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March 27, 2000
Task Force Report Calls for Giving Toronto's Waterfront Back to its People
Calling for "tough decisions" from the three levels of government that appointed it, the Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Task Force made public its business plan and vision for a revitalized Waterfront, making sweeping recommendations that will radically change the gateway to Canada's most populated metropolitan area.
The Task Force, appointed November 3, 1999 by the Prime Minister, the Premier and the Mayor, reported that it is crucial for governments and industry to begin the process of revitalizing the Waterfront immediately, to enhance the core's economic well being and transform a neglected asset with contaminated soil into a people- and tourist-friendly area.
"The fact is the status quo is not a real option for Toronto," said Task Force Chair Robert A. Fung. The Waterfront presents a great opportunity for Toronto, but if dramatic rehabilitation and improvements do not take place, Toronto will face "the prospect of economic decline and erosion of its tourist appeal."
The Task Force recommends a concept to implement and finance the transformation. The estimated cost for the entire Waterfront project is $12 billion. Infrastructure costs, which include the reconfiguring and integrating the Gardiner Expressway, construction of new parks, waterfront green belts and soil remediation, and dealing with the Don River is estimated at $5.2 billion. Then, over a period of 25 years, developers will proceed to construct residential and non-residential buildings, spending at least an additional $7 billion.
The Task Force recommendations will enhance Toronto's 2008 Olympic bid but the Waterfront can be redeveloped whether or not the Olympic bid is successful. "While we all realize that the Olympic bid was the spark plug for this concentrated effort, our proposals are not Olympics-dependent," Mr. Fung said.
The Task Force's key recommendations include:
- RECONFIGURING AND INTEGRATING THE GARDINER EXPRESSWAY CORRIDOR - The Gardiner would be torn down and replaced by ground-level road systems with crossing routes for pedestrians and vehicles.
- A NEW LAKE ONTARIO PARK - This park, larger than High Park, would be along the Outer Harbour, connecting the park at Cherry Beach to Ashbridges Bay sewage treatment plant, creating an "emerald necklace" of parklands.
- A 'CONVERGENCE COMMUNITY' - The Task Force envisions developing a live-work community at the Waterfront for the entire spectrum of the creative industry from individual artists to the film, sound, new media, music, software, biotechnology and high technology.
- PROVIDE A CLEAN ENVIRONMENT - The report recommends improving water quality, cleaning up contaminated soils, eliminating the risk of flooding and naturalizing appropriate areas.
With the Task Force's mandate complete, the report urges the creation of a mandated corporation to oversee the waterfront's revitalization, the Toronto Waterfront Development Corporation, would have effective control of the development of all waterfront lands, implementing a previously agreed-upon overall plan.
The report is expected to be the subject of review by the three levels of government and the public will have opportunities to make its views known as well.
"Many of the world's great waterfront cities, including Barcelona, Spain, have overcome impediments to revitalization and economic transformation. Now it's Toronto's turn to get its waterfront right and give it back to the people," Mr. Fung said.
The Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Task Force held a series of public forums on its development concept in June 2000.
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