Some of that interruption on QQ will be fixed with the coming changes hopefully.
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- Thread starter AlvinofDiaspar
- Start date
Nads Gone Bads
Banned
Where would cars park? I'm a driver, but even I think adding parking lots to the islands would be moronic. I wouldn't want to lose any trees.
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jje1000
Senior Member
A developer would be more than willing to build a pedestrian bridge if they owned the land surrounding the bridge on the mainland. Clifton Hill 2.0?
adma
Superstar
To repeat: it's a wonder the Fords haven't reopened the "kick out the Wards and Algonquin Islanders" debate. Esp. as fellow right-populist Etobians like Chris Stockwell have tried in recent times.
Then again, he ought to know better than to disturb one of Jack's ash-distribution spots.
Then again, he ought to know better than to disturb one of Jack's ash-distribution spots.
Nads Gone Bads
Banned
That's a great MC5 tune.
How many people live on the islands? The homes are only situated on the eastern edge, across from the portlands, no? It must be a pain for them to go out and eat. Especially in the winter. I guess they have to be stocked up.
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Still Waters
New Member
Yeah, complete with shopping malls and the world's biggest ferris wheel. But no NFL stadium -- after all, we want to keep this waterfront stuff classy.
Jonny5
Senior Member
It amazes me how out of touch they are in proposing another mall. I bet Cadillac Fairview's and the Bloor Street BIA's management's heads exploded. I mean it is always possible for a developer to build another big mall downtown, but for the mayor to propose one? Right after the existing one's spend big money to maintain their current tennant base?
I'm sure what this city really needs are a few more Aldos and H&Ms and Lush's.
I'm sure what this city really needs are a few more Aldos and H&Ms and Lush's.
jje1000
Senior Member
My main concern would be the possibility that city-owned land would now be scattered among multiple developers, making it harder to build the public spaces originally envisioned.
EMP1729
Active Member
http://www.thestar.com/news/article...erris-wheel-monorail-and-a-boat-in-hotel?bn=1
What's up with Doug Ford's vision of Toronto waterfront? Monorails, floating hotels, luxury megamalls, ferris wheel. It's so Simpsons-esque.
What's up with Doug Ford's vision of Toronto waterfront? Monorails, floating hotels, luxury megamalls, ferris wheel. It's so Simpsons-esque.
jje1000
Senior Member
Doug Ford’s dream waterfront? Ferris wheel, monorail and a boat-in hotel
David Rider and Daniel Dale
Urban Affairs Bureau
Councillor Doug Ford has laid out his most detailed vision for Toronto’s eastern waterfront, with a monorail skimming along the shore, a 1.6-million-square-foot “megamall†and island airport users boating right into their hotel lobby.
Ford, the brother and closest adviser of Mayor Rob Ford, laid out his vision in an interview Tuesday morning on CBC Radio’s Metro Morning.
The interview came on the heels of the Ford administration revealing it wants to seize control of port lands redevelopment from Waterfront Toronto, a tripartite agency to which Ottawa, Queen’s Park and the city have each contributed $500 million.
In the interview, Doug Ford laid out a much grander vision than Waterfront Toronto’s existing plan — lauded by planners and developers, but criticized by the Ford administration as moving too slowly—for a vibrant residential community that would incorporate stores and parks.
“What we’d like to do is have a monorail system that’s running right from the Pan Am Games (site) right along the lakefront and stops at Union Station and Ontario Place and right across the front of the lake,†Ford said.
“And then it would hang a quick little right, right down Cherry St., and as it goes down Cherry St. the first stop would be right at the end of the pier.
“You would have some just beautiful iconic buildings, hotels, you’d be able to get to the hotel from boat, from train or from the airport and it’d be the only hotel that you’d be able to get off the plane, throw your luggage in a boat and pull right into the lobby and unload it.
“And the second stop would be down by Lake Ontario Park, Cherry Beach, and you’d have just 250 acres of beautiful beachfront. You’d be able to picnic, bike, jog and then the next stop would be the megamall.
“It would be 1.6 million square feet of one of the most prestigious malls in Canada. We’d try to attract Nordstrom and Bloomingdales and Macy’s ...
