Alphabet, the parent company of Google, is one of the most powerful tech companies on the planet. Home to central California’s Silicon Valley, Alphabet is the owner of several other subsidiaries, one of the most currently popular of which is Sidewalk Labs.
Formally known as an urban innovation organization, Sidewalk Labs shares the primary goals of using the power of technology to beef up infrastructure in urban areas, reducing cost of living, making transportation more efficient, and cutting down on the usage of utilities.
Led by throne-time deputy mayor for economic development of New York City Daniel L. Doctoroff, Sidewalk Labs has been in business for a young four years.
Some 18 months ago, Sidewalk Labs announced that it planned to bring its services to the city of Toronto, the largest city in all of Canada. Just today, on Monday, June 24, 2019, Sidewalk Labs finally came forth with its formal plan to turn part of Toronto, particularly an area of land located on the city’s waterfront, into a better place through the utilization of the latest, greatest technologies. The formal plan is 1,524 pages long and is freely available for public viewing online.
Sidewalk Labs will build a tech-boosted community across a span of 12 acres in Quayside, located on Toronto’s east side.
All included, the plan proposes that free wireless Internet will be available publicly throughout the 12-acre area, of which the network of routers will collect data that will ultimately shape decisions made by city officials to shape traffic infrastructure decisions, among other things. Greenhouse gases could also be reduced by an astonishing margin of 89 percent, too.
Streets in the area are slated be redesigned in a manner that will encourage people walk or ride bikes to their destinations instead using motor vehicles. Further, 10 buildings will be constructed in the area that Sidewalk Labs is planning developing. Although some of the buildings will be used to serve business interests, the majority of them will be used to house residents.
Although Sidewalk Labs plans on doing these things, among working toward the completion of many other objectives, it isn’t likely that Toronto city government officials will approve all of the measures. As such, Sidewalk Labs faces several years’ worth of negotiating with city officials to carry out its plan in full.
In total, Sidewalk Labs plans on shelling out some $1.3 billion.
Dil Bole Oberoi
