[nfitz]

I agree with all of this but ... which Toronto Viaduct? Not the Prince Edward?

The one along the Lakeshore line (Kingston sub) from Union Station to about Pape. That used to be at grade with level crossings. That was a lot of fill.

 

[smallspy]

They also have a very large footprint down at 10 and 20 Bay.

And 130 York.

Dan

 

[stevedean]

How many years did the Toronto Viaduct take after it was approved in 1913? And then there's the construction of Union Station for which the corporate arrangements were sorted out in 1906, and construction delayed until 1914 but didn't open until 1927 (despite having everything but the trainshed open in 1920) - mostly caused by delays in the Toronto Viaduct (and of course the GTR bankruptcy). Even then, the trainshed construction continued until 1930.

So you're saying that Toronto has a history of poorly managed projects? Great news!!!

 

[rbt]

So you're saying that Toronto has a history of poorly managed projects? Great news!!!

Sometimes it's worked out for the best. There were a few delayed then stalled then cancelled highway projects I'm glad never went through. The first attempt at the Donlands/Portlands redevelopment didn't look very good either.

Also not disappointed we still have streetcars; another project delayed long enough the TTC got so tired of fixing their temporary tracks (short life-span tracks because streetcars were dead) and started building 50 year tracks again. Toronto had the same plans as every other city with streetcars and similar levels of opposition to those plans, we just didn't get around to it.

 

[bearcat]

the first attempt at the Donlands/Portlands redevelopment didn't look very good either

sorry this is off topic but I am curious which attempt or plan you mean? I don't know much about the history here

 

[felix123]

Also not disappointed we still have streetcars; another project delayed long enough the TTC got so tired of fixing their temporary tracks (short life-span tracks because streetcars were dead) and started building 50 year tracks again. Toronto had the same plans as every other city with streetcars and similar levels of opposition to those plans, we just didn't get around to it.

If there's ever been a good version of conservatism, then this must be it.

 

[reinventingthewheel]

sorry this is off topic but I am curious which attempt or plan you mean? I don't know much about the history here

He may be referring to Sidewalk Toronto, there’s good primer on Wikipedia and great book on the topic here.

 

[smallspy]

He may be referring to Sidewalk Toronto, there’s good primer on Wikipedia and great book on the topic here.

I suspect that he is actually referencing the failed Ataratiri project of the mid-1980s.

Dan

 

[reinventingthewheel]

I suspect that he is actually referencing the failed Ataratiri project of the mid-1980s.

Dan

Before my time, thanks for the historical reference.

 

[egotrippin]

Some more info on Ataratiri in the link below (after the Regent Park piece), including illustrations:

https://www.toronto.ca/explore-enjo...-visions-for-toronto/no-little-plans-housing/

 

[rbt]

sorry this is off topic but I am curious which attempt or plan you mean? I don't know much about the history here

There have been a few but the largest was the 1968 Bold Concept and Harbourfront Plan which reinvisioned the central waterfront area (Woodbine Ave all the way to Humber River), though I cannot find drawings of the eastern portion at the moment. IIRC, the eastern portion was ~6 identical block wide office buildings.

It had a large number of options but included one for filling in most of the western lake connecting the Islands to the shoreline. I think Ontario Place fell out of this portion of the plan.

Central bit:

Information archivée dans le Web | Information Archived on the Web

publications.gc.ca

https://utoronto.scholaris.ca/bitstreams/7874acff-d92a-4ac6-b5b0-326c5e75dbc6/download

Oh, and here's an early Harbour Square proposal:

 

[junctionist]

Building dense and compact car-free neighbourhoods on islands downtown would make for amazing urban fabric.

 

[T3G]

That proposed pyramid is truly appalling. We dodged one hell of a bullet by not having that get built. Jesus.

 

[CityRider]

That Harbour Square one is truly horrifying, although it would have made a great set if someone was making a movie taking place in some other walled-in dystopian fortress city in the world of Logan's Run.

Oh, and here's an early Harbour Square proposal:

 

[kev1n1m]

Wow I've never seen that expanded Harbour Square plan. That's absolutely insane, and part of it exists. Wild!