Brandon Donnelly — Daily insights for city builders. Published since 2013 by Toronto-based real estate developer Brandon Donnelly. — Page 609

I saw a headline yesterday that the CDC was now reporting that vaccinated people can spread COVID just as easily as unvaccinated people. I then thought to myself, "this is not a good headline if you're trying to encourage people to get vaccinated."

What I guess this is saying is that vaccinated people who end up contracting COVID ("breakthrough" cases) have similar viral loads to people who are unvaccinated. So it makes sense that they would then be able to transmit the virus to others.

But the more important point remains that vaccinated people are less likely to spread the virus to others because they are less likely to actually get it in the first place.

Yes, the vaccines are not 100% effective. But supposedly the latest hospital data suggests that vaccines remain 87% effective at preventing hospitalization. This, of course, means that some vaccinated people will still get sick and that, yes, they might transmit it to others.

But for the vast majority of people that shouldn't be the case.

Update: My point is that clear and consistent messaging is important.

Plans to redevelop Ontario Place (here in Toronto) have been in the works for many years, even before it closed in 2012. Supposedly it was losing over $20 million a year at that time. It had obviously lost its relevance.

Back in 2010 (or thereabouts) I was actually part of a team that responded to an RFP to redevelop the waterfront lands. In fact, I was the human who physically submitted the proposal. I was still patiently waiting to hear back about whether or not we were selected, but based on today's news I'm going to assume we didn't get it.

This morning, the Ontario government announced the following vision (architecture by Diamond Schmitt):

https://www.instagram.com/p/CR9RV5nrhWR/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

The team also includes Austrian resort developer Therme, Quebec-based recreation firm Écorécréo, and US-based concert company Live Nation. The proposal itself includes a new outdoor "adventure park", an indoor spa and waterpark, and a year-round concert venue. Premier Ford has also made it clear that there will be no casino, no residential, and that none of the land will be sold to the private sector.

That's essentially all I know about the proposal.

Water features, palm trees, and a new beach all sound great to me. I just hope that (1) something actually happens and that (2) it is truly remarkable.

Earlier this month Snapchat announced the acquisition of Vertebrae , which is a 50-person company that allows brands to create and manage 3D versions of their products. Why does this potentially matter? Because Snapchat is already doing stuff like this:

https://videopress.com/v/t2NHb1AP?preloadContent=metadata

(If you can't see the embedded video, click here .)

This was a recent partnership with Gucci that Snapchat is calling the first ever "virtual shoe try-on activation." The way it worked for the nearly 19 million people that it reached was pretty simple. Point the Snapchat camera at your feet. Try on a bunch of new Gucci shoes. Buy by tapping "shop now."

As we all consider what it will mean to go shopping in the future -- and what kind of real estate will be most valuable -- this kind of innovation strikes me as being a very big deal.