What should be the permanent name for the park under the Gardiner?

  • The Artery

    Votes: 12 6.3%

  • The Bentway

    Votes: 83 43.7%

  • Under Gardiner

    Votes: 52 27.4%

  • None of the above

    Votes: 43 22.6%
  • Total voters
    190
Latest email update:

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Today, in coordination with Waterfront Toronto, the City of Toronto, and the Judy and Wilmot Matthews Foundation, The Bentway is happy to announce the completion of our Schedule ‘C’ Municipal Class Environmental Assessment for a pedestrian crossing at Fort York Boulevard. This represents a major step towards breaking ground on The Bentway, one of Toronto’s most exciting public infrastructure projects. The Assessment outlines our recommendation to create a pedestrian bridge across Fort York Boulevard stitching together neighbouring communities and The Bentway site.

In 2015 the Judy and Wilmot Matthews Foundation and the City of Toronto announced their ambitious $25 million partnership to transform this 1.75km stretch of vacant land underneath the Gardiner Expressway. Since that time a wide range of partners have come on board to support the successful completion of the project and to address community needs. Waterfront Toronto conducted a community engagement and consultation process and reported their findings in a Public Consultation and Feedback Report.

Find more information here:
Notice of Completion of Environmental Study Report
Environmental Study Report
Public Consultation & Feedback Report

You can provide written comments to the City and Waterfront Toronto on the proposed bridge crossing within 30 calendar days from the date of this Notice (deadline for comments is February 17, 2017). Comments should be directed to Nadia Galati or Don McKinnon at:

Dillon Consulting
235 Yorkland Blvd, Suite 800
Toronto, ON M2J 4Y8

We are committed to listening and learning to the community as this process continues. Thank you so much for all your feedback and support.
 
Isn't the current phase just between Strachan and Bathurst? Yet they show a photo from east of Bathurst ...
 
Considering the whole project is from Strahan to Spadina, I think that's ok. I haven't seen any details regarding construction phasing, but this EA is just for the proposed bridge over Fort York Blvd. near Grand Magazine St.
 
marcus_a_j said:
Considering the whole project is from Strahan to Spadina, I think that's ok. I haven't seen any details regarding construction phasing, but this EA is just for the proposed bridge over Fort York Blvd. near Grand Magazine St.
Click to expand...
It is and it isn't. Everything except the bridge is preapproved under the Class EA, and can proceed to implementation without following the planning process (looking and evaluating different alternatives etc). Thing is, the Class EA process puts a lot of emphasis on consultation and they technically did a lot anyway for the entire Bentway.
 
But the bridge isn't even being built in phase 1. They're building a preliminary crosswalk until funding is approved for the bridge. Currently, that's expected to go through council and the bridge to be built at the end of 2017, after the first phase is opened this Summer.
 
Mini-update from the latest WT report:

Waterfront Toronto is working closely with the Bentway coordinating the anticipated construction schedule and a series of planned events that will highlight the construction process for the public. In addition, Waterfront Toronto is assisting in additional fundraising efforts aimed at securing funding for additional phases of the project.
 
Latest email update:

We are pleased to share with you the first in a series of project updates. Construction staff will be on-site from the first week of March 2017, and will begin construction in the weeks to come. This process will continue through the winter and spring of 2018. Throughout this process, access to the Fort York National Historic Site and the Fort York Visitor Centre, as well as events will be maintained. Over the coming months, as construction progresses, the Conservancy will be sure to share more project updates with you.
 
The initial phase of Under Gardiner was supposed to be open for summer 2017. I wonder what, if anything, will be complete this year.

42
 
From today's email update: they now have a CEO.

​


We’re delighted to announce that Julian Sleath has been appointed CEO of The Bentway. His first day will be March 27th, 2017. Bringing more than 35 years of leadership and experience in the performing arts, Sleath will focus on developing this new public space and bringing it to life with a dynamic year-round program of events that will embrace the unique aspiration and vision of The Bentway Conservancy.

Judy and Wil Matthews, The Bentway Conservancy board members, declared, “We are simply thrilled that Julian will bring his extensive experience and passion for artistic and community engaged events, and his love for the City of Toronto to the Bentway experience."

Previously, Sleath was Executive Director of Performing Arts at The Banff Centre, Program Manager of Cultural Events for the City of Toronto, and served on the Arts and Programming Advisory Committees for the 2015 Pan Am & Parapan Am Games, and for Artscape on the launch of Daniels Spectrum. Sleath has also worked on the realization of numerous cultural spaces including the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts for the Canadian Opera Company, theatres in the UK, concert halls in Russia, an outdoor stage in Dallas, and Koerner Hall here in Toronto.

“It is a delight to return to Toronto and lead such a thrilling project for the city”, said Sleath, “Since hearing of the concept, The Bentway has captured my imagination as to what a modern and developing city like Toronto can offer to its communities. The project asks us all to reconsider how we view the Gardiner Expressway and our ongoing relationship with city infrastructure. As construction of the design by Ken Greenberg and PUBLIC WORK moves ahead, our task is to deliver an equally compelling program of events and activities. I wish to take this opportunity to not only to thank Judy and Wilmot Matthews, The City of Toronto and Waterfront Toronto for their leadership in this project but also the many organizations and individuals who have shown their initiative, vision and commitment to making this project happen."
 
What do you guys think about this idea to transform under the Gardiner? I have always though they should do something under there, I was thinking more along the lines of those markets you see in Paris on islands in the middle of the roads, but this is cool too.

Concerns are the noise from the Gardiner may dampen the experience, and people fly along that section of road under the Gardiner when it's not full of traffic, both can be potential hazards for the pedestrians.

http://m.metronews.ca/#/article/news/toronto/2017/03/15/the-bentway-appoints-ceo.html
 
Bradley, there are 402 posts before yours of what we think of the Urban Gardiner plan. In the meantime, the link you posted is essentially the point of the post before yours, so adding it is not really adding to the conversation. So, please read threads, at least the most recent posts, before adding your own post.

Thanks!

42
 
From the April WT Board Meeting CEO report:

The Bentway
The Bentway project has now entered into construction. Work began in mid-March, with construction fencing erected and preconstruction surveys underway. Removal and excavation work will begin in early April, with the focus of the first phase of work on underground utilities and drainage.

Waterfront Toronto continues to manage the design team in completing tender documents for the remaining procurement packages for Phase 1. The first package closed and was awarded to Peter Kiewit Sons ULC, who will self-perform the Site Grading and Civil Utilities work.

Packages for the Skating Refrigeration Design/Build/Operate/Maintain work, Electrical and Structural Concrete have closed and are under review.

The Environmental Study Report for the proposed crossing at Fort York Boulevard was filed in mid-January and, during the 30 day public review period, a Part II request was received. Waterfront Toronto has responded to the informational requests
received from the MOE, and awaits Ministry response and review within the next several months.

The Bentway Conservancy has now hired a new Chief Executive Officer, Julian Sleath. A long-standing event planner and producer of theatrical and cultural events, and an experienced steward of new performing arts venues, Julian brings more than 35 years of leadership and experience to The Bentway. The Conservancy is also moving forward with the hiring of a Director of Fund Development and a Director of Programming within the coming months.

The City of Toronto and the Bentway Conservancy continue to work on final access agreements for the site, and Waterfront Toronto continues to provide input into Maintenance and Operations considerations for the agreement. With the new CEO on board, Waterfront Toronto is working closely to better define the programming and activation events, and is coordinating as they relate to the anticipated construction schedule and a series of planned events that will highlight the construction process for the public.

http://waterfrontoronto.ca/nbe/wcm/...-+CEO+Report+-+April+20,+2017.pdf?MOD=AJPERES

AoD
 
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