Brandon Donnelly — Daily insights for city builders. Published since 2013 by Toronto-based real estate developer Brandon Donnelly. — Page 697

Michael Bohmeyer is the founder of a Berlin-based startup called " Mein Grundeinkommen " or "My Basic Income." In the six years since he first asked for donations, his company has given more than 650 people a no strings attached stipend of 1,000 euros a month for one year.

The idea has been to test whether or not a basic income payment could, among other things, improve people's happiness and improve the way that governments manage their social welfare systems. According to this recent NY Times article , Germany spends almost a third of their GDP on social welfare.

Since founding "My Basic Income," Michael has gone on to publish a book and also partner with the German Institute for Economic Research in Berlin. And so far, his findings seem fairly positive. Instead of valuing the money itself, people seem to really value the sense of security that it brings.

Few people quit working, because a basic income is exactly that -- basic. Instead, people seem to be using it to do things like quit that job they hate in order to find a better one. The payment provides some downside protection and that can be empowering.

This is obviously not a new concept. It's been tested and even implemented in many places around the world, and it has become increasingly popular as an idea in recent years. So here are some additional data points. If you're interested in this topic, you may want to check out what Michael has been up to since 2014 .

Toronto will soon be home to One Delisle — the first residential building in Canada designed by visionary architect, Jeanne Gang of Studio Gang .

Jeanne Gang is known for challenging the stylistic and technical parameters of architecture. Named one of the most influential people in the world by TIME 100 in 2019, Gang is a MacArthur Fellow and a leading advocate for gender equality in the field of architecture and design.

Gang and her eponymous studio are responsible for some of the world’s most diverse and compelling buildings and spaces. One Delisle, as seen in the rendering above, will break from convention and refresh Toronto’s skyline. The rhythmic exterior maximizes natural light, views, and outdoor living for residents.

One Delisle was revealed this evening for the first time to a select group of Toronto's top real estate brokers. Follow #onedelisle on IG for some of the reactions. It was done online via a livestream, which was exceptional for what it was, but is obviously not as great as being in one room together. That time will return.

At this point, we are thrilled to announce that we are opening up "limited registration" for the project. If you'd like to register your interest, you can do that now at onedelisle.com . However, to register at this phase of the project, you'll need to pay a one-time fee of C$150.

Why are we doing that?

We're doing it to ensure that those who are genuinely interested in a One Delisle residence get first access to the project when it launches next year. Anyone who registers during this "limited registration" phase will be guaranteed a private appointment at our sales gallery before the general public.

So what else do you get?

In addition to first access -- including first access to the project's terrace suites -- limited registrants will receive a copy of Studio Gang: Architecture (retail price, US$100), an invitation to our One Delisle Film Series, an invitation to our launch event (including a talk with Jeanne Gang), as well as other exclusive news and updates.

The other thing I'd like to point out about the project's website is that the animation you see on the homepage (pictured above) will, in fact, change depending on the time of day wherever you are and when you visit the website.

This allows you to get a feel for how the architecture might respond to light and shadow throughout the day and how it might be illuminated at night. What you're seeing above is an artist's impression of that night view.

For more information and to register your interest, visit onedelisle.com .

This is an interesting story about a Toronto couple who got married about 20 years ago, initially lived in a small downtown condo, and then decided it was "time to adult" and move to the suburbs. They bought a 3,200 square foot home in Markham and lived there for a number of years. It had a lawn, a garage, and all sorts of other suburban comforts. But eventually they realized that they had made a mistake. They preferred the conveniences of city living over the amenities of the suburbs. Living in the city was simply better suited to their lifestyles. And so they sold their house, bought an epic 2,100 square foot penthouse in the Shangri-La Residences -- which just so happens to be one of my favorite buildings in the city -- and hired the design firm NIVEK REMAS to completely redo it. I think their new home turned out great and maybe you do too.