New York transplant, Hunter Tura, CEO and president of Bruce Mau Design, has some positive things to say about our metropolis and its future.  Read the whole story in Eye Weekly/March 10-16/2011.

“Coming from Manhattan – there are things you guys probably think are complete failures that work so much better than anywhere else in the world.  Like the TTC (Toronto Transit Commission).  It’s very efficient, and works so much better than almost any other transportation system in the world.”

“On traffic congestion, the Straddling Bus is a new bus system that runs on two raised rails, and it literally straddles two lanes of traffic.  So you can imagine the Gardiner – it’s like the GO train zipping right over top.”

“A building that most people here hate is a building that I really love, which is 222 Jarvis Street.  It’s an inverted pyramid, and so counterintuitive in terms of lighting, elevators, structure . . . but to me, that’s what makes it so beautiful.”

“The Brick Works, which is close to where I live, is a great community asset.  It reclaimed what had been an industrial wasteland and essentially turned it into a didactic park space. It’s a platform where community engagement can thrive.”

“Many other cities are trying desperately to get back to the light-rail model, because it’s relatively inexpensive and you can cover a lot of ground. . . But you’re about to tear that up?  You’ve got to be careful.”

“In 15 years, we’re going to be a world-class design centre.  Toronto now is what New York in the 1950’s was like – we’re just that much younger a place.”