generalcanada
Senior Member
Yea Sorry Ford but saying were building this transit connection the same time as the site removes all need for that parking garage. You gotta shrink that now,
- Thread starter vistaway
- Start date
Yea Sorry Ford but saying were building this transit connection the same time as the site removes all need for that parking garage. You gotta shrink that now,
urbanexplorer
Active Member
Between the new Donlands/Portlands redevelopment in the East and this project in the West, we are creating some pretty cool legacy recreational options for citizens. I am excited. Maybe it's just the glossy new renders though 
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.syn
Senior Member
This really puts things in perspective. The spa takes up such a large portion of the available space.That Billy Bishop comment is funny, typical PR press release hype up every meaningless line.
this really shows the impact of the redevelopment, look at all that public space
AlvinofDiaspar
Moderator
That notional science centre building on the mainland makes no sense vis-a-vis the pods/Cinesphere - it will need far, far better integration than that. Those open air trains also makes zero sense as a transit option for the site when it's in a city that is winter 1/3 of the time.
Colour me unimpressed. The province will need to come up with more convincing stuff than this.
AoD
Colour me unimpressed. The province will need to come up with more convincing stuff than this.
AoD
Northern Light
Superstar
Agreed, if I absolutely had to accept some variation on Therme here {though I'd rather not); I want to see either the facility shrunk, or the West Island further enlarged, such that; the proportion of land it consumes falls, significantly.
Also, in the event that the option of a larger island were selected, I want to use that to re-site Therme such that a good chunk of the existing mature trees are saved.
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Sunnyside
Active Member
Well, the redesign seems to have some more green space (again)… so that’s nice…
Maybe I’m too young to actually have remembered/used Ontario Place, but the space the spa occupies really seems fairly minimal from this perspective. If anything, the parking lot on the east island being turned into park space makes up for the loss. Obviously the issue here is also rooted in principle, and shifting/changing public properties/attractions like this is kinda egregious. So it’s not getting a full pass from me. But, it seems it isn’t a complete decimation of the lands, if a bit unfitting for a spa.
Not to give Dougie any ideas, but I had a thought strike me today. If this spa plan is all a land value grab scheme, why wasn’t a casino ever floated? Let’s be clear: It’s undoubtedly worse than a spa, especially image-wise. But there have been plans for casinos in Toronto proposed before… if we’re going to butcher a public site, you’d think they’d want to whole-hog it. It seems very in line with the PCs today. Maybe too in line…
Maybe I’m too young to actually have remembered/used Ontario Place, but the space the spa occupies really seems fairly minimal from this perspective. If anything, the parking lot on the east island being turned into park space makes up for the loss. Obviously the issue here is also rooted in principle, and shifting/changing public properties/attractions like this is kinda egregious. So it’s not getting a full pass from me. But, it seems it isn’t a complete decimation of the lands, if a bit unfitting for a spa.
Not to give Dougie any ideas, but I had a thought strike me today. If this spa plan is all a land value grab scheme, why wasn’t a casino ever floated? Let’s be clear: It’s undoubtedly worse than a spa, especially image-wise. But there have been plans for casinos in Toronto proposed before… if we’re going to butcher a public site, you’d think they’d want to whole-hog it. It seems very in line with the PCs today. Maybe too in line…
A casino idea was floated at the Ex. I spent a lot of time on committees fighting it. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toro...-controversial-toronto-casino-plans-1.1325343
AlvinofDiaspar
Moderator
Because the market can't sustain that many casinos - between Woodbine Live and whatever that place in Oshawa is called. Plus it really isn't the cash cow that it seems to be when they are everywhere. And honestly if they must at the Ex, they should use the old Ontario Exhibition building.
AoD
Sunnyside
Active Member
I find it strange that the market could support a spa like this, then, since no counterparts exist in NA afaik. But alas.
Interesting. I guess it wasn’t worth the trouble. A casino certainly has different connotations than a spa.
reteequa
Active Member
20,000 drunk concert goers on a saturday night are going to absolutely destroy these things if this a real thoughtYea Sorry Ford but saying were building this transit connection the same time as the site removes all need for that parking garage. You gotta shrink that now,
generalcanada
Senior Member
DUDE Dougie litterally suggested that like in 2018 when running for premier. That idea got so much flak its the reason the original bid process specifically excluded casino ideas.
Sunnyside
Active Member
Well, I didn’t know that. The discussion around this project generally implies there has been no respect for the public’s opinion, so I guess it’s good that this idea was adequately slammed before getting any feet.
Dan416
Senior Member
My question is, when the spa fails, which it inevitably will, can it be repurposed for other, more appropriate, uses?
AlvinofDiaspar
Moderator
We don't have the fine print to the deal - that's what we as the public need to pay close attention to.
AoD
kotsy
Senior Member
You bring up a good point. I really look forward to the day I can explore the abandoned site
