CITY CLERK
Clause embodied in Report No. 8 of the Toronto East York Community Council, as adopted by the Council of the City of Toronto at its meeting held on November 6, 7 and 8, 2001.
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Fort York and Garrison Common - Parks and Open Space Design and Implementation Plan (Trinity-Spadina, Wards 19 and 20)
(City Council on November 6, 7 and 8, 2001, adopted this Clause, without amendment.)
The Toronto East York Community Council recommends that:
(1) the Fort York and Garrison Common Parks and Open Space Design and Implementation Plan be approved by Council as the general direction for parks and open space improvements, with the exception of Block 36, which has been designated as land for building affordable housing;
(2) staff be directed to pursue the implementation of the Plan, with emphasis placed on those items identified as ‘priority projects’;
(3) Heritage Preservation Services staff continue to review the boundaries of the Fort York and Garrison Common Heritage Conservation District;
(4) the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism meet with the City’s Housing staff, the Ward Councillor and Concord-Adex regarding the use of Block 36;
(5) the urban design and landscape plans for the Front Street Extension be developed concurrently as the project proceeds;
(6) specific attention be given to the land bridge and the open space corridor portions of the Fort York and Garrison Common – Parks and Open Space Design and Implementation Plan;
(7) the Ward Councillor be included in the discussions, and the Front Street Advisory Committee be kept involved with respect to Recommendation Nos. (5) and (6) above;
(8) the appropriate City Officials be authorized and directed to take the necessary action to give effect thereto; and
(9) congratulations be extended to all participants in the development of the plan. Toronto City Council 2 Toronto East York Community Council November 6, 7 and 8, 2001 Report No. 8, Clause No. 24
The Toronto East York Community Council submits the following report (September 27, 2001) from the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism:
Purpose:
The purpose of the report is to introduce the Fort York and Garrison Common Parks and Open Space Design and Implementation Plan, which was undertaken in response to a number of Council recommendations regarding the Fort York and Garrison Common Heritage Conservation District. Council endorsement of this Plan will set the course for future parks and open space improvements within the Conservation District and the Fort York and Garrison Common area.
Financial Implications and Impact Statement:
There are no financial implications resulting from the adoption of this report.
Recommendations:
It is recommended that:
(1) the Fort York and Garrison Common Parks and Open Space Design and Implementation Plan be approved by Council as the general direction for parks and open space improvements;
(2) staff be directed to pursue the implementation of the Plan, with emphasis placed on those items identified as ‘priority projects’;
(3) Heritage Preservation Services staff continue to review the boundaries of the Fort York and Garrison Common Heritage Conservation District; and
(4) the appropriate City Officials be authorized and directed to take the necessary action to give effect thereto.
Background:
The Fort York and Garrison Common Parks and Open Space Design and Implementation Plan (The Plan) has been prepared to respond to a number of requests related to parks and open space planning in the Fort York and Garrison Common area. At its June 28, 1999 meeting, Toronto Community Council recommended that the Phase I of the park design be undertaken for the area of Gore Park east of the proposed Fort York Boulevard. At its January 18, 2000 meeting, Toronto Community Council also made a number of recommendations regarding the development of 800 Fleet Street as parkland, the incorporation of additional City-owned lands into the Fort York and Garrison Common Heritage Conservation District, and the preparation of an open space master plan for the area.
In carrying out these directives, Economic Development Culture and Tourism and Urban Development Services commissioned the Fort York and Garrison Common Parks and Open Toronto City Council 3 Toronto East York Community Council November 6, 7 and 8, 2001 Report No. 8, Clause No. 24
Space Design and Implementation Plan. The plan, prepared by a consultant team, is the result of a collaborative effort between Policy and Development, City Planning and Culture Divisions with significant contribution from The Friends of Fort York and Garrison Common and The Fort York Management Board.
Comments:
Although lost behind industry, railways and the Gardiner Expressway, and buried under landfill, one of Canada’s National Historic Sites and the birthplace of Toronto is waiting to be revealed to its community and nation. With the imminent redevelopment of most of the lands surrounding Fort York, there is a fresh opportunity to recapture a focal position for Fort York in a new urban landscape. The ongoing proposals for Toronto’s waterfront and the redevelopment of the Bathurst/Strachan area highlight the importance of making sure this national treasure receives the prominence it deserves.
The Fort York and Garrison Common Parks and Open Space Design and Implementation Plan is firmly based on “Fort York: Setting It Right,” a study published jointly by the Friends of Fort York and Garrison Common and the Fort York Management Board in June of 2000. Applying the planning and design principles established in “Setting It Right,” the objective of this most recent work was to develop a fort-centred plan which focussed on recovery, restoration, and interpretation of the fort and its landscape setting.
Another objective was to look at the role of the fort in its broader urban and historical setting, and investigate opportunities for linkage and integration of the public spaces and the interpretation of natural and cultural historic traces. Specific issues addressed include, among other things: connections to the City, the built-form setting, views, Lake Ontario and Garrison Creek, parking, servicing, landform recovery, security, archaeology, and address and entrance.
