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Neighborhood News
Harbourfront, Toronto, Ontario
April 2009
Waterfront Boulevard Shaping Up
The large Metro West Room in Westin Harbour Castle Hotel's Convention Centre was filled on March 25 with a capacity crowd for Waterfront Toronto's third public forum on Queens Quay Revitalization. Some have followed the long journey of the environmental assessment, seeing plans emerge from examining all the practical issues and blending them into a beautiful design for Queens Quay. In its current state, it was recently named one of the ugliest waterfront streets anywhere!
Plans were shown of car traffic flowing on two lanes on the north side of the streetcar tracks, which remain in place. The south side of the tracks will become a 'linear park' for pedestrians, cyclists, trees and benches. At the moment pedestrians account for 60% of traffic, yet 60% of the space on Queens Quay is reserved for vehicles. This balance will now change. It is still being debated whether the two lanes will go one-way or one lane each way.
It has been a puzzle to make sure everything can work, especially giving access to all the condos and businesses. Among the hardest challenges has been Harbour Square.
In order to give access to these buildings, a service road is planned on the south side of the tracks from York Street to Bay Street. It will be for local use only, and the details are still being worked out. YQNA is active getting the turns approved into the service road for cars approaching from both east and west.
Several YQNA members have been stakeholders in this process for years. It is our experience that Waterfront Toronto listens to our ideas and views, and we are optimistic about the final result. If only the construction would happen sooner than the fall of 2010, because Queens Quay is already very dilapidated - uneven sidewalks, rotting wooden boards near the Second Cup, dangerously narrow streetcar platforms and ruts in the road surfaces. These flaws should all become history with the new Queens Quay.
Many local residents spoke up at the meeting, offering ideas and concerns. Braz Menezes's appeal to complete the PATH connection from Queens Quay to Union Station as well as the park inside the circular ramp (which is likely coming down) was met with applause. There are signs that the mayor will take an interest in this important issue.
The TTC will aim to beautify the streetcar portal on Queens Quay near Bay Street and will add another at Freeland Street to accommodate streetcars going east. A special committee is dealing with the bus challenge of loading, unloading and parking along Queens Quay and YQNA would like to participate in solving that thorny issue. The entire Waterfront is aiming to be a year-around destination for visitors. It was heartening to see people from the suburbs participate this meeting. It proved once again that the Waterfront belongs to everybody.
The consultation with all the parties involved in this historic project is ongoing. All decisions will be in place by July this year, and we hope that the Central Waterfront will be first in line for the construction of Queens Quay.
Medevac Helicopters to go
Helicopters belonging to Ornge (Ontario Air Ambulance) have been a source of many complaints to management of the Island Airport. They are the noisiest of all aircraft that use TCCA. We have word from CommunityAIR that Ornge will move out soon. Most of Medevac's pick-ups are north of the city and they land with their patients or donor organs on downtown hospital roofs. These helicopters use the airport for parking and servicing, and residents nearby have put up with copters landing in the middle of the night. A more practical location will be found for this essential service. We wish Medevac well.
No Museum at the Silos
Much effort and high hopes have gone into planning a Toronto Museum at the Canada Malting Silos on Queens Quay near Bathurst Street. The silos are among the last reminders of an active Toronto harbour. A museum in this location would serve the dual purpose of preserving some of the silos and giving us a much needed cultural landmark on the Waterfront.
The downturn in the economy has put a stop to these plans. The Toronto Preservation Board has met to discuss what will be done to the silos. They are an eyesore in their deteriorated state and pose a safety hazard to pedestrians. Councillor Adam Vaughan is looking for ways to preserve the elements of heritage value. Taking the long view, YQNA is interested in eventually getting a Toronto Museum somewhere else on the Waterfront when the economy improves.
Ulla Colgrass
Chair, YQNA
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