Jason Thorne
@jasonthorne.bsky.social
Canadian Urbanist and Chief Planner for the City of Toronto 🇨🇦
Reposted by Jason Thorne
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
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.
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
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.
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
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
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
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
“Give way” … one bus equals 80 cars and 80 people (on the back of all the city buses in Baku).
December 30, 2025 at 1:36 PM
“Give way” … one bus equals 80 cars and 80 people (on the back of all the city buses in Baku).
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
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.).
“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).
December 27, 2025 at 1:01 PM
“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).
Holiday reading.
December 24, 2025 at 12:14 PM
Holiday reading.
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
Before and after. Adding some gentle density and contemporary design on Ossington Avenue in Toronto by architect StudioAC.
Reposted by Jason Thorne
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!)
The LEGO Tower on Harbord Street by Toronto artist Martin Reis.
December 22, 2025 at 12:00 AM
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!)
The LEGO Tower on Harbord Street by Toronto artist Martin Reis.
December 21, 2025 at 11:42 PM
The LEGO Tower on Harbord Street by Toronto artist Martin Reis.
“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
“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...
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
Growing the network. Another 20 km of new bikeway projects, including completing some critical “missing links”, have been approved for implementation across the city.
Graffiti Alley, Toronto
December 19, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Graffiti Alley, Toronto
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
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...
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
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
The Children’s Art Factory in the restored 1875 Raymond Sewing Machine building on Yarmouth Street in downtown Guelph.
December 14, 2025 at 2:17 PM
The Children’s Art Factory in the restored 1875 Raymond Sewing Machine building on Yarmouth Street in downtown Guelph.
Reposted by Jason Thorne
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.
These are 24 titles we read this year that informed our approach to changing hearts, minds and streets. An #UrbanismBookClub thread.
December 14, 2025 at 9:26 AM
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.
These are 24 titles we read this year that informed our approach to changing hearts, minds and streets. An #UrbanismBookClub thread.
Reposted by Jason Thorne
"Local safe streets advocate has more photos of bike lanes, crosswalks and intersections than of his family from recent vacation."
www.creativebyrovelo.com/therovelorec...
www.creativebyrovelo.com/therovelorec...
December 13, 2025 at 3:22 PM
"Local safe streets advocate has more photos of bike lanes, crosswalks and intersections than of his family from recent vacation."
www.creativebyrovelo.com/therovelorec...
www.creativebyrovelo.com/therovelorec...
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.
December 12, 2025 at 1:13 AM
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.
Reposted by Jason Thorne
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
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
I’m looking forward to returning to speak at the Urban Future “Better Cities” event. If you haven’t been, it’s one of the best global urbanism conferences out there. The 2026 event will be taking place in March in Ljublana urban-future.org
December 11, 2025 at 12:37 AM
I’m looking forward to returning to speak at the Urban Future “Better Cities” event. If you haven’t been, it’s one of the best global urbanism conferences out there. The 2026 event will be taking place in March in Ljublana urban-future.org
Reposted by Jason Thorne
Cool job alert!
Help lead the continued revitalization and re-imagination of Toronto’s waterfront! The City Planning Division is looking for a new Director to lead the Waterfront Secretariat. Details at jobs.toronto.ca/search/
December 9, 2025 at 3:12 AM
Cool job alert!
Help lead the continued revitalization and re-imagination of Toronto’s waterfront! The City Planning Division is looking for a new Director to lead the Waterfront Secretariat. Details at jobs.toronto.ca/search/
December 8, 2025 at 11:11 PM
Help lead the continued revitalization and re-imagination of Toronto’s waterfront! The City Planning Division is looking for a new Director to lead the Waterfront Secretariat. Details at jobs.toronto.ca/search/
Reposted by Jason Thorne
It was also kind of crazy to be reminded of how much the needle has moved on housing policy the past few years in Toronto and Ontario, in part thanks to orgs like @moreneighboursto.bsky.social.
Of course the needle needs to be pushed much further and there’s much more work to do!
Of course the needle needs to be pushed much further and there’s much more work to do!
December 7, 2025 at 3:58 AM
It was also kind of crazy to be reminded of how much the needle has moved on housing policy the past few years in Toronto and Ontario, in part thanks to orgs like @moreneighboursto.bsky.social.
Of course the needle needs to be pushed much further and there’s much more work to do!
Of course the needle needs to be pushed much further and there’s much more work to do!
Reposted by Jason Thorne
The people want transit.
This is an hour early and it’s freezing cold.
Bigger than the crowd for the Elizabeth line (more places to wait for that though…)
This is an hour early and it’s freezing cold.
Bigger than the crowd for the Elizabeth line (more places to wait for that though…)
December 7, 2025 at 11:10 AM
The people want transit.
This is an hour early and it’s freezing cold.
Bigger than the crowd for the Elizabeth line (more places to wait for that though…)
This is an hour early and it’s freezing cold.
Bigger than the crowd for the Elizabeth line (more places to wait for that though…)