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2012 predictions, anyone?

T

TonyV

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2011 was a banner year for surprise announcements (in the skyscraper sense). Several 75 storey condos, rumours of 80 and 100 storey condos to come, even some office buildings. There has been nothing announced in the way of new parks or squares (alas) but we don't expect those frills in the Ford years, now, do we?

Does anyone care to go out on a limb and predict what kind of developments will be unveiled in 2012? Or, given the real estate and economic situations, which projects will be put on hold or scrapped?

Any predictions of a non-skyscraper type? Theatres, public space projects, infrastructure? Go crazy.

Happy New Year, all!
 
I'll bite.......

* all prognostications are guesses and make claim to nothing more.......

Transportation:

-30 min, off peak-service on GO Lakeshore, on weekdays by year's end
-off-peak service on at least on other GO line, on weekdays, by year's end

- Despite fare hike, TTC ridership will grow this year, by as much as 3%, pushing it over the 500milion mark.
- TTC will proceed w/easier access projects (elevators) after a 1 year hiatus in 2011, w/3 or more stations going to tender, likely King, Ossington, Wilson among the most likely.
- TTC will finally get its act together on cleanliness and look spic and span by year's end.

Private Sector Construction:

-Downtown Toronto will see at least 1 new major (over 30s) office tower start construction in 2012, not including Bremner Tower which will also go ahead.

- The condo boom will slow by year's end, but still be among the best years on record, at least 3 major projects will come to market (over 50s) in the greater downtown area (Waterfront to Yorkville). Many more will be proposed/approved.

Retail:

- Loblaws will proceed @ Bathurst/Lakeshore and also remodel 1 or more Toronto stores to its 'new style'

- Whole Foods will announce more than 1/2 a dozen new Ontario stores, at least 2 of which will be in Toronto

- LCBO will unveil no less than 2 new Toronto stores and 2 major expansions/replacements in 2012.

- A major department store retailer from the U.S. will come north of the border (not yet announced), Toronto stores are likely.

- Sporting Life will announce at least one new location, maybe more, thanks to its newly deep pockets.....

- 'The Bay' will continue its improvements and pick up market-share in 2012.

Government

- Minimum wage will rise in 2012
- Corporate tax cut (provincial) will be put on hold
- Some welfare reforms (allowing greater savings and greater 'work income' without penalty will be moved on
- Rouge Park - National Park will be formally announced.
- Grange Park will get a gorgeous facelift
- June Callwood Park will open
- Bixi will expand again (this time with additional, rather than re-located stations)

How's that? :)
 
TTC ridership will go down, Rob will use that to full further cuts next year.

GO Transit ridership will rise, Milton EA and Davenport Grade Separation will get into full swing. Support will grow for Niagara extension. Barrie Allendale station will open. Kitchener Intermodal will get funded and put into high gear. All day service introduced on Barrie and Stouffville lines crew availability permitting.

Financial crisis will continue and may start to impact Canada to a greater degree but compared to other parts of Canada and other G8 nations we will continue to be better off.

The reasons for building condos and office space in the core will continue to be there and the construction will continue.
 
This prediction of mine isn't exactly "out there" but here it is, the Rob and Doug Ford show will sink to a new low and the mayor may find himself very close to being booted from office. Rob will hang on to office, although deserted by all of his supporters (well, except Douggie, of course).
 
EnviroTO said:
TTC ridership will go down, Rob will use that to full further cuts next year.

GO Transit ridership will rise, Milton EA and Davenport Grade Separation will get into full swing. Support will grow for Niagara extension. Barrie Allendale station will open. Kitchener Intermodal will get funded and put into high gear. All day service introduced on Barrie and Stouffville lines crew availability permitting.

Financial crisis will continue and may start to impact Canada to a greater degree but compared to other parts of Canada and other G8 nations we will continue to be better off.

The reasons for building condos and office space in the core will continue to be there and the construction will continue.
Click to expand...

Niagara is already happening, in fact its being rushed because of pan am.
 
