He must be talking about a different Toronto

Peter Samuel describes a wonderful place that sounds so unlike the city most of us know:

The city of Toronto has made major efforts the past couple of decades to revive the waterfront on Lake Ontario and to link it better to the central business district. The revival is generally a success. Scores of handsome condo/apartment towers have gone up. Heavily used ferries now provide service to islands just offshore to newly created hiking trails, a nature preserve, and attractive promenades where wharves once rotted. A nicely streetscaped Lake Shore Boulevard runs the length the waterfront, and of course there's a new trolley line.

Toronto's laissez-faire, Houston-style approach to zoning — no historic district or plan reviews, no affordable housing requirements, no car parking requirements, very liberal floor/site ratios etc. — is probably forging the rapid developments that capitalize on lake views and downtown proximity. Freedom from stifling U.S.-style zonings has produced a vibrant mix of activities and services . . . The area is thriving.