1 We will spend most of the meeting discussing projects in East Bayfront and your answering questions. Before we do that, I’d like to start the meeting by bringing you up to speed on some of the waterfront revitalization efforts we’ve undertaken across the waterfront. 2 • The last couple of years have brought unprecedented transformation along Toronto’s waterfront. • This map shows many of our revitalization areas where we are working – I’ll walk you through some of those projects now. 3 • Waterfront Toronto’s work in the Central Waterfront is focused on improving the most heavily used part of the downtown waterfront. • Unlike the West Don Lands and East Bayfront, where we are building new communities from the ground up, in the Central Waterfront, we are making improvements to an already highly developed area. • Our goal is to transform the area in the world-class waterfront Toronto deserves by linking major waterfront destinations, creating new public spaces and giving the city the grand waterfront boulevard it deserves. 4 • The QQ revitalization is transforming Toronto’s main waterfront street – from just west of Spadina to Bay. • The design, by West 8 + DTAH is rebalancing the street bringing a generous pedestrian promenade and much needed connection to the Martin Goodman Trail through the Central Waterfront. It’s designed to make QQ a place where people want to spend time – not just pass though. • From a construction perspective, it’s an incredibly complex project that is completely rebuilding the street both above and below ground. 5 • Despite the complexities, Queens Quay is on schedule for completion in time for the 2015 PanAm Games. 5 • This summer, in partnership with Harbourfront Centre, we completed and opened two new public spaces -- Canada Square and Ontario Square. • This multi-phased project completely revitalized the area around HFC and included the construction of a new underground garage which allowed us to replace the surface parking lot with public space. • More than 500 trees were planted at Canada/Ontario Square which was designed by MVVA. • The squares are owned and operated by HFC. They provide open public space in this dense part of the 6 waterfront and are also used for HFC programming. 6 • Construction is complete on a new stretch of water’s edge promenade at the Portland Slip just east of Bathurst Street. • This project is a good news story. The City needed to rebuild the dockwall in the area so we worked together to install a new stretch of promenade at the same time. • The promenade provides a new access point to Ireland Park from the east. Access to the park has been from the west in the past. • Before we can be officially open the promenade, a Record of Site Condition is required from the Ministry of the Environment. An RSC is required whenever a land use designation changes to a more sensitive use (e.g, industrial use to park space) 7 • It will open as soon as RSC is complete (expected early next year) 7 • WT and the City of Toronto are undertaking two studies in the Lower Yonge Precinct: Urban Design Guidelines and a Transportation Master Plan EA. • This area is currently home to the Toronto Star building, the LCBO warehouse/store, Loblaws and several parking lots. • When complete, the Urban Design Guidelines and Transportation Master Plan will be used to develop a Precinct Plan for the Lower Yonge led by the City of Toronto. • The goal is to establish the planning context required to guide the future development of this important waterfront area. 8 • The West Don Lands is one of the first new communities that Waterfront Toronto is building. • The area is currently a very busy construction site, with several large projects under construction. • Located west of the Don River, this is a 32 hectare (80-acre) area that runs from Parliament Street in the west to the Don River in the east, from King Street south to the rail corridor. • Development of the area has been accelerated because a portion of the West Don Lands will be used for the 2015 Pan Am Athletes’ Village. 9 • Corktown Common opened in June 2013, following completion of construction on the western side of the park. • Construction of the wet side continues and once completed, the park (wet and dry side) will be turned over to the City for operation. • The spectacular new 7.3 hectare (18 acre) park is fast becoming the heart of the emerging West Don Lands neighbourhood and is already drawing visitors from across the city. • The park occupies the south eastern portion of the neighbourhood and will run along the Don River from King Street to the rail corridor in the south. 10 • Waterfront revitalization reached a significant milestone last Spring when residents began moving into the first phase of the River City condominiums. • This marked the first residential occupancy in the revitalized waterfront. • Construction of Phase Two – the stunning three glass mini-towers – got underway in January with work progressing well. • River City is being developed by Urban Capital and is designed by renowned Canadian architects Saucier and Perrotte. 