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I wondered whether to put out the optimistic version, or a depressive version. Here's a middle of the road version: :)

After a series of balks, fights and and a re-fractured council, most of Transit City is reinstated, in sections, though not without the price having been driven up by the Ford gang's meddling. The entire project is delayed for a few more years, with adjustments driving up the costs, leaving an unpleasant aftertaste to the whole affair.

The Ford(s) buckle down in other areas - a mixed blessing, to say the least. Major trouble comes splintering out from Ford's dealing with unions, residents, city assets, the budget, taxpayers, city process, services and infrastructure, and just about everything else he has bumblingly fudged with. One or two minor news items appear that he may be partly on track on some issues, but a combination of structural, political, economic and personal messes between the Fords, City Hall and the city itself plunge Toronto into a convulsed, nasty and recriminatory mood.

Aside from condos still being built, grand innovation in the city begins to stand still as the social fabric becomes more threadbare, and stability of direction at city hall more uncertain, erratic and deadlocked. Although still mostly confined to pages of statistics, economic and social markers indicate the city's economic and social well being are lagging compared to years previous. The local and international benefits of our good reputation from the past begins to thin and fade, taking investment, interest, popularity and desirability with it.

The Ford(s) make some corrupt and harsh moves which don't help their cause, and pressure begins to be exerted on him/them to resign, from within and without. Rumours of coups and council locking out the mayor begin to seem substantive.

Lots of glass-box condos are built, mostly on speculative habit, and are still hailed as fine architecture, progress and society all at once. The city hears it's about to get a building or two over one thousand feet high, leading to much rejoicing and sleepless, fevered typing on Urban Toronto.

Super-cute furry new sweetie-pie animals appear at Riverdale Park Zoo.

The gay community finds itself wondering how the hell on earth it's going to host World Pride in 2014 except hand out free lube and condoms, and pass a bowl of crisps.
 
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I'll take a shot...

Federal:
1.) The Queen will stop being head of state, making Canada a "Parliamentary Republic".
2.) Electoral reform, re turfing "past posting", will take place.
3.) The Harper Government will make the CRTC an official office of His government,
4.) And all mobile/wireless/"new tech" will be open to foreign competition.
5.) Strict regulations for "vertical market" companies; QOS/baseline service.
6.) First Nation Peoples will win the right to self government as "member states"
7.) Free Trade agreements with EU/India/China/Japan/Taiwan/Russia.
8.) Establishment of Canada as new economic/social world meme.
9.) Enhanced corporate taxes based on a "reward" system.

Provincial:
1.) Provincial powers will be strengthened/weakened as they become "member states".
2.) Provincial elections will become nonpartisan, divesting political parties.
3.) Forming of Megalopolis' similar to the Halifax Regional Municipality (also Federal).
4.) Increased electoral representation for non-Megalopolis'.
5.) All transit in province will be regulated by a central authority, re Metrolinx.
6.) All transit will be a funded by a corporate/governmental funds.
7.) High speed electric "rail" along dense corridors connecting megalopolis'.
8.) All utility companies will cap prices according to average income index.
9.) All utility corridors (federal/provincial. etc.) will be open to common use.

"City":
1.) Harmonization of bylaws.
2.) Licensing program for cyclist to promote education of road laws, and safety.
3.) Increased cycle/multiuse lanes and corridors that are actually connected.
4.) Establishment of "Waterfront" as heritage/conservation sites.
5.) Recall of Ford due to "unbecoming" election practices.
6.) New "Transit City" similar to original plan before province dropped funding.
7.) 33% property assessment/tax cut to middle income and below households.
8.) Protection of funding towards all "essential services".
9.) Reinstatement of a Toronto festival supporting local talent and businesses.
10.) Find a Gardiner replacement, i.e. underground.

-----

That was fun.
 
JWBF said:
Federal:
1.) The Queen will stop being head of state, making Canada a "Parliamentary Republic".
Click to expand...
Given that the federal government has been going completely the other direction, then this would appear to be a wish list, rather than a prediction.
 
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