After months of anticipation, Sidewalk Labs laid out its massive plan for developing part of Toronto's eastern waterfront, which it says will create over 40,000 jobs and lead to $4.3 billion in annual tax revenues.
The 1,500-page master plan includes technological and environmental goals, how the data in the community will be collected, profit-sharing for stakeholders, as well as confirming the future site of Google's Canada headquarters.
While the company has previously discussed plans for the new community of Quayside, the company revealed more details about the western part of Villiers Island, where the headquarters will be.
While the company said it would only develop seven per cent of the eastern waterfront, and lay a groundwork for future development in the so-called, "IDEA District," it was one of the first concerns by Waterfront Toronto, the organization which oversees waterfront development established by all levels of government.
"Waterfront Toronto has told Sidewalk Labs that the concept of the IDEA District is premature and that Waterfront Toronto must first see its goals and objectives achieved at Quayside before deciding whether to work together in other areas," the organization said in a statement.
The idea is the direct development for Quayside and Villers Island would serve as a framework for development in the rest of the area, to meet building, transportation, infrastructure and overall sustainability goals.
Sidewalk Labs CEO Dan Doctoroff told reporters while there's still 1,500 pages, this is still just a draft.
"We're obviously willing to tweak the plans, we don't believe we have a monopoly on good ideas," he said.
An ongoing concern has been around the issue of privacy, since it being a smart city will include cameras and sensors collecting information on people to eventually develop newer technologies.
Sidewalk proposes establishing an independent, government sanctioned trust; a work group of data experts, government, citizen and non-profit representation.
The group would oversee the collection of the data and any third party wishing access to it would require approval, along with any approvals being made public.
"We shouldn't control that data, instead what we've said is that we think a democratically overseen, government-sanctioned, independent Urban Data Trust ought to be created that establishes the rules," Doctoroff said.
But Waterfront Toronto is looking for more detail.
"We will require additional information to establish whether they are in compliance with applicable laws and respect Waterfront Toronto's digital governance principles," the organization said.
Should Waterfront approve the plan, city council would come to a vote next year and following soil cleanup, building for Quayside could begin around 2023.
Sidewalk is also proposing 40 per cent of all housing units would be offered at below-market rates, in part by the decision to establish the first community built entirely from timber.
Along with local partners, the company would invest up to $80 million in an Ontario timber factory.
Alongside the new Google headquarters, Sidewalk would serve as a new North American economic hub for tech startups.
Combined with the timber-building base and an advanced power grid, Sidewalk's environmental goal is a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of 89 per cent for the entire IDEA District.
Mayor John Tory called the day's developments another step forward.
"I look forward to Waterfront Toronto consulting the public about this draft plan and thank officials at Waterfront Toronto for their ongoing work on this plan that ultimately will be subject to the approval of all parties involved," he said.