Waterfront Toronto gathered the media yesterday for a quick update on work to create a new neighbourhood for Toronto; specifcally one which will be home during August 2015 to athletes, their coaches, and media from across the hemisphere. We call it the West Don Lands now; for those involved with the games it is now the CIBC Pan Am and Parapan Am Games Athletes' Village.

Wheel and Foundry Building, image by Craig White

The announcement was made in one of the few heritage structures on the site, the extensively glazed Wheel and Foundry Building. It is not known yet what final use the spacious former factory will be put to.

Interior of the Wheel and Foundry Building, image by Craig White

Announcement at the Wheel and Foundry Building, image by Craig White

Hosted by John Campbell, President of Waterfront Toronto, also on hand to speak were Ken Tanenbaum of developer DundeeKilmer, Ian Troop, CEO of Toronto 2015, and the Honourable Michael Chan, Minister responsible for the Pan/Parapan Am Games. Their message: the construction of the village is halfway complete, and on track to be handed over to the games agency in early 2015.

Interior of the Wheel and Foundry Building, image by Craig White

Photo-Op in the CIBC Pan Am and Parapan Am Athletes' Village, image by Craig White

Construction at the CIBC Pan Am and Parapan Am Athletes' Village, image by Craig White

Behind the photo-op spot were affordable rental buildings under construction, along with George Brown College's first student residence at the back. Below, one of the affordable rental buildings features a red accent amidst gray spandrel.

A splash of red in the CIBC Pan Am and Parapan Am Athletes' Village, image by Craig White

Silva cells going in at the CIBC Pan Am and Parapan Am Athletes' Village, image by Craig White

Other construction nearby included the installation of silva cells which promote healthy tree growth (roots will spread through the soil planted between the black posts above), while the foundation of a market condominum is being built in the shot below.

Underground garage at the CIBC Pan Am and Parapan Am Athletes' Village, image by Craig White

Curbs for Old Eastern Avenue at the CIBC Pan Am and Parapan Am Athletes' Village, image by Craig White

Outside the Wheel and Foundry Building, Old Eastern Avenue is being reconstructed. Above, looking west, curbs have gone in where St. Lawrence Street will connect from King Street. Phase two of Underpass Park can be seen behind the fence. Below, looking east, the curb outlining the street is still to come.

Work on Old Eastern Avenue at the CIBC Pan Am and Parapan Am Athletes' Village, image by Craig White

Work on the CIBC Pan Am and Parapan Am Athletes' Village, image by Craig White

Above, cement trucks wait for their contents to be used to build the new YMCA location. The image looks south along the future right-of-way of the Cherry Street streetcar, a new TTC line which will open once the permanent residents move into the neighbourhood. At the back of the photo the Gooderham Condos in the Distillery District are close to topping off. Below, a shot from up in the Gooderham condos looks back in the opposite direction. The aerial view from April 4th shows the rebuilt Cherry Street taking shape along the left edge of the image, while the buildings rise beyond to the right. The Canary District Condominiums are going up where you see the red cranes.

April 4 aerial view of the CIBC Pan Am and Parapan Am Athletes' Village, image courtesy of Waterfront Toronto

Work on Sumach Street at the Richmond and Adelaide underpasses, image by Craig White

These last three images are from Sumach Street north of Eastern Avenue. Cherry turns into Sumach at Eastern, and this portion of roadway is being rebuilt in advance of the streetcar tracks going in. The torn up portion of the road is where the new street will be, while the portion currently in use will be the streetcar right-of-way. The image above looks north, while the two images below look south.

Work on Sumach Street at the Richmond and Adelaide underpasses, image by Craig White

Work on Sumach Street at King Street East, image by Craig White

There's lots to see on the UrbanToronto dataBase page for the Athletes' Village, linked below, with piles of renderings of what's coming. You can also check out the Canary District page for a look at the market condominiums coming to the village, or the Gooderham page for the nearby project. Choose one of the associated Forum thread links to join in the conversation, or post a comment in the space provided on this page.

Related Companies:  architects—Alliance, Baker Real Estate Incorporated, Dream Unlimited, EllisDon, