Mayor Lastman presents 10-year plan for revitalization and investment

A stunning new vision to revitalize the City's 46-kilometre long waterfront was announced today by Toronto Mayor Mel Lastman.

The vision — Our Toronto Waterfront, the Wave of the Future — is a 10-year blueprint of ways to re-energize the lakefront, the harbour, rivers and wetlands.

"This is a waterfront development concept that is breath-taking in scope and imminently attainable in reality," said Mayor Lastman. "It is a carefully-measured vision to rebuild and renew Toronto's waterfront and turn it into our front door to the world."

The vision is an environmentally-sensitive plan designed to make the waterfront clean enough for swimming, fishing, boating and sightseeing. It also includes a 46-kilometre waterfront transit line with Union Station as its hub.

The economic heart of the vision is the Port Lands - 1,000 acres of land east of Yonge Street that is marked for mixed-use development and investment.

Other highlights include a major expansion of tourism, revitalization of Exhibition Place and Ontario Place, affordable and attainable new housing and gradual removal of the Gardiner Expressway.

Public amenities abound in the vision including 2,000 acres of new parkland, 100,000 new trees, a vast public square sized to handle more than 200,000, bandshells, a new aquarium, a new museum and a full historical program.

The mayor announced formation of a Task Force to report in 60 days of its inception on implementation cost, investment, timing, inventory of assets and opportunities for government and private sector involvement.

Our Toronto Waterfront Vision: Highlights of Wave of the future

A 10-year vision for the 29-mile (46-kilometre) stretch of waterfront in the City of Toronto.

An environmentally-sensitive plan to include clean water in the harbour, lakefront and rivers fronting and feeding the Toronto waterfront.

2,000 new acres of new parkland and 100,000 trees planted.

A 46-kilometre waterfront transit line with Union Station as the hub.

Revitalization of Exhibition Place and Ontario Place

A vast new public square big enough for crowds of 200,000

A new aquarium.

Water links along the entire waterfront with water taxis, ferries and harbour cruise ships.

Tourism expansion — cruise ships, floating hotel, information kiosks, a new museum for Toronto.

Affordable and attainable housing.

Revitalization of the 1,000 acres of the Ports Lands for a mix of uses.

A 30- to 50-metre wide green buffer zone along the entire waterfront.

Restoration of wetlands and restoring the mouth of the Don River. Opening Tommy Thompson Park year round.

Gradual removal of the Gardiner Expressway.

Year-round cultural and recreation activities including a community arts centre, swimming, fishing, skating, cross-country skiing, bandshells and new playgrounds.

Historical program of waterfront plaques and signs, upgrades to Fort York and restoration of the Ned Hanlan steam tugboat

An aggressive tourist strategy to increase the number of tourists by 4 million in the next ten years to produce an extra $800 million per year in revenue.

Full-time job creation.

Establishment of a task force to report within 60 days on a business plan and inventory of all lands.

Report to Toronto City Council for approval.