Port Lands Acceleration Initiative. Are Things Really accelerating?
Overview
On March 31, 2012, Waterfront Toronto released to the public its current plans that have evolved for the development of the Port Lands and in particular, the re-rerouting of the Don River and the accompanying flood prevention plans that are necessary to permit development in the last frontier ofTorontoland development, the Port Lands. These proposals reflect the input of the Stakeholders Advisory Committee set up in the fall 2011 at the direction of Council to review and accelerate these important development plans and determine the most cost-effective and beneficial re-routing plan.
After 12 years and $800M of federal/provincial funding of Waterfront Toronto’s initiatives, it would have been expected that the pace of development, given the demand for development land inToronto, would have been substantially accelerated. Sadly, other than some very high profile public projects such as Sugar Beach, Sherbourne Commons, Don River Park, the Wave Decks and the Underpass Park, all of which are pleasing facilities, very little additional infrastructure has been created or real development commenced.
Christopher Hume, the self-styled planner and architect of the Toronto Star (without any such educational accreditations) recently commented ( http://bit.ly/I1WOaA ) that the public was not excited about the new plans revealed by Waterfront Toronto 2 weeks ago. He further asked the question “What is the rush?” Why are we hurrying to move the development on the Port Lands along quickly and why are we seeking new and improved ways to develop the lands at a more reasonable cost?
The administration and Council decided in September that it was time, after 12 years of planning on the Port Lands, to see an acceleration of development proposals and infrastructure and a thorough review of the massive cost of flood proofing theDon River. That there have been only recently a few projects that have finally gotten off the ground such asGreatGulf’s condominium project, Monde, andGeorgeBrownCollege’s new campus on theEast Bayfrontafter 12 years and $800M of investment, the question to ask should be “What isn’t the rush?”
Sadly, without a real financing plan in place, there will be no rush. Any suggestion that private development bear the brunt of infrastructure costs will not be acceptable to Port Area land owners and future developers. The Don River rerouting/flood proofing plan has been tweaked with only modest savings, while other more cost effective and development-friendly proposals appear to have been rejected.
Without further significant government funding and a more entrepreneurial and cost-effective structure in place to accelerate development, there will be no rush in the Port Lands for the foreseeable future.
Having the 2008 Olympics would have made a significant difference, I believe, to the pace of development that would have occurred as a necessary result. It will probably take another Olympics to get the Port Lands off the ground as has occurred in other cities likeBarcelonaandMelbourne.
