The Creative City and the Redevelopment of the Toronto Entertainment District: A BIA-Led Regeneration Process

This paper analyses the conceptualization phase of the Toronto Entertainment District regeneration initiative, as a project led by the local Business Improvement Area Association. We study how the creative city concept is applied in the context of regeneration, and why stakeholders use it to legitimate regeneration strategies embodied in a Master Plan. We relate this analysis to the governance arrangements for this case study. Our main conclusion is that the creative city concept translates strongly in the place-making aspect of the project, and serves the objective of a specific set of stakeholders to enhance the identity of the area and foster the attraction of new residents and businesses.