The report includes a number of thematic ‘Planning Strategies’ that set out specific objectives and the general means for their realization. The discussion includes consideration of first principles, planning horizons, and alternatives. “Demonstration Plans’ are presented that illustrate one way in which the strategies could be translated into physical form. A series of “Priority Projects” are identified and associated either with major development initiatives and infrastructure projects, or with specific Fort York operational and restoration objectives. These projects have been summarized within several major groupings as follows:
Projects related to the development of Fort York Boulevard
A number of potential projects exist in the area immediately adjacent to the future Fort York Boulevard. The Plan proposes the development of an ‘Archaeological Landscape’ to improve the public visibility and profile of the fort. This working archaeological dig will reveal valuable heritage resources as well as providing programming that is very visible and of tremendous interest to the public at large.
The restoration of the south escarpment and the design a new entry to the fort from Fort York Boulevard are also projects that should be pursued as part of the road development. Working with the Department of National Defence and WES, the redesign of the Armouries forecourt and Toronto City Council 4 Toronto East York Community Council November 6, 7 and 8, 2001 Report No. 8, Clause No. 24 vehicle compound is also considered a priority project, as is the design and development of Gore Park and 800 Fleet Street as parkland.
Projects related to the development of the Front Street Extension
The imminent development of the Front Street Extension provides a number of parks and open space opportunities. This includes investigating opportunities to develop a land bridge connection across the rail corridors from Fort York to the Garrison Creek Park system to the north. The relocation of the rail lines, necessary for the Front Street Extension, provides an opportunity to develop an east-west open space/trail corridor connection along the lands made available along the north edge of the extension.
The City-owned lands to the north of the rail corridor present an opportunity to provide a future parkland connection from Stanley Park and the Garrison Creek system to the rail corridor and across the proposed land bridge to Fort York and the waterfront park system.
Visitor accommodation projects
Restoration efforts in the forecourt area, immediately west of the fort, will require the relocation of the City’s Garrison tree nursery from where it presently sits, on what was once the fort’s mustering ground, to a more suitable location. A detailed restoration plan should be developed for this area in conjunction with the nursery relocation.
Precinct restoration projects
Other priority projects within the fort precinct include the development of plans for the restoration of the Strachan Avenue Military Burying Ground, and the restoration of the northern ramparts and interpretive elements associated with Garrison Creek. This includes investigating appropriate open space options for the lands known as Block 36.
Heritage Conservation District Boundaries
Heritage Preservation Services staff, in consultation with Urban Development Services staff, continue to consider options to revise and broaden the Conservation District boundaries. The Plan suggests that the following contiguous City-owned lands be considered for inclusion as the new boundaries are developed: the Fort York Armoury; lands under the Gardiner Expressway; lands adjacent the new Fort York Boulevard; newly acquired lands north of the fort; lands under the Bathurst Street Bridge; Gore Park, west of Fort York Boulevard; and Railway Lands Blocks 32 and 36, east of Bathurst Street.
Conclusions:
The Fort York and Garrison Common Parks and Open Space Design and Implementation Plan should be approved by Council as the general direction for fort-related parks and open space improvements. The Plan will set the course for future parks and open space improvements and will assist in the development of both short and long term Capital Works Programs. Toronto City Council 5 Toronto East York Community Council November 6, 7 and 8, 2001 Report No. 8, Clause No. 24
Staff be directed to pursue the implementation of the priority projects and to continue reviewing the boundaries of the Fort York and Garrison Common Heritage Conservation District. With the imminent redevelopment of most of the lands surrounding the fort, and the interest in revitalizing Toronto’s waterfront, the principles, strategies and priority projects identified in the Plan will ensure Fort York receives the prominence it deserves.
Contact:
Frank Kershaw, Director, Policy and Development Telephone: 416-392-8199; Email: [email protected]
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(Attachment 1 referred to in the foregoing report was forwarded to Council under separate cover and copies thereof are on file in the office of the City Clerk.)
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The Toronto East York Community Council reports, for the information of Council, having also had before it during consideration of the foregoing matter, the following communications, and a copy thereof is on file in the office of the City Clerk:
- (September 27, 2001) from the City Clerk, Front Street Advisory Committee forwarding the recommendations of the Front Street Advisory Committee from its meeting of September 27, 2001;
- (October 17, 2001) from Co-ordinator, Garrison Creek Steering Committee;
- (October 18, 2001) from Susan Grant; and
- (October 23, 2001) from Elizabeth Quance, President, Niagara Neighbourhood Residents’ Association.
(City Council on November 6, 7 and 8, 2001, had before it, during consideration of the foregoing Clause, a communication (October 31, 2001) from the City Clerk forwarding a copy of the Fort York and Garrison Common – Parks and Open Space Design and Implementation Plan, appended to the report (September 27, 2001) from the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism, which is on file in the office of the City Clerk.)