Doctoroff announced the news in a letter Thursday, disclosing he has been managing symptoms of what is likely ALS. “I want to spend less time achieving things and more time with [family],” wrote Sidewalk’s co-founder and CEO. Assets from the smart-city firm will be folded into Google, its sister company. (The Logic)

Talking point: Sidewalk Labs has not had a major urban development project since the spring 2020 breakdown of its plan for a high-tech neighbourhood on Toronto’s waterfront. It has since focused mainly on smart-home and -building products, which will be “core to Google’s urban sustainability-product efforts,” Sidewalk spokesperson Dan Levitan told The Logic. Levitan said Sidewalk Labs president of urban products Prem Ramaswami and chief technology officer Craig Nevill-Manning and their teams will continue their work at Google, and timber-construction venture Canopy Buildings will be spun off. Waterfront Toronto chair Steve Diamond said he was saddened by the news of Doctoroff’s health challenges. “I know through my experience with Dan that he brings a singular energy to everything he does, not only his city visionary work but now his drive to conquer ALS,” Diamond told The Logic by email. “I have no doubt that he will use his strong personality and courage to accelerate a cure for this disease and I wish him well in this next chapter.”