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Neighborhood News
Harbourfront, Toronto, Ontario
December, 2006
Plans for Canada Square
Canada Square is a new green space planned for our neighbourhood. The renowned urban designer Ken Greenberg is transforming the large parking lot around Harbourfront Theatre (just west of the Terminal building) into a green and recreational area. Underground will be three levels of parking. Click on image left for more detailed drawing.
It's a very expensive undertaking, partly because of the high water table. So far Harbourfront Centre has $25 million committed, but more is needed. Proceeds from parking is an important part of Harbourfront Centre's budget, so we will all benefit from this project - green on top and triple parking underground. Residents will be invited to a public consultation meeting in a few months, where our ideas for Canada Square will be heard. We'll keep you posted.
Neighbourhood Party
Harbourfront Centre is inviting all residents in our neighbourhood to a party on Sunday, January 28. Bill Boyle, the CEO who invited us to a free sail on the Empire Sandy last summer, is offering entertainment, refreshments and skating on this wintry afternoon. Look for notices in your building.
Annual General Meetings
YQNA members took part in three annual general meetings within 24 hours! First our own on Nov. 14, where we elected the board and members of ten committees. The executive remains the same, with the exception of Allan Rivers from the Waterclub taking over as Vice-Chair. It's gratifying to have so many capable and interested people involved. Please look for our next meeting January 16, 7 p.m. in the Radisson Hotel.
The morning of Nov. 15, Toronto Port Authority held its AGM, which is usually a colourful affair due to the controversy around the island airport. Community AIR, the local citizens group that has been sued for defamation by TPA, questioned the CEO and President for over two hours. There was plenty of media. This was the very first TPA meeting for the five new federally appointed board members, and they seemed amazed at the questions and revelations from the public.
YQNA asked about the operating hours of the island airport. The CEO said they officially end at 11 p.m., but - as many residents can attest to - we frequently see and hear planes land during the night. We also asked about the excessive noise from taxiing Porter planes that will drown out activities in the beautiful Music Garden nearby. Our points were noted but no solutions were offered. Meanwhile, Porter aircraft appear to fly at 33% capacity and is allegedly offering half-priced flights to friends of staff.
The last AGM of the day was Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Corporation's (TWRC) large and upbeat gathering in the Design Centre with at least 300 people attending. Newly re-elected Mayor David Miller spoke, and CEO John Campbell presented the astonishing breadth of waterfront revitalization - the entire GTA stretch along the lake will be developed during the next 30 years. Three internationally known landscape architects presented their visions for the huge parks that will tie the waterfront together, including the spirited HTO Park just west of the Radisson Hotel, which is almost finished and will open next spring. Our own Queens Quay redesign will apparently happen in 2008, not in the fall of 2007 as previously announced.
Noise Issues
YQNA's noise committee were invited Nov. 7 by city councillor Martin Silva to work towards a lasting solution to controlling overly loud concerts from Harbourfront Centre's open stage. After two years of trying with poor results, we asked MLS (the City's Municipal Licensing Standards) to step in. Harbourfront made a commitment to acousticize the outdoor stage for the first time, baffles might be employed and MLS will monitor noise levels at our request until a reasonable noise level is achieved.
Underground Walkway
The sales pavilion at Maple Leaf Square's building site west of the ACC is now removed to make way for the $400 million development. Shovels will go in the ground when the agreement to include the covered underground walkway along York Street is signed. The covered walkway to the waterfront is a YQNA long-term project. It is now in the plans from Union Station's south exit to Lake Shore Boulevard, where we expect it to continue underground and end in the green space at the corner of York Street and Queens Quay.
Ulla Colgrass
Chair, YQNA
 UPDATE ON THE GARDINER EXPRESSWAY
By Braz Menezes
The Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Corporation (TWRC) has released the details of yet another Consultant's report on the future of the Gardiner/Lake Shore Corridor. The options are: burying it, taking it to grade, or giving it a major cosmetic facelift to keep it going for a few more decades.
According to the TWRC, determining the future of the Gardiner/Lake Shore Corridor is important to waterfront revitalization from both a transportation and city building perspective. We all surely agree with such a generic statement.
The city is now conducting a thorough analysis of the plan. The next steps include complete public consultations in the Winter 2007, followed by a report to City Council in the Winter/Spring 2007. If the city decides to proceed with improvements to the corridor, an environmental assessment will be required before any improvements can be started. The next stage, whatever plan is adopted except keeping it as is, will take about five years.
So we are looking at a minimum of seven to ten years and a total cost of between one and two billion dollars. Wake up everybody and stop dreaming!
Given the city's weak financial projections in the foreseeable future, the complexity of municipal governance in City Hall, and the lukewarm support from other levels of government to Toronto's needs, little is likely to happen.
YQNA has consistently stated that the Gardiner is no longer the eyesore it once was, because of the many new condos that screen it. The City and TWRC should devote more effort to extending the PATH and other north-south safe pedestrian walkways to the waterfront.
The city lacks an overall transportation vision. It should address the Gardiner/Lakeshore corridor while at the same time improving public transit, bicycle and pedestrian routes. Road pricing (toll road and parking access charges) and incentives (affordable improved public transport) will resolve most problems without killing off the city's economic vitality.
Meanwhile, let's work on those improved pedestrian and bike connections immediately.
News Archives:
September 2006
October 2006
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