Waterfront Culture and Heritage Infrastructure Plan

What is it?

The Waterfront Culture and Heritage Plan was prepared by the City of Toronto's Toronto Culture. It is one of several studies on Toronto's Waterfront commissioned by the Waterfront Revitalization Intergovernmental Steering Committee, comprised of the governments of Toronto, Ontario and Canada. This Plan focuses on Toronto's central waterfront, and is envisioned as the first of a series of studies that will be a resource for Toronto's entire waterfront, from Etobicoke to Scarborough. The Plan is consistent with directions outlined in the City's Central Waterfront Part Two Plan.

The goal is to develop a high-profile cultural zone that will enrich the cultural and recreational lives of Torontonians and become a major tourism destination. The Plan proposes the development of a Culture and Heritage Grid, and twelve cultural opportunities.

THE GRID: SEVEN CORRIDORS

The Plan is built around a grid of seven corridors, each with a distinctive history and character, that link cultural, natural and heritage resources in the core of the city with those at the water's edge.

1. Garrison Creek/Garrison Common
   This corridor runs from Ontario Place and the foot of Bathurst Street to Fort York and north through Trinity-Bellwoods Park. Here is an opportunity for public art and a series of fountains to mark the hidden waterway.
2. John Street
   From Queen's Quay Terminal to the Art Gallery of Ontario, this corridor contains an impressive range of important cultural assets, including theatres and broadcast centres. It has the potential to become Canada's premier street of leading-edge arts, entertainment and new media.
3. Yonge Street
   Canada's Main Street. The rehabilitation of the Yonge-Dundas intersection will enhance Yonge Street's role as the cultural, commercial and civic core of the city. The foot of Yonge is a premier location for a major cultural facility, and a major destination for public celebrations.
4. Jarvis Street
   This is one of Toronto's most historic streets, containing 19th century mansions, St. Lawrence Market, Allan Gardens and St. James Cathedral. Connecting it with the waterfront and improving the streetscape can help turn Toronto's Old Town into a major attraction.
5. Waterfront Trail
   From the Exhibition to the Hearn Generating Station, this route presents opportunities to expand downtown waterfront trails, and develop a cultural centre and festival site.
6. Don River Valley
   Bringing back the Don will enhance and strengthen the value of one of Toronto's most important natural and cultural landscapes, the Don River ravine. Here is an opportunity to use sites such as Todmorden Mills and the Brickworks to highlight Toronto's history, and to use the naturalized mouth of the Don as a place of public art and heritage interpretation.
7. Front Street
   From Fort York in the west to the Gooderham & Worts distillery in the east, this route has potential to commemorate and celebrate Toronto's relationship with the waterfront, using walking tours, interpretive kiosks and public art.

top

TWELVE CULTURAL OPPORTUNITIES

1. The 'Ex": Reinvigorate the Ex by encouraging year-round uses and linking it to the emerging Liberty Village area to the north.
2. Ontario Place: Revive this urban park's popularity by celebrating its success as a marriage of art, architecture and family fun. Restore parts of the park, reverse infill of its waterways and improve connections to the mainland.
3. Fort York: Improve visitor services and facilities; enhance its orientation as a park; and preserve views through guidelines for adjacent development and commercial signage.
4. Bathurst Quay: Consider transforming the Canada Malting silos into a new cultural centre in this dynamic, mixed-use neighbourhood.
5. Harbourfront Centre: Support the programming strengths of the Centre through partnerships in the arts, culture and heritage programs.
6. The Roundhouse: Use this unique building as a way to commemorate Toronto's history as a railroad town, as well as showcase public art and host community activities.
7. Union Station: Here is a key location for visitor information and orientation to the city and the new waterfront.
8. Foot of Yonge: This site is ideal as a major destination for public celebrations, possibly as a festival site.
9. Foot of Jarvis: Reusing the existing buildings as cultural facilities can build on the neighbourhood's industrial legacy and create major new public spaces that connect the area to the Old Town.
10. Gooderham and Worts Distillery: Here are buildings with potential for new cultural activities and historical commemoration.
11. Port Lands: Development of this area can help facilitate using Toronto's waterfront industrial landscape to accommodate new cultural festivals and increase public access to the water's edge.
12. Toronto Islands: There is strong potential on the islands for historical interpretation, such as Toronto's aboriginal history, and public art programs.

top

top