Newsstand: August 6, 2015

Happy first-debate-of-the-federal-election day! To distract you from what's really going to feel like an endless campaign, here's some news about a superstar architect collaboration on a local development, a library initiative, and a new #blacklivesmatter allegation against police.

By Kelli Korducki

Danish superstar architecture firm Bjarke Ingels Group (yes, that’s BIG for an acronym) have been tapped to design a new joint-venture development by Westbank Corp and Allied Properties REIT at King Street West between Bathurst and Spadina. The site includes properties from 489 through 539 King West, and marks the first time BIG will be designing any developments in Toronto. So, be prepared for Architecture Twitter to be popping design boners and sprinkling their giddiness all over the place.

Police are denying allegations of excess force against cyclist LeeLee Davis, who took to Facebook over the weekend to detail an incident of carding gone rough, adding: “my black life matters.” Davis alleges that police pulled her over for running a red light on her bicycle last month and, when she was unable to produce identification, pinned her to the ground. A Toronto Police spokesperson says that the incident occurred not quite as described, and that Davis had been resisting arrest.

Finally, in cool and amazing ideas, the Toronto Public Library plans to set up book-lending machines at Union Station.