11 • Construction of the West Don Lands first affordable rental housing development by TCHC is progressing well. • Located on King Street south to the middle block of Underpass Park between St. Lawrence and Lower River Street. • There are 243 affordable rental units for seniors and families in three buildings. • The Toronto Community Housing buildings in the West Don Lands are nearly ready for occupancy with pre-delivery inspections having begun in 12 anticipation of residents beginning to occupy the building. 12 • The Village is approximately 35 acres bordered by Cherry Street in the west, the new Bayview Ave extension in the east, north of Front Street to the rail corridor. • The Village is more than 60% complete and includes: • the next phase of West Don Lands infrastructure • the construction of George Brown College’s first student residence, a new full service YMCA, two affordable rental housing buildings; and the Canary District • All of the components of the Village will first be used by the athletes and officials competing in the Games, then converted for permanent use and occupancy following the Games. 13 • Construction of the Athletes’ Village is on schedule to be completed for the 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games. 13 • WT and the City of Toronto are moving forward on the next phase of redeveloping the Port Lands following the extensive analysis undertaken as part of the Port Lands Acceleration Initiative to make redevelopment more achievable. • Just last week (Nov 28) we held a public meeting with the City to launch consultation on the Port Lands Planning Framework and Precinct Plans for Cousins Quay and the Film Studio precincts. 14 • In addition to the new communities we are building in East Bayfront and the West Don Lands, Waterfront Toronto is undertaking several other important initiatives across the waterfront area 15 • Work is underway to transform approximately 7.5 acres of Ontario Place’s east island into a vibrant urban park and waterfront trail. The new park and trail will provide access to part of the waterfront that has been closed to the public for more than 40 years. • While the Province is leading this revitalization effort, Waterfront Toronto will manage the design process and public consultations for the new park and trail project. • A public meeting will be held tomorrow night (Dec. 4) at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. At that meeting you can share your ideas, comments or questions with the project team and designers and learn more about the project. 16 • Yesterday, a Special Meeting of Waterfront Toronto’s Board of Directors was held to discuss the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport expansion. • At the meeting, the Board stated that while we have co-existed with the airport to date there are potential risks with expansion as it relates to scale and balance. • Given the findings of the City of Toronto’s review, the current problematic conditions for transportation and traffic created by the airport’s current operations, WT believes expansion creates potential risks to waterfront revitalization • No decision on expansion should proceed without the information required to make this generational 17 decision 17 • The Environmental Assessment (EA) on the future of the Gardiner Expressway East, from approximately Jarvis to approximately Leslie is currently underway. • We are now in the second phase of the EA. During this phase, the team is undertaking a detailed evaluation of the four alternatives: maintain, replace, improve or remove. • We have undertaken extensive public consultation to date. At the next public meeting in January/Feb 2014, the team will present its evaluation of the alternatives • Timing is for City Council approval of a preferred alternative is Spring 2014 18 • Our work is not limited to the downtown area. • This summer we opened Phase two of Mimico Waterfront Park and Phase two Port Union Waterfront Park • Both of these new parks provide new trails and access to the water’s edge where none existed previously 19 Before we move to our detailed presentations, I’d like to provide a general update on progress in East Bayfront in a few areas: • Parks and Public Space • Construction Activities • Development Progress 20 • In July, we opened a new stretch of Martin Goodman Trail and sidewalk on the south side of Queens Quay between Yonge Street and Lower Jarvis Street • We also made improvements to on-street bike lanes between Jarvis and Parliament Street • The goal of this project was to improve pedestrian and cyclist infrastructure along Queens Quay East – and to provide a safe pedestrian and cycling connection into East Bayfront • Brian from West 8 + DTAH will speak more about this during his presentation 21 • Sherbourne Common Pavilion was officially certified LEED® Gold by the Canada Green Building Council this year, making it the first building in a Waterfront Toronto park to achieve this distinction.