The concept of urban taxidermy, coined by architect and planner Robert Allsopp, critically frames the prevailing strategy in urban heritage policy that seeks to reconcile preservation and development by preserving superficial elements of old structures while hollowing out their socio-economic vitality; this method, increasingly visible in cities like Toronto, retains the frontage and aesthetic shell of older buildings while embedding high-rise condos or commercial developments behind, an act that visually signals continuity yet structurally replaces the original urban fabric with sterile, privatised environments, as discussed by Lloyd Alter in his reflections on Allsopp’s critique and the ironic failure of such well-intended design compromises, where even seemingly generous preservation efforts result in streetscape dioramas that perform vibrancy without enabling it; in Allsopp’s words, these preserved facades simulate “intrinsic social, cultural or commercial vitality” but are no longer generative, especially when they serve as vestibules to malls or banks, rather than supporting diverse, street-level interactions like the tattoo parlours and record shops Jane Jacobs once celebrated; one emblematic case is the partial preservation of Toronto’s Yonge Street buildings, where “thirty feet deep” historical shells now form a cinematic backdrop for condo towers that cater to global capital more than local culture, leading to questions not only about what we preserve but why—whether we are safeguarding civic memory or staging nostalgia for consumption, with digital platforms like Google Street View enabling a visual permanence that masks experiential emptiness; ultimately, the dilemma lies in the trade-off between material conservation and socio-spatial continuity, where urban taxidermy, despite its good intentions, risks embalming the city rather than allowing it to evolve organically with its communities intact. Alter, L. (2024) Jargon Watch: Urban Taxidermy, Carbon Upfront, 19 November. Available at: https://carbonupfront.substack.com/p/jargon-watch-urban-taxidermy
