Northcrest Developments

This past weekend was a special one for our team as we introduced a new identity for our site. YZD is more than just a name – it’s a tribute to the past and a beacon for the future. As we kick transformation into high gear, we are more inspired than ever to deliver something extraordinary for Toronto. We hope that YZD will find its place among recognized landmarks globally – a testament to innovation and community spirit.    It’s been an incredible journey to get to this point, and we’re looking forward to the many achievements to come.

Toronto, meet YZD. This weekend, we proudly introduced YZD—a bold new identity for the Downsview Airport lands, rooted in its rich history. For decades, this site served as a hub of Canadian aerospace innovation. Today, as we embrace the future, we honour that legacy by adopting YZD—the original call sign of the Downsview Airport. This milestone marks the culmination of years of collaborative planning, deep community engagement, and a shared vision for realizing the immense potential of this significant part of our city. But YZD is more than just a new name; it’s a tribute to where we’ve been and a promise for what lies ahead. These 370 acres of largely vacant land will stitch together a major part of our city. This former airport will be given new life, transforming into vibrant neighbourhoods, expansive parks, and open spaces, all connected by the iconic two-kilometre decommissioned runway. We wouldn’t be here without our incredible collaborators, partners, and community. Their insights and aspirations have been instrumental in shaping this vision. The reveal of YZD at our Play on the Runway event—despite being cut short by Mother Nature—perfectly captured the essence of what this place will become: a hub of creativity, connection, and potential. As we continue building this future together, we invite you to explore more about YZD. Discover YZD: yzd.ca

When Toronto’s creative minds come together to imagine the possibilities on an open runway, you know it’s going to be a good time. More than just an event, Play on the Runway is a celebration of community and creativity, brought to life through the dedication of our incredible partners. Since its inception, Play on the Runway has been about uniting people to enjoy unrestricted movement and free play on our two-kilometre decommissioned runway. Now in its third year, this event promises to be better than ever: 🚲 All Wheels Welcome: Bicycles, skateboards, scooters—whatever you ride, there’s space to roam. 🛴 New Toys to Try: Test the latest electric scooters, rent roller skates, or challenge friends in Giant Foosball and more. 🎤 Local Performances: Enjoy rollerdancers, Hula dancers, live music, and the Ultimutts stunt show—there’s truly something for everyone. 🪁 Kite Watching: Look up and watch gigantic kites from the Toronto Kite Fliers Club paint the sky with colour. 🌮 Food Trucks: Enjoy delicious local eats from a variety of food trucks while diving into the fun. Play on the Runway is the embodiment of our vision at Northcrest: transforming our lands into a hub of artistic expression and community connection. We hope you’ll join us for an unforgettable weekend at Downsview Airport lands (YZD) on August 17 and 18. Book your complimentary tickets here: https://lnkd.in/gxz7gM4m

We’re thrilled to have our vision for the Downsview Airport Lands (YZD) featured in The Wall Street Journal. At Northcrest, our focus for this transformation is threefold: honouring its history, building community, and relentlessly pursuing innovation. In doing so, we hope to redefine urban development by preserving the site’s rich aerospace legacy while creating vibrant new neighbourhoods in our growing city. Iconic elements like the hangars and Runway will be transformed into hallmark features of this new community. Read the full story here https://lnkd.in/eVtvpHGV

Fast Company reports on the City of Toronto’s recent approval of our DOWNSVIEW FRAMEWORK PLAN – the largest urban redevelopment project in North America that we are delivering together with our clients Northcrest Developments and Canada Lands Company / Société Immobilière du Canada: “The SLA vision for the site includes a commitment to a City Nature design and more green infrastructure. A quarter of the airport turned into parkland, and the planned stormwater system will rely on landscaping and more porous parkland to absorb stormwater, as opposed to the traditional system of massive pipes and drains. The proposal also calls for a 15-minute city approach, with bike lanes and pedestrian paths interspersed within the larger development.” Read more about DOWNSVIEW in FastComapny here: https://bit.ly/3yNhoSW DOWNSVIEW is designed together with our friends KPMB Architects, Henning Larsen, and Urban Strategies Inc.

North York Arts has teamed up with @northcrestdev to transform the Downsview Airport Lands (YZD) into a playground open to the public for Play on the Runway 2024! 🎉 Let your imagination soar for two days of unforgettable fun, complete with kites, bikes, dogs, skateboards, music, and so much more, rain or shine. ☀️🌧️ 📅 WHEN: August 17-18 from 12-5PM 📍 WHERE: Downsview Airport Lands (YZD) 🏙️ LOCATION: 8 Hanover Road, Toronto, ON M3K 1L3 The historic 2km runway will be transformed into a playground of exhilarating activities and endless possibilities, all set against breathtaking views of the Toronto skyline. ✈️ Bring your loved ones and immerse yourself in a world of excitement and adventure on the runway. 🚴♂️🎶 Click the link below to register! 🔗 https://lnkd.in/g84WgSFr

With a long-term vision, we aim to create lasting impact. At Northcrest, we’re thrilled to support local students through both the Northcrest ScholarTree and ONE City Scholarship Fund scholarships. Annie Phou, Daniel Park and Daryl Hickling, among others, embody the promise and potential of this city. We are honored to play a part in opening more doors for young minds to flourish, cultivate their talents, and become the leaders of tomorrow. Congratulations to this year's scholarship recipients. We're excited to see the incredible things you will undoubtedly achieve.

“One of the most fulfilling aspects of my professional journey is mentoring others. Guiding diverse, brilliant minds is not just the right move; it's a commitment to the future of our cities and the individuals who will mold them. As our team at Northcrest transforms a portion of Toronto’s north, we do so with a devout commitment to nurture the next generation of city-builders who will continue this journey long after us”. Read Northcrest’s SVP of Development, Kristy Shortall’s piece on the power and importance of mentorship, as we begin the decades long transformation of the 370-acre former Downsview Airport (YZD). https://lnkd.in/eYUBBhSN

The Northcrest team is excited to showcase the work of the ASTROSANKOFA ARTS Initiative , whose collaborative efforts have materialized into a stunning new mural on the Downsview Airport Lands. Collaborative art, with its unique blend of diverse perspectives and talents, often yields richer, more resonant creations. This piece itself is indicative of the fact that when artists come together, they not only merge their skills but also their stories. The AstroSankofa collective’s mural, "The People of Downsview Land," exemplifies this. Through deep community engagement and historical research, they have crafted a memory scape that invites viewers on a journey through time and space—a living testament to the history and legacy of the Downsview region. Read more about the piece in AstroSankofa’s words below: AstroSankofa – The People of Downsview Land The People of the Downsview Land mural is a testament to the AstroSankofa artist collective's commitment to community engagement and historic preservation. Informed by in-depth research and interviews with community members and elders, the mural is a memory scape that explores different times and spaces of the Downsview region. It invites people to view an astral projection from two Afronauts' (Black Chrononauts) time machine, allowing viewers to learn about the region's legacy. The mural features floating tablet gizmos that display important historical dates overlaying dynamic depictions of different parts of Downsview's history and some of the stories from the online collection. Also included are several animals and native plants found in different parts of the year. The mural also features two airplanes that used to be built and flown at Downsview. At the genesis of the mural is a QR code, which activates a 3D augmented reality experience that animates the mural and contains video clips of the artists breaking down its different elements. We look forward to the ongoing impact of this collaborative masterpiece and the continued enrichment it brings to our community.