ABOUT CITYPLACE

The area was originally conceived as a way to boost and expand Canadian National’s former Spadina Street Yard as part of the Railway Lands.

It all began in 1965 when the railway company Canadian National was moving most of its yard functions to Vaughan in northern Toronto. This shifting was a consequence of improvement plans in the downtown area, which included the CN tower that was finished in 1976.

Development in CityPlace in Old Toronto area

The development plans followed a new path during the next decade, which attracted new investors, residents, and visitors to the area. It resulted in the development of commercial areas and led to a revitalization of the neighborhood.

Meanwhile, Via Rail, the last company occupying the Spadina Street Yards, shifted its operations to south-western Toronto, which left a huge area available for construction. This period of development included the SkyDome along with parks and roads that deeply changed the landscape of the area.

CityPlace, as we know it today, started to take shape in 1997 when the final stage of the neighborhood development began. Numerous residential, commercial, and retail buildings were built. This increased the options available for housing, shopping, work, transportation, and entertainment.

Even though it is highly developed and modern, CityPlace will still undergo further development. An ambitious improvement project called Block 31 promises to maximize spatial efficiency while minimizing the region’s footprint with the creation of more residential buildings along with green areas.