Downtown Renewal & Vacant Storefronts
Can downtown feel like the city’s centre again?
About This Issue
Downtown Renewal & Vacant Storefronts is emerging as a meaningful Toronto election issue because residents feel its effects directly in daily life. This page explains why downtown renewal & vacant storefronts matters, how it connects to broader city debates, and what voters should ask candidates who want to shape Toronto’s next term.
What City Council Controls
City council influences important parts of this issue through budgets, bylaws, planning decisions, operations, service levels and public advocacy. In many cases, the province or federal government also matters, which is why candidates should be clear about both municipal powers and municipal limits.
Questions to Ask Candidates
- What is your practical plan on downtown renewal & vacant storefronts over the next council term?
- What tradeoffs would your approach involve for residents, businesses or neighbourhoods?
- Which parts of this issue can Toronto control directly, and which require action from other governments?
- How would the public know whether your plan is working?
- What would you prioritize first if elected?
Why This Matters in Toronto
Downtown Toronto's recovery has been uneven since the pandemic, with debate over vacant storefronts, office occupancy, public-space use and whether the core still feels like the city's centre. Residents, workers and business owners experience this through what they see walking along downtown streets, and the perception of decline or renewal can shape confidence in the whole city. The city can influence downtown renewal through planning, public-space investment, support for business improvement areas, transit access and how it manages safety and cleanliness. It cannot single-handedly reverse broader shifts in work patterns and retail, but its choices affect how quickly and how evenly the core recovers. Candidates may differ on whether the priority should be attracting residents and jobs downtown, improving public spaces and safety, supporting small businesses, or rethinking how the core is used. Voters may want to ask candidates what a healthy downtown would look like, and how they would know whether their approach is working.
Key Voices in the Debate
- Josh Matlow
- Paula Fletcher
- BIAs
- Small business owners
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does downtown renewal & vacant storefronts matter in the Toronto election?
Downtown recovery remains uneven, with debate over storefront vacancies, office patterns, public spaces and economic confidence.
What can City Council do about downtown renewal & vacant storefronts?
City council influences important parts of this issue through budgets, bylaws, planning decisions, operations, service levels and public advocacy. In many cases, the province or federal government also matters, which is why candidates should be clear about both municipal powers and municipal limits.
What should voters ask candidates about downtown renewal & vacant storefronts?
Voters should ask what candidates would prioritize first, what trade-offs their plan involves, and which parts of the issue Toronto can control directly.
Send Us a Tip or Candidate Position
Have a campaign statement, candidate position, or local development related to this issue? Please use the subject line Issues2026-DowntownRenewalVacantStorefronts.
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