2017 has been the year of companies and individual designers harnessing the power of imagination to solve some of the most practical and complex city problems.
Earlier this year, Sidewalk Labs, the urban-innovation offshoot of Google’s parent company, Alphabet, began dropping hints about an ambitious new project. It was no secret that the company had been thinking about building an urban district underpinned by advanced technologies like ubiquitous fiber-optic internet, atmospheric sensors, and machine learning. What was less clear was when and where it would happen.
Rumors swirled that it would take place in Denver. There was also talk of development in Detroit. Then last month, Sidewalk Labs announced a deal with city agency Waterfront Toronto to turn 800 acres of eastern waterfront into an “Internet City” dubbed Sidewalk Toronto. The digital makeover will reportedly cost more than a billion dollars, with Toronto committing $50 million.
This story is from the November/December 2017 edition of Metropolis Magazine.
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This story is from the November/December 2017 edition of Metropolis Magazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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