April, 2020
The 2019 closure of a General Motors Assembly in Oshawa, Ontario has left a large site available for redevelopment in the GTHA. While most discussions on this topic have focused on the job loss and economic impact on Oshawa, there have been no formal discussions about the development potential of this land. This paper seeks to challenge local stakeholders to reimagine the future of the GM Lands, as well as Oshawa as a whole, by providing case studies of post-industrial developments. This paper combines these case studies with a deep examination of the current economic, political, and planning situation in Oshawa and a dive into the history of brownfields for both the City of Oshawa and for General Motors.