained. This is something that no one else can really offer.

But not everyone is convinced.

Transforming an abandoned airport into a thriving community doesn’t come cheap. David Dixon, an urban sites associate at Stantec, warned that repurposing old infrastructure can add costs quickly.

Dixon emphasized that it only works if the result justifies the price. With all the buzz about self-driving cars, people have also been talking about turning parking garages into apartments.

“These conversions will be more expensive and less competitive in the market than purpose-built housing,” he told The Journal.

The airport, which opened in 1929, has a long history. It served as an air base during World War II and later as a test site for Bombardier before being sold in 2018 for a whopping $635 million.

While Northcrest initially considered tearing everything down, they realized that keeping the sites history intact could be the key to its success.

We quickly came to the conclusion that this was not a good idea, Goring said.

Local residents were also determined to maintain the sites role as a center for work and economic activity. The hangars, built between 1950 and 1990, are more than just relics, they are ready for a new life.

With their massive dimensions and high ceilings, the spaces are suited for film shoots, light manufacturing and the clean-tech industry, Goring said.

“There’s an opportunity to attract companies that really want to be here but can’t because they can’t find these types of locations,” he noted.

The redevelopment of mid-century industrial sites is becoming increasingly popular as once-overlooked structures are now being celebrated as part of history.

Downsview is part of that wave, joining other projects like Berlin’s Tegel Airport, where a community of 5,000 homes will repurpose existing terminal buildings for startups and university labs.

Northcrest isn’t waiting for construction to finish before putting Downsview on the map.

They have already organized Play on the Runway, a public event that turned the runway into a giant skating and dancing playground.

And more is on the way, with plans to open temporary sports fields and performance spaces as the development progresses.

Seeing the grand plans for Downsview, Dixon mused, makes me wonder what would be saved 30 to 40 years from now. Don’t knock all the big box stores!