“And the last stop is the Hearn Station, and that would be a multi-use facility with ice rinks on the base and soccer pitches on the top, retail on the back end and then the monorail would come back up to Union Station. It would be absolutely spectacular, it could be the most prestigious address in Canada and we need to develop it.â€
Ford had said he also hopes to have looming over all of it the world’s biggest Ferris wheel, similar to England’s London Eye.
The Ford administration has not publicly released its detailed vision for the port lands but the councillor said it made an impression when unveiled recently to an unspecified group.
“We had 15 people in the room and everyone’s jaw just dropped when they saw it. It is spectacular, just spectacular.â€
Asked how the city would finance the redevelopment, Ford said private sector investment would cover everything including the roads and other infrastructure. The Ford administration is also seeking billions in private investment to fund the Sheppard subway line.
Ford’s interview on CBC Radio — after he and his brother have long been cool to the public broadcaster — seemed aimed at putting pressure on Premier Dalton McGuinty’s Liberal government, which is on the cusp of a provincial election and is resisting the city’s port lands takeover plan.
The office of provincial Infrastructure Minister Bob Chiarelli told the Star on Monday that “the province remains committed to Waterfront Toronto’s mandate and their ongoing work in revitalizing Toronto’s waterfront.â€
And Glen Murray, minister of research and innovation, said a city decision to pull out of the port lands partnership would jeopardize the broader waterfront strategy. “All of the projects are interrelated; you can’t just pull one piece out. It’s important that governments stick to the plan and not change the plan halfway through,†Murray said.
The office of federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty would not comment directly on the city’s proposal, but said federal participation in Waterfront Toronto is “winding down†because $492 million of its $500 million contribution has been spent.
The city can negotiate to withdraw from the port lands deal and, if those talks fail, unilaterally pull out within nine months.
Mayor Ford’s executive committee will next week vote on a city manager recommendation to take back its port land properties because Waterfront Toronto has not come up with a plan to pay for the flood prevention project that must be completed before development can proceed.
Council, however, approved the $634 million flood prevention strategy just last year, on the advice of senior bureaucrats, on the understanding that a funding plan would come later. Funding was not expected to be found by now, said Waterfront Toronto spokesoman Michelle Noble.
“They asked us to report back with a business case. And that’s something we’ve been working on.â€
Speak first, funding plan later?
David Rider and Daniel Dale
Urban Affairs Bureau
Councillor Doug Ford has laid out his most detailed vision for Toronto’s eastern waterfront, with a monorail skimming along the shore, a 1.6-million-square-foot “megamall†and island airport users boating right into their hotel lobby.
Ford, the brother and closest adviser of Mayor Rob Ford, laid out his vision in an interview Tuesday morning on CBC Radio’s Metro Morning.
The interview came on the heels of the Ford administration revealing it wants to seize control of port lands redevelopment from Waterfront Toronto, a tripartite agency to which Ottawa, Queen’s Park and the city have each contributed $500 million.
In the interview, Doug Ford laid out a much grander vision than Waterfront Toronto’s existing plan — lauded by planners and developers, but criticized by the Ford administration as moving too slowly—for a vibrant residential community that would incorporate stores and parks.
“What we’d like to do is have a monorail system that’s running right from the Pan Am Games (site) right along the lakefront and stops at Union Station and Ontario Place and right across the front of the lake,†Ford said.
“And then it would hang a quick little right, right down Cherry St., and as it goes down Cherry St. the first stop would be right at the end of the pier.
“You would have some just beautiful iconic buildings, hotels, you’d be able to get to the hotel from boat, from train or from the airport and it’d be the only hotel that you’d be able to get off the plane, throw your luggage in a boat and pull right into the lobby and unload it.
“And the second stop would be down by Lake Ontario Park, Cherry Beach, and you’d have just 250 acres of beautiful beachfront. You’d be able to picnic, bike, jog and then the next stop would be the megamall.
“It would be 1.6 million square feet of one of the most prestigious malls in Canada. We’d try to attract Nordstrom and Bloomingdales and Macy’s ...
