Logistics Sprawl: Spatial Patterns and Characteristics of New Warehousing Establishments in The Greater Toronto and Hamilton Are

A significant sprawl in logistics facilities have been identified both in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and the Greater Golden Horseshoe (GGH). The objective of this thesis is to analyze the spatial patterns and characteristics of new warehousing establishments that have located in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) since 2003. The study found that the major share of increase in number of warehouses in the GTHA occurred between the years 2005 and 2006, and years 2009 and 2010 respectively. This growth illustrates the emergence of clusters of new warehouses around the Toronto Pearson International Airport, and the Canadian National and the Canada Pacific intermodal terminals. The building footprint and the property size used for development by the new warehouses indicates the emergence of large scale warehouses in the GTHA. Inward movement of warehousing establishments towards the distribution centers of major firms has been observed.