I’m all about selling and leasing industrial spaces. Tough these days as the surge in e-commerce over storefront shopping drives up the shortage of industrial space, needed for storing goods.
Vacancy rates for current warehouses in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal are the lowest in North America.
When I drive around the GTA these days, I see many buildings unoccupied and awaiting demolition and/or restoration. It takes me back to 2017 when officials rallied to preserve history and opted to restore and revitalize industrial sites in Toronto like Evergreen Brickworks, Brunswick House, Spirit of York Distillery and 60 Atlantic Ave. in Liberty Village.
Could a collective gathering of architects, engineers, city officials, developers and investors make many old properties new again and boost building supply? Approvals take time, but ideas are instant and need to be set in motion fast.