To ease that vacancy situation, I'd like to see the following things happen over the next 10 years:
- conversion of appropriate buildings to residential units
- upgrade of all commercial buildings to LEED gold standards and fibre optics / upcoming tech (this is going to be mandatory for both tech-heavy companies and business optics)
- conversion of some existing commercial space to more affordable co-working spaces that can be multi-leased by smaller companies (basically "pay as you go" office space)
- more amenities in buildings to provide incentives to stay downtown past business hours (e.g. gyms, courts, studios, event space, etc.)
- anchor tenants on ground level that meet basic demands (need a grocery store, hardware store, etc.) in the core
- better and faster transportation options into the core (e.g. Green and SE lines completed)
- express train transit to the Airport (for business an downtown travelers)
- less hostile sidewalk experiences (e.g. much of 5th ave)
- more green spaces / green experiences
- encouragement of street level retail through podum re-design on appropriate buildings
- more vertical parking options (with automated parking systems)
- more reversible lanes for easier in/out
- put the LRT on 8th ave in the freakin' tunnel (way overdue)
Just a few ideas. Would probably take billions of dollars from all levels of government and private sector, including decades or red tape and politicians cannibalizing each other over it . . . But one can dream.
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