Living in Toronto is…

Living in Toronto is undemocratic. I'm fortunate to have a good income and I can afford to buy a home. However, a large portion of the city core is unattainable to me. Central neighbourhoods like the Annex, Queen West or Leslieville have no inventory. I'm forced to buy a tiny condo in a soulless tower. These towers are not creating homes, they are commodities. They're not conducive for raising a family, building community or growing old. Green space is pitiful, urban spaces are drab, and design is uninspiring.

Driving down Bathurst, Dufferin, Jarvis or Sherbourne is maddening. There's no excuse for single storey buildings, dilapidated victorians, above ground parking lots or mini malls. Mid-rise buildings should be allowed on all major streets. Single family home neighbourhoods will always have an issue with densification. But Toronto needs to decide whether the core is for a few or for many. Multi-family units should be fast tracked in these areas.

Create a human scale city. It's not that difficult, there's a proven formula: mid-rise buildings, high design standards, inspiring public spaces, plenty of green space and extensive/frequent public transit. Unfortunately, I don't have much hope for Toronto. So I'll most likely leave. And I'm not alone.