Yonge-Dundas Square is on life support

Plus, what the “Mr. X” saga tells us about who profits from land development, and the Scarborough RT’s final ride [The Star] First Up [By Andrew Joe Potter] By Andrew Joe Potter Good morning. With autumn in full swing, it’s time to break out the pumpkin spice candles and flannel. Here’s the latest. MUST READS John Mutton/Instagram HOUSING [What “Mr. X,” the so-called MZO whisperer, says about who wins when land development is fast-tracked]( Prior to being connected to the Greenbelt scandal, municipal planning consultant John Mutton made a telling remark on a podcast earlier this summer, extolling the lucrative upside of rezoning land, Brendan Kennedy reports. Case in point, a client for whom Mutton helped secure a Minister’s Zoning Order recently listed a 70-acre property for more than 14 times what he paid for the land in 2017. The “Mr. X” saga is a case study in how land gets fast-tracked for development — [and who actually gets to reap the benefits](. R.J. Johnston/Toronto Star City life [Resuscitating Yonge-Dundas Square will take new ideas, more money and a lot of commitment]( Some consider Yonge-Dundas Square to be the heart of Toronto. Given the abundance of grey concrete and its relative lack of shade, less charitable visitors have likened it to a “human frying pan.” And it’s getting worse; Alyshah Hasham reports that with rising security costs and little regular programming, the square will be staring down a $600,000 loss this year alone. [The race is now on for Toronto to renew Yonge-Dundas Square’s lease on life](. Ramon Ferreira/Toronto Star illustration Personal finance [How to navigate the blessing (and burden) of instant wealth]( When you come into a large sum of money all at once, you need to have a plan in place from Day 1, writes Renee Sylvestre Williams. However, you also don't want to rush into making any decisions. Here’s what experts say should be your priorities in planning around your newfound wealth. [One key piece of advice: keep your windfall hush](. Lance McMillan/Toronto Star Food [How the power of social media sparked a sweet new chapter for a Leslieville bakery]( When Marchelle McKenzie announced in an August TikTok video that her Leslieville bakery was failing, she hadn’t expected a deluge of new customers and well-wishers from around the world. “If I didn’t believe in the power of social media before,” McKenzie said, “I definitely believe it now.” After the initial frenzy, business remains steady, Madison Wong reports. [Here’s how Toronto foodies rallied around Butter & Spice](. R.J. Johnston/Toronto Star transit [After 38 years, Scarborough says its bittersweet goodbyes to the RT line]( There were mixed emotions as thousands — including Mayor Olivia Chow — turning out at the Scarborough Centre Station to eulogize the now-decommissioned route and its signature blue train cars, Karon Lieu reports. “As much as this line was unreliable, the love you have for it is like a sibling,” said urban planner Howard Tam. “You still love them after everything.” [Here’s what the RT meant to Toronto’s east end](. UP CLOSE McClelland & Stewart “I used to say by way of a joke that men are disappointed and women are thwarted,” Irish author Anne Enright tells Steven W. Beattie. In her latest work, “The Wren, the Wren,” the Booker Prize winner examines [a society in which male talent is elevated while their female counterparts are stymied](. DO THIS Alvaro Keding/AMNH Don’t let the hustle and bustle scare you off a weekend trip to New York City; the concrete jungle has plenty of activities for families with children, Truc Nguyen writes. After all, [if you can make it there (in a minivan with kids), you can make it anywhere](. Thanks for reading. You can reach the First Up team at [firstup@thestar.ca](mailto:firstup@thestar.ca?source=newsletter&utm_source=ts_nl&utm_medium=emailutm_email=6C53B63A8E3FAD70AD4EF13004527437&utm_campaign=frst_200018), and we will see you back here Monday. If you're not enjoying these emails, please tell us how we can make them better by emailing newsletterfeedback@thestar.ca. Or, if you'd prefer, you can unsubscribe from this newsletter by clicking the first link below. [Unsubscribe From This Newsletter]( [Sign Up for More Newsletters and Email Alerts]( [View in Browser]( Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. 8 Spadina Avenue, 10th Floor, Toronto, ON M5V 0S8. 416-367-2000 [PRIVACY POLICY](