allengeorge
Senior Member
It’s all parkland bisected by roads, and very, very linear. I’m not impressed by the layout.
EDIT: I do like the large chunk immediately next to Downsview.
- Thread starter dowlingm
- Start date
EDIT: I do like the large chunk immediately next to Downsview.
turini2
Active Member
Ah, I didn't explain this well enough - the new parkland is spread thinly across their development, often in linear parks and corridors. Parkland bisected by roads is never good parkland space. I'd rather see new parkland space concentrated into high quality spaces - "garden squares" or local parks, rather than tokenistic pocket parks across the vast area.
They are lucky to have Downsview Park right there - I've also queried how they plan to "signpost" and link the existing park from their development, and if the development has a 30 year time frame - surely the Park also needs a 30 year program of investment/improvements...
Also suggested planting an "allee" of trees on the runway ASAP - that way, future developments will have mature trees around them from Day 1. The risk with the "interim uses" is that Torontonians love the wide open spaces of the new "airfield park" - and demand that it isn't developed alá Templehofer Feld in Berlin!
Northern Light
Superstar
The level of detail provided in the high concept drawings is quite limited.
We don't see assigned size areas, and it would be difficult to calculate them as they reference roads that have yet to be built.
That said, if we know the total is 100 acres I think we can reasonably assume some of those larger wedges of green are multi-acre sites, not as small as they may appear.
I grant, it's difficult to judge that.
Obviously they are counting long, but narrow linear strips that tie the site together, presumably as walking paths, with generous landscaping and seating as park space.
I don't think that's a bad thing, as long as the functional program needs of parks that would require larger spaces are also met.
Would be worth submitting a comment to them to that effect.
ie. 'in order to better evaluate your proposed parks model, I need to understand the range range of park sizes/types being offered, could you outline the approximate numbers"
New Parks would surely be built out w/their respectively development blocks for the most part.
Perhaps a single signature space would go with the first phase as a marketing tool; but otherwise it makes no sense to build 'Park C' in the midst of vacant land or a construction site with no public road access.
Once a park is built, and the adjacent roads are ready to be assumed by the City, they City would assume those spaces as City Parks, after which it is the City who would maintain them. (we hope)
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SubHuman
Active Member
Major production studio complex leads off Downsview redevelopment
California-based company says it plans to lease land and build studios of one million square feet on and around the Bombardier site.
www.thestar.com
https://www.id8downsview.ca/progress
Does that mean the airfield runway will just be left there, unused and empty, for many years?
abovegrade
Active Member
In terms of airplane use, yes because bombardier is ceasing operations in 2022. They are discussing right now interim uses for the runway - opening it up fully year-round for pedestrians and events in a couple years time.Major production studio complex leads off Downsview redevelopment
California-based company says it plans to lease land and build studios of one million square feet on and around the Bombardier site.
https://www.id8downsview.ca/progress
Does that mean the airfield runway will just be left there, unused and empty, for many years?
SubHuman
Active Member
It's essentially a 200 ft wide, 7000 ft long parking lot -- a big strip of pavement more than a mile long. I might go there once just for the novelty of it, but then what?
What kind of event would be held there? It would be a very uninteresting venue, even for something like a 5k or 10k run or bike-a-thon type of thing.
What kind of event would be held there? It would be a very uninteresting venue, even for something like a 5k or 10k run or bike-a-thon type of thing.
hbf92
New Member
I beg to differ. Templehofer Feld in Berlin is a hugely successful and interesting public space: https://futurelandscapes.ca/tempelhofer-feld
Mind you, it's surrounded by dense neighbourhoods.
ProjectEnd
Superstar
Indeed. Berlin has plenty of linear park spaces lined with density too - Tilla Durieux Park and Gorlitzer Park, for example. Whether Toronto can actually conceptualize and build out something like Berlin remains a question with an saddeningly doubtful answer.
AlexBozikovic
Active Member
I have a piece up with some details and renders:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/can...ogether-in-green-minded-design-for-downsview/
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/can...ogether-in-green-minded-design-for-downsview/
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Northern Light
Superstar
DopeyFish
Active Member
you could build a city core with that land. if you're not going to have towers, work on having the majority of buildings in the 10+ storey range and mass timber works with that too.
trying to have an urbanized pedestrian street without an urbanized population basically means those renders are full of BS. you'll have 10% or less of the people on that street than they want to portray
we want to add city pieces to the city, not suburban pieces.
trying to have an urbanized pedestrian street without an urbanized population basically means those renders are full of BS. you'll have 10% or less of the people on that street than they want to portray
we want to add city pieces to the city, not suburban pieces.
A Torontonian Now
Senior Member
The concept that it is mostly 5 to 8 storey structures (although I suspect this is for the core of the site and there will be taller near the subway stations as indicated in the consultation to-date) is a bit undersized to me. If the range were even more like 6 to 12 storey structures, I think the feel would be maintained, but it would push it up towards 100,000 residents and 50,000 jobs, instead of the 80,000 residents and 40,000 jobs proposed.
I think getting the density up a bit is integral to the success of the new neighbourhood, and also important given that this is an unparalleled opportunity to make better use of existing transportation infrastucture (three subway stations, one GO).
That being said, aside from the density being somewhat less than ideal, I am really liking the rest of what I am seeing and hearing about this project, and appreciate the level of thought that has gone into this exercise.
I think getting the density up a bit is integral to the success of the new neighbourhood, and also important given that this is an unparalleled opportunity to make better use of existing transportation infrastucture (three subway stations, one GO).
That being said, aside from the density being somewhat less than ideal, I am really liking the rest of what I am seeing and hearing about this project, and appreciate the level of thought that has gone into this exercise.
SilverSurfer
New Member
Anyone have insight about how they expect to fund major infrastructure construction by building only 5-8 storeys?
I also wonder what the City's willingness is to accept linear parks as parkland dedication. Linear parks are great, lots of great examples of these integrating and improving urban areas, but is there a threshold for what the city considers a MUP vs. a Park?
I also wonder what the City's willingness is to accept linear parks as parkland dedication. Linear parks are great, lots of great examples of these integrating and improving urban areas, but is there a threshold for what the city considers a MUP vs. a Park?
C
christiesplits
Guest
Overall, I think it looks good. I'm concerned that it will still very car-dependent, despite being on the subway line, like all the developments along the Sheppard subway line.
I would also like to see a "landmark" square or park that is more than just your typical gazebo-and-swing sets-community park. Something that attracts people from all corners of the city.
I would also like to see a "landmark" square or park that is more than just your typical gazebo-and-swing sets-community park. Something that attracts people from all corners of the city.
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