Tewder said:
Overall the report is a good one. It references Millennium Park quite a bit which is apt given that OP was Toronto's MP in its early days. I'm just not sure if any revitalization will get done with the same standards or the same ambition. There is simply no recent track record here, and quite the opposite in fact! Still we can hope.

The one element that strikes me as contradictory is the addition of residential to the grounds. Why? The report already acknowledges that more and more people live near or adjacent to OP. Why not just leave it at that? In the absence of highrises 10% of the area for residential will not add much of the residential 'vibrancy' they are looking for, imo.
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I have only browsed the report so apologize if this is covered and/or contradicted.

I suspect that mid-rises with some ground floor commercial are desired/needed to bring commercial partners and investment....if nothing else, the sale of 10% of OP lands to some sort of residential/commercial development would bring in some cash that could be used for other parts of the "plan"
 
I don't mind the retail development but I'm strongly opposed to building condos on the site. I'd prefer a small hotel with retail to residential developments. I would LOVE to see the old Forum rebuilt! (along with the old Children's Village) I don't want to see OP left as just open park land. We already have lots and lots of park land right in that area. We need a fun, tourist friendly amenity in that area, to go along with the CNE.

Speaking of the CNE, I saw a pic on SSC, that shows a new Alpine type ride being built at the CNE. Unfortunately, it's a much smaller version, set much closer to the ground. So much for "new and improved". This seems more like smaller and cheaper.
 
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What ever happened to the Chinese lantern festival at OP?
How come OP is not used more often for festivals especially in the non summer months?
 
If we must have residential, I would prefer a houseboat community on the mainland side of the OP. It won't require a road connection to the island, it will cost less for hydro, water and sewer, and have better access to fire/police/ambulance services.
 
Automation Gallery said:
Yeah, i guess.........just greed:mad:
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not sure I understand the greed comment. If the province (as I guess...no evidence) is saying "if we sell 10% of the land...that gives us a cash injection to start the revitalization and preserves 90% for a park/tourist destination"....how does that make them greedy?

Subject to seeing what kind of residential...doesn't it just make them realistic/pragmatic in a world where funding is tight?
 
Recognizing Zeidler's iconic Pods and Cinesphere and exploring ways to integrate them into the new designs of the site goes a long way to putting my mind at rest. Another key to whatever they do is getting lots of people down there, my idea of creating a streetcar loop that stops at Ontario Place is proposed and moving parking to, or under, the Exhibition grounds then reclaiming that land is a very smart proposal.
Lots of good ideas in the report, I'm still mixed about any of the area used for residential (up to 15% of the site).
 
Thanos said:
What ever happened to the Chinese lantern festival at OP?
How come OP is not used more often for festivals especially in the non summer months?
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The Chinese lantern festival ran every year, I'm pretty sure it ran last year.
The report does suggest some festivals being able to centralize at Ontario Place.
 
After watching Mr Tory at the news conference today, I see they still don't seem to know what they want to do with Ontario Place, but they are going to build at condo there? I may be out of the loop, but why the heck would you put a residential tower in a park? They've already built (nd are still building) thousands upon thousands of condo unit in the new south core, and beside Redpath, is there no limits. Since its opening those many years ago, Ontario Place has been a unique and world renound structure that made our water front that much more special. We Dont need to turn it into a casino (I'm not against a casino, but after thinking about, it's just not a place for one). I think the reason for its decline it pure neglect. If only they could clean it up, add some new, exciting attractions, and promote it properly, I'm certain hey could easily turn it into a huge money maker. I'm all for new construction, in fact, I'd love to see as many new towers as possible, but in the core, not blocking the water front, am I alone in thinking this?
 
Hanlansboy said:
After watching Mr Tory at the news conference today, I see they still don't seem to know what they want to do with Ontario Place, but they are going to build at condo there? I may be out of the loop, but why the heck would you put a residential tower in a park? They've already built (nd are still building) thousands upon thousands of condo unit in the new south core, and beside Redpath, is there no limits. Since its opening those many years ago, Ontario Place has been a unique and world renound structure that made our water front that much more special. We Dont need to turn it into a casino (I'm not against a casino, but after thinking about, it's just not a place for one). I think the reason for its decline it pure neglect. If only they could clean it up, add some new, exciting attractions, and promote it properly, I'm certain hey could easily turn it into a huge money maker. I'm all for new construction, in fact, I'd love to see as many new towers as possible, but in the core, not blocking the water front, am I alone in thinking this?
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In my browsing of the report the only thing that gets highlighted in RED as being not recommended is a casino....so not sure why you would be concerned about that as it relates to this report?
 
Hanlansboy said:
After watching Mr Tory at the news conference today, I see they still don't seem to know what they want to do with Ontario Place, but they are going to build at condo there? I may be out of the loop, but why the heck would you put a residential tower in a park? They've already built (nd are still building) thousands upon thousands of condo unit in the new south core, and beside Redpath, is there no limits. Since its opening those many years ago, Ontario Place has been a unique and world renound structure that made our water front that much more special. We Dont need to turn it into a casino (I'm not against a casino, but after thinking about, it's just not a place for one). I think the reason for its decline it pure neglect. If only they could clean it up, add some new, exciting attractions, and promote it properly, I'm certain hey could easily turn it into a huge money maker. I'm all for new construction, in fact, I'd love to see as many new towers as possible, but in the core, not blocking the water front, am I alone in thinking this?
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Nope, I think you hit the nail on the head. I also agree that Ontario Place's falling attendance was due to neglect. They basically closed the attractions down one by one. (and let the others decay) There was no real attempt to renew itself. The same thing would have happened to Canada's Wonderland or even The Eaton Centre, if they had the same business plan. You have to blame Ontario Governments for this.
 
TOareaFan said:
In my browsing of the report the only thing that gets highlighted in RED as being not recommended is a casino....so not sure why you would be concerned about that as it relates to this report?
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I understood there is a major casino/resort complex being assemled for the CNE lands (MGM)
 
Big Daddy said:
I understood there is a major casino/resort complex being assemled for the CNE lands (MGM)
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I think there are several locations being considered for a possible casino (the Ex, the convention centre, etc.) but what this report does is, quite strongly, state that it should not be at OP.
 
TOareaFan said:
not sure I understand the greed comment. If the province (as I guess...no evidence) is saying "if we sell 10% of the land...that gives us a cash injection to start the revitalization and preserves 90% for a park/tourist destination"....how does that make them greedy?

Subject to seeing what kind of residential...doesn't it just make them realistic/pragmatic in a world where funding is tight?
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Of course its greed...this Liberal government has managed to take Ontario Place to the ground, and now they need the private sector to fund any new development.....Gee:confused:
Again, the funding is tight cause they have mismanaged our money, its even hard to believe these guys are in power
 
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