Sadly I think many ambitious and interesting proposals will fall by the way side. I hope I’m wrong however....
Keep healthy everyone!
 
I asked Hydro and got this reply.

Thank you for your continued patience.

Kindly be advised the City of Toronto can provide you with more information of the opening of the park. You may contact them directly here: https://www.toronto.ca/home/311-toronto-at-your-service/.


I will enquire from Joe Cressy's office and report back!
Cressy's office replied, the park belongs to HYDRO (you would think Hydro might know this!) and they will try to get them to finish and open it.
 
This park is already built and looks like it's finished. It's not a major park or all that interesting but here is a video I filmed of it recently.
 
Cressy's office replied, the park belongs to HYDRO (you would think Hydro might know this!) and they will try to get them to finish and open it.
Typical Toronto bureaucracy. Know one knows what's going on, or which project belongs to who.

No wonder a 5 year project can turn into 20 years in this city.
 
Sat Sep 19, 2020

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Joe Cressy's office finally got an answer about this park from Toronto Hydro...

"It will be some time before the small section of the park above Copeland Station will available to the public, likely until 2024. Copeland Station is now powering a number of large critical customers in the area including Scotiabank Arena, Waterpark Plaza, Royal Bank Plaza, and Rogers Centre. There are other customers of similar prominence that are expecting to be connected which, in addition to continued condo growth in the area, requires a substantial expansion (doubling) of Copeland Station’s capacity. As a result, the work site that contains the area you’re asking about will need to be maintained to ensure the safety of the public and our workers.

In the meantime, I can confirm we’re continuing to beautify the nearby area and that Roundhouse Park remains open. This fall, we’re expecting to complete the tree planting along Bremner – details of which you saw on our website. The Corten steel cladded walls of the building along Rees depicting the railroad history will also remain visible throughout construction."
 
Joe Cressy's office finally got an answer about this park from Toronto Hydro...

"It will be some time before the small section of the park above Copeland Station will available to the public, likely until 2024. Copeland Station is now powering a number of large critical customers in the area including Scotiabank Arena, Waterpark Plaza, Royal Bank Plaza, and Rogers Centre. There are other customers of similar prominence that are expecting to be connected which, in addition to continued condo growth in the area, requires a substantial expansion (doubling) of Copeland Station’s capacity. As a result, the work site that contains the area you’re asking about will need to be maintained to ensure the safety of the public and our workers.

In the meantime, I can confirm we’re continuing to beautify the nearby area and that Roundhouse Park remains open. This fall, we’re expecting to complete the tree planting along Bremner – details of which you saw on our website. The Corten steel cladded walls of the building along Rees depicting the railroad history will also remain visible throughout construction."

Thank you

But sounds like a total BS response. I can see that park from my window. It's being used to park their cars every day. So basically, they are using a park as their free parking. Hence, it can't be open.
 
@Panontario - this might be illuminating as to what's going on:


Basically Phase 1 capacity has been completely used; Phase 2 is supposed to start earlier this year pending (at the time) approval from the (O)EB, with projected completion by 23/24 at the time of the presentation (2019). Not sure, but my guess is they will have to open up the roof to put in a few more transformers.

The rest of the presentation is quite interesting too.

AoD
 
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Part of the rationale for the Copeland Transformer Station, in addition to the basic capacity increase, has been to able to be able to offload the Windsor / John Street facilities (Toronto Hydro Windsor Street Station / Hydro One Toronto John Street Station) so the existing facilities can be upgraded and modernized - issues documented back on Page 1 of this thread, almost ten years ago.

This morning - a new large scale transformer was delivered to the Windsor / John Street sites (they are two separate but adjoining facilities, side by side, with direct connection between the Hydro One Station and the Toronto Hydro Windsor Street Facility). Here are some pictures of the new transformer as it made its way EASTBOUND on Wellington Street from Bathurst to Portland, before heading down Portland and east along Front Street.

There was a large scale escort convoy for the shipment - one of the tasks was for the lucky fellow in the cherry picker who had to lift up the Toronto Hydro cables at the Wellington and Portland intersection so the transformer could pass underneath.

The flatbed itself was one of the multi axle vehicles being towed - the axles were steerable - front and back - to improve its ability to navigate corners, and had a small steering control seat attached to the front corner of the flatbed, with a person perched on it to handle steering of the flatbed, independent of the power cab that was towing it. In a couple of the photos, the person in the cherry picker can be seen holding up the overhead cables.

The transformer is now parked in the driveway south off Wellington Street, between Hydro One and Toronto Hydro stations (no picture).

Pictures:

1. Escort truck leading the way (Police vehicles had already passed at this point). Person in the cherry picker holding up the cables over the intersection.

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2. Truck towing the flatbed trailer entering the intersection of Wellington and Portland Streets. The person steering the flatbed trailer can be seen just in front of the transformer.

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3. Passing under the overhead cables. The truck had paused at this point so the person in the cherry picker could lift the cables higher so the transformer would clear. Also - the independent steering of the flatbed's front and rear axles can be seen - front axles pointing to the right, rear axles pointing to the left.

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4. Approaching the corner - the person steering the flatbed can be seen on his control perch.

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5. First set of overhead cables cleared, now passing under the second set.

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Follow-up photos of the new equipment at the Hydro One Toronto John Street transformer station. The Hydro One station is on the left, the Toronto Hydro Windsor Street substation on the right. A bit of serendipitous luck - the gate to the site was open briefly as I passed by - was able to get a closer picture.

Another bit of background information - relating to the 250 Front Street data centre. My understanding (from several years ago) is that Allied actually has an option to acquire further additional space in the building - beyond the 160,000 square feet that was included in the initial lease - but the option had not been exercised at the time, as there was no further power available to be brought into the facility until the Hydro One and Toronto Hydro John and Windsor Street facilities had undergone their modernization and capacity upgrades. Not sure if this is one of the prerequisite activities that would enable the additional power for 250 Front Street - or if the additional capacity is already now in place.

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I'd recommend anyone interested in progress on this project to make a trip to see this site in the next 8-14 hours. The most interesting stuff is starting sometime between 2am - 4am.
 

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