How Toronto plans for failure
By Christopher Hume
Urban Issues, Architecture
Published On Sat May 08 2010
Of all a city's functions, none matters more than planning. It touches every aspect of civic life - economic, social and cultural.
But as Toronto's civil service is currently organized, planning gets little respect. In fact, the department reports to a deputy city manager, who reports to the city manager, who reports to city council.
For the last three years, the deputy city manager responsible for planning has been a man named Richard Butts. His background is in garbage collection and as he readily admits, "I am not a planner."
Judging from his record, that much is obvious. The most recent example is now unfolding on the waterfront; it concerns a sports complex proposed for the Lower Don Lands. Though it would undo many years of planning, Butts has made it clear he's prepared to ride roughshod over Waterfront Toronto's award-winning scheme.
