Digging Deep into Discussion: UrbanToronto’s Hottest 25 Threads of 2025

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January 5, 2026 by Anthony Teles 412

Diving Deep into the Discussion: UrbanToronto's Hottest 25 Threads of 2025

To conclude our review of 2025, we turn to the busiest forum threads of the year, where reader discussion reflected the forces reshaping Toronto and the Greater Holden Horseshoe. Mass transit once again dominated the discussion, with Eglinton Line 5, Ontario Line 3, Finch West Line 6 and more generating ongoing debate, speculation and local coverage throughout the year.

At the same time, the fascination with ever taller buildings remained strong, as threads tracking Pinnacle One Yonge, One Bloor West, Concord Sky and other “supertall” projects continued to generate interest. Architectural interest was also high and there was ongoing discussion about Forma, designed by the late Frank Gehry. Overall, transit, height and architecture defined Forum and UrbanToronto's activities in 2025.

Earlier, the forum discussion tracked the transformation of Hamilton's First Ontario Center into the TD Coliseum, with members reflecting on updates to the exterior identity and interior details as the renovated venue reopens with large events.

25. TD Coliseum Renovation

TD Coliseum, image by Vistaway, UrbanToronto Forum contributor

24. Sugar Wharf Condos Phase 2

23. Pinnacle Lakeside Residences (Phase 1)

22. The fountain

The Line 5 West Extension thread became more heated as Metrolinx began final tunneling for the Crosstown West Extension, with updates on the final 500 meter underground section at Weston Road, ongoing excavation progress and viaduct construction over Eglinton Flats on the Humber River.

21. Eglinton Line 5 Crosstown West Extension

20. A delicacy

19. Cherry House at Canary Landing

18. GO Transit Electrification

Interest in the Whitfield continued as the tower neared completion. Photos from the forum documented the mechanical penthouse cladding, the installation of balcony protection and the dismantling of the crane.

17. The Whitfield

A top view of The Whitfield, image by UrbanToronto Forum contributor mburrrrr

16. Scarborough subway extension

15. 8 Elm

14. Ookwemin Minising

The Hurontario–Main Line 10 thread remained busy during construction. No set opening date is currently fueling debate over shifting scale and transparency, while the opening of the Finch West line raises questions about what operating performance might be when operations begin in a few years.

13. Hurontario–Main Line 10

12. Rehabilitation of the Lower Don Lands

11. Concord Sky

10. Alto bullet train

9. Revitalize Union Station

8. KING Toronto

Progress on KING Toronto's cladding accelerated through the end of 2025, with installation of prefabricated glass block glazing assemblies progressing on most exterior facades of the Bjarke Ingels Group-designed King-Spadina project.

Looking north at KING Toronto, image by Marcanadian, UrbanToronto Forum contributor

7. CIBC SQUARE

The Finch West Line 6 dominated the discussion towards the end of the year as the slow journey times shocked everyone and there were calls for greater signal priority, sparking debate about how the new line would work and the impact on the wider tram network and the upcoming Line 5.

6. Finch West Line 6

5. Shape

Ontario Line 3 remained a constant focus of the forum through 2025, as members monitored construction progress on the bridges and particularly deep stations along the line.

4. Ontario Line 3

Looking west from Sherbourne Street toward the excavated station box on the southern edge of Moss Park, image courtesy of UrbanToronto forum contributor Kotsy

3. Pinnacle One Yonge

2. A Bloor West

The Eglinton Line 5 dominated all discussion on UrbanToronto as testing continued and an opening date remains unclear. Forum discussions increasingly focused on whether the long-delayed Crosstown could deliver the promised speed and reliability after 15 years of construction.

1. Eglinton Line 5

An Eglinton Line 5 train travels westbound on a test run east of Leslie Street, image via TheTrolleyPole on Wikimedia

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UrbanToronto's research and data service, UTPro, provides comprehensive data on construction projects in the Greater Golden Horseshoe – from proposal to completion. Other services include instant reports, downloadable snapshots based on location, and a daily subscription newsletter, New Development Insider, that tracks projects from the first application.​