Jason Thorne
LightNews LightNews
banner
jasonthorne.bsky.social
Jason Thorne
@jasonthorne.bsky.social
17K followers 1.1K following 860 posts
Canadian Urbanist and Chief Planner for the City of Toronto 🇨🇦
Posts Replies Media Videos
jasonthorne.bsky.social
Applications are now open for funding from Toronto’s Outside Mural & Street Art Program tinyurl.com/yc3czdat
January 8, 2026 at 12:17 PM
Reposted by Jason Thorne
messyurbanisms.bsky.social
Great, detailed review of "Messy Cities", citing many of the authors, putting it in broader context - a and a great table of words used for neat and messy urbanism. urbanspringtime.blogspot.com/2026/01/mess...
Messy cities: how to strive for more spontaneity in the planned city?
What do we mean by vibrant and liveable cities? Which buildings, activities and groups are desirable or undesirable in this context? And can...
urbanspringtime.blogspot.com
January 7, 2026 at 2:20 AM
Reposted by Jason Thorne
brandondonnelly.com
How 300,000 commuters built a retail destination — Why retail at Toronto's Union Station was inevitable
brandondonnelly.com/how-300000-c...
How 300,000 commuters built a retail destination
Good morning, and welcome back to work and school. I remember a moment very early on in my development career when I was sitting in a boardroom with dozens of "gray hairs" and the topic of Toronto's U...
brandondonnelly.com
January 5, 2026 at 2:25 PM
Reposted by Jason Thorne
dorianmoore.bsky.social
The other buildings of downtown: normative fabric. The everyday structures that don’t stand out, but frame the landmarks we notice. Often overlooked, they’re the backbone of downtowns. When cities value them, real local character emerges. #detroit #urbanobservations
January 5, 2026 at 11:46 AM
jasonthorne.bsky.social
My friend Jode Roberts in today’s Toronto Star - “You do not need 50 conversations to feel the difference. You might only need one. And you never know what a single Tuesday morning coffee chat can set in motion” www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
A simple routine that transformed my year: 50 coffee dates with strangers
These meetings were reminders of how rich and strange the world can be when you show up with no agenda.
www.thestar.com
January 4, 2026 at 4:57 PM
Reposted by Jason Thorne
shawnmicallef.bsky.social
Anyway, perhaps you want something else to read after 24 hours of the global goon show.
January 4, 2026 at 2:18 PM
jasonthorne.bsky.social
One of the most important housing strategies is to protect the affordability you already have. Toronto’s MURA Program helps non-profits buy at-risk private market rental housing to maintain it as affordable housing. Buildings like this one acquired by St. Jude to preserve affordability for 20 homes.
January 3, 2026 at 12:56 PM
jasonthorne.bsky.social
My top urbanism discoveries of 2025! (1/6)

Toronto architect Siamak Hariri’s Bahá'í Temple in Santiago.

The Wave in Vejle, Denmark by Henning Larsen.