“And the last stop is the Hearn Station, and that would be a multi-use facility with ice rinks on the base and soccer pitches on the top, retail on the back end and then the monorail would come back up to Union Station. It would be absolutely spectacular, it could be the most prestigious address in Canada and we need to develop it.â€
Ford had said he also hopes to have looming over all of it the world’s biggest Ferris wheel, similar to England’s London Eye.
The Ford administration has not publicly released its detailed vision for the port lands but the councillor said it made an impression when unveiled recently to an unspecified group.
“We had 15 people in the room and everyone’s jaw just dropped when they saw it. It is spectacular, just spectacular.â€
Asked how the city would finance the redevelopment, Ford said private sector investment would cover everything including the roads and other infrastructure. The Ford administration is also seeking billions in private investment to fund the Sheppard subway line.
Ford’s interview on CBC Radio — after he and his brother have long been cool to the public broadcaster — seemed aimed at putting pressure on Premier Dalton McGuinty’s Liberal government, which is on the cusp of a provincial election and is resisting the city’s port lands takeover plan.
The office of provincial Infrastructure Minister Bob Chiarelli told the Star on Monday that “the province remains committed to Waterfront Toronto’s mandate and their ongoing work in revitalizing Toronto’s waterfront.â€
And Glen Murray, minister of research and innovation, said a city decision to pull out of the port lands partnership would jeopardize the broader waterfront strategy. “All of the projects are interrelated; you can’t just pull one piece out. It’s important that governments stick to the plan and not change the plan halfway through,†Murray said.
The office of federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty would not comment directly on the city’s proposal, but said federal participation in Waterfront Toronto is “winding down†because $492 million of its $500 million contribution has been spent.
The city can negotiate to withdraw from the port lands deal and, if those talks fail, unilaterally pull out within nine months.
Mayor Ford’s executive committee will next week vote on a city manager recommendation to take back its port land properties because Waterfront Toronto has not come up with a plan to pay for the flood prevention project that must be completed before development can proceed.
Council, however, approved the $634 million flood prevention strategy just last year, on the advice of senior bureaucrats, on the understanding that a funding plan would come later. Funding was not expected to be found by now, said Waterfront Toronto spokesoman Michelle Noble.
“They asked us to report back with a business case. And that’s something we’ve been working on.â€
Speak first, funding plan later?
Tee
Active Member
What a yahoo! This guy runs a label making business. What planet is he on, thinking that 'his' grand vision is right for a major metropolitan city. He's not an urban planner nor is he an architect or environmentalist. They're winnnnnnnnnnging it! Watching the two of them is like looking at kids with new toys. Note to the Brothers Grimm, this is OUR city, not a plaything for your huge egos. These guys are scary. Torontonians will not let these idiots ruin what has taken years to plan.
StCatharinesCitizen
New Member
I think this is a fantastic proposal for the waterfront. I was down there a couple weeks ago and just realized how little Waterfront Toronto has done with the $492 million that they have already spent in federal dollars. Toronto is on the cusp of being a top world class city among milan, sydney, rome maybe even london and new york. Right now we sit just below them and I believe that this can push us over the top. He also mentions that parklands will be involved in the proposal which means that it wont just be flashy hotels and giga malls. The idea of private investment is also a great idea seeing as Waterfront Toronto is heading in the wrong direction in terms of funding and they'll soon be sinking in debt. Private investment will definately be attracted to the area because they have an entire waterfront located in a large city to develop.
If this happens, it will be the greatest thing this city has seen since the construction of the CN Tower!
If this happens, it will be the greatest thing this city has seen since the construction of the CN Tower!
StCatharinesCitizen
New Member
syn
Senior Member
Have they done little though? I'd love to see things done really fast, but from the start this was seen as a 25-30 year project. The West Donlands, Central Waterfront and East Bayfront are well underway. I'd say at this point they're close to being on schedule.
Ford's vision is insane.
Marcanadian
Moderator
We just need the world's largest magnifying glass and an escalator to nowhere to complete the ensemble.
The mega mall idea is ridiculous. I can take the ferris wheel, the boat-in hotel and the monorail, but the mega mall? That has no place on our waterfront.
The mega mall idea is ridiculous. I can take the ferris wheel, the boat-in hotel and the monorail, but the mega mall? That has no place on our waterfront.