
The open-minded or interactive culture that should be found in Quayside is emphasized further on in the video, as it is said that “technology, applied with the energy, passion of the citizens of Toronto will make this incredibly successful”. People should be able offer their ideas and concerns and what they love about Toronto, so that Quayside can “be authentic, can be Torontonian, can be real”. Another objective is to make Quayside a place to which everyone has access. On the technology side, Sidewalk Toronto should address issues like energy use, housing affordability, and transportation by using the latest digital technology. People-centered design, innovative construction methods, and sustainability solutions around waste and energy are aimed at protecting the planet.
Google is not the first tech company that aims to contribute to urban development. In 2011, Pop-Up City reported on IKEA’s idea of building a complete neighborhood in East London. Recently, in 2017, Airbnb teamed up with the Newgard Development Group to “Niido powered by Airbnb,” a 324-unit building in Kissimmee, Florida. This building, and potential other buildings built by Airbnb would be designed in a way that optimizes space for Airbnb rental. Also in 2017, Facebook announced their plan to construct a ‘Facebook Village‘ in Silicon Valley for Facebook workers and other locals who work elsewhere. With the Facebook Village, called Willow Campus, Facebook wants to contribute to the community by filling the gap between services that local residents need and those that are offered by the government, like transportation and affordable housing.
Not surprisingly, these kind of developments, and Sidewalk Labs alike have received criticism. Wouter van Noort writes in a prominent Dutch newspaper how tech-critic Evgeny Morozov thinks Quayside “could become a nightmare”. Morozov thinks Quayside will become a “Disney-like storefront for Google’s self-driving cars”. Against Sidewalk Toronto’s idea, Morozov fears that the project will not solve affordability issues in the city. He predicts that the project will attract the richt and the creative class that “can afford to live in this utopia”, while the project puts increasing pressure on the housing market. Emily Badger of the New York Times is skeptical too. Badger and Morozov see the development of Quayside as a political issue. Badger argues that these kind of projects contribute to existing problems. In her eyes, cities are “cities inherently organic and unpredictable. They resist omniscient engineering”. However, Badger observes that Sidewalk Labs has embraced many criticisms by attempting to bridge the gap between urbanists and technologists. The main challenge that Sidewalk Labs faces is whether “amid all the carbon-neutral, internet-enabled robot-monitor sensors will be to keep those humans in mind”, says Badger.
It is to be seen whether Quayside will become a true Torontonian neighborhood, or just a techie’s paradise. Details, like rental prices and renter’s requirements are yet to be announced, and it is to be seen who the first residents will be. Nevertheless, it could be that big tech companies will feel the need to continue to invest in cities as they find governments failing to address issues like affordability and sustainability.
In collaboration with Unlocked, we explore the future of hybrid space and how the cultural sector and events industry can reap the benefits of this new urban frontier in the post-COVID city.
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