The new mass timber Central Metro Station in Naples, designed by EMBT studio

Fjordenhus by Olafur Eliasson and Sebastian Behmann in Vejle, Denmark
January 1, 2026 at 3:24 PM
jasonthorne.bsky.social
“Give way” … one bus equals 80 cars and 80 people (on the back of all the city buses in Baku).
A red and black bus is parked, displaying the number 67256 on its rear. The bus advertises the route number (141) and includes graphics showing that one bus can replace 80 cars or transport 80 people.
December 30, 2025 at 1:36 PM
jasonthorne.bsky.social
More midrise. Earlier this year, Council approved designating 283 km of new “Avenues” across the City for midrise development. Two weeks ago, the first phase of as-of-right zoning to implement those policies was approved (including here on Ossington Ave.).
December 29, 2025 at 1:17 PM
jasonthorne.bsky.social
“By reading this plaque, you have made a valuable addition to the number of people who have read this plaque” … an important heritage moment on the streets of Toronto (by artist Sarah Lazarovic).
A commemorative plaque titled "The Toronto Recursive History Project of Toronto's Recursive History," situated in a garden area. The plaque has text explaining its significance, stating it was commemorated on October 10, 2018, and states that by reading this plaque, you have made a valuable addition to the number of people who have read this plaque. To this day and up to the end of this sentence, this plaque continues to be read by people like yourself.
December 27, 2025 at 1:01 PM
jasonthorne.bsky.social
Holiday reading.
A cozy living room scene featuring a book titled "Impossible Toronto: On the Courtyard Learning from European Blocks" on a table, next to a patterned mug. A fireplace with a gentle flame is in the background, accompanied by decorative stars overhead.
December 24, 2025 at 12:14 PM
jasonthorne.bsky.social
Before and after. Adding some gentle density and contemporary design on Ossington Avenue in Toronto by architect StudioAC.
December 23, 2025 at 12:54 AM
Reposted by Jason Thorne
brenttoderian.bsky.social
Is YOUR city the kind that encourages this kind of energy, whether it’s art, or just surprising, unexpected fun? I think every city should — it’s what I call a #CityOfSmiles (click on the hashtag to see other examples from around the world, and share your own!)
jasonthorne.bsky.social Jason Thorne @jasonthorne.bsky.social · 17d
The LEGO Tower on Harbord Street by Toronto artist Martin Reis.
A colorful tower made of LEGO bricks wrapped around a sign post stands on the sidewalk in front of a coffee shop. The structure features various shapes and designs, and the shop has large glass windows revealing a cozy interior. A colorful tower made of LEGO bricks wrapped around a sign post stands on the sidewalk in front of a coffee shop. The structure features various shapes and designs, and the shop has large glass windows revealing a cozy interior.
December 22, 2025 at 12:00 AM
jasonthorne.bsky.social
The LEGO Tower on Harbord Street by Toronto artist Martin Reis.
A colorful tower made of LEGO bricks wrapped around a sign post stands on the sidewalk in front of a coffee shop. The structure features various shapes and designs, and the shop has large glass windows revealing a cozy interior. A colorful tower made of LEGO bricks wrapped around a sign post stands on the sidewalk in front of a coffee shop. The structure features various shapes and designs, and the shop has large glass windows revealing a cozy interior.
December 21, 2025 at 11:42 PM
jasonthorne.bsky.social
“While over half of the households in the US want to live in walkable places … less than 8 percent of the built environment is walkable” www.cnn.com/2025/12/19/t...
Americans are hungry for community. So why don’t we have more European-style squares? | CNN
As travel abroad has become common for more Americans, many have enjoyed Europe’s vibrant squares. Why doesn’t the United States have more of that kind of gathering spot and is change afoot?
www.cnn.com
December 21, 2025 at 2:39 PM
jasonthorne.bsky.social
Growing the network. Another 20 km of new bikeway projects, including completing some critical “missing links”, have been approved for implementation across the city.
December 20, 2025 at 1:51 PM
jasonthorne.bsky.social
Graffiti Alley, Toronto
A vibrant mural covers the exterior of a building, featuring bold colors and whimsical designs, including abstract shapes, sea creatures, and plants. The entrance reads "530 REAR," and there are utility lines crossing the scene against a clear blue sky. A vibrant mural covering a brick wall, depicting a colorful underwater scene filled with various fish, coral, and marine life. The artwork features bright colors and playful designs, with windows framed in pink. Adjacent buildings in the background provide a contrasting urban setting
December 19, 2025 at 12:36 PM
jasonthorne.bsky.social
The City of Toronto’s Planning and Development Review Divisions have a new one-window web portal for information about community consultation meetings related to planning initiatives and development applications. Check it out at haveyoursay.toronto.ca/city-plannin...
City Planning & Development Review Community Consultation Meetings
Information on upcoming and recently completed community consultation meetings.
haveyoursay.toronto.ca
December 17, 2025 at 12:20 PM
jasonthorne.bsky.social
With new developments, we’re always looking for opportunities to create new cultural spaces. Crow’s Theatre & Blackhurst Cultural Centre are great examples. Up next, a 32,000 sqft. creative/cultural hub in Queen West. We’re now looking for non-profit partners to animate the space tinyurl.com/57sujnu
December 15, 2025 at 12:12 PM
jasonthorne.bsky.social
The Children’s Art Factory in the restored 1875 Raymond Sewing Machine building on Yarmouth Street in downtown Guelph.
A colorful outdoor play area featuring a whimsical fence made of painted wooden posts, situated in front of a historic brick building. The building has large windows and the words "Children's Art" displayed in bright, playful letters.
December 14, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Reposted by Jason Thorne
modacitylife.com
If our cities are shaped by stories, then great books form the foundation of knowledge and inspiration needed to build more liveable, inclusive and prosperous places.

These are 24 titles we read this year that informed our approach to changing hearts, minds and streets. An #UrbanismBookClub thread.
A collage of 24 books about urban and transport planning.
December 14, 2025 at 9:26 AM
Reposted by Jason Thorne
tomflood.bsky.social
"Local safe streets advocate has more photos of bike lanes, crosswalks and intersections than of his family from recent vacation."

www.creativebyrovelo.com/therovelorec...
Local safe streets advocate has more photos of bike lanes, crosswalks and intersections than of his family from recent vacation. WINDSOR, ON - The father of two who went with the family to Montreal for their summer vacation ended up spending nearly ¾ of the time pointing out bike infrastructure, intersections and pedestrianized streets. It's been reported that nearly 753 photos and videos were taken with only 3 of them including his family. When reached for comment the oldest child said "we know it's gonna be bad when dad finds a bike share
December 13, 2025 at 3:22 PM
jasonthorne.bsky.social
60 new rental homes under construction in south Etobicoke by developers Oben Flats and Windmill Developments. The 9-storey project is prefabricated using mass timber for both the structure and envelope.
An under-construction building with a modern design features a red crane on the left and a yellow construction lift. The building has multiple floors, with the top floor partially completed. Construction materials and safety barriers are visible at the base. A construction site featuring a partially built multi-story building. The structure has a mix of materials, including dark panels and wooden elements. There is scaffolding and construction equipment visible, along with a crane in the background. Safety signs are posted around the base
December 12, 2025 at 1:13 AM
Reposted by Jason Thorne
brenttoderian.bsky.social
Are you interesting in cities and how to make them better for everyone? Bluesky has, in my observation, the biggest and best community of urbanists and city-builders on social media, and STARTER PACKS were a KEY to creating that! I have a bunch of them. This was my first! go.bsky.app/G7isZfk
December 11, 2025 at 6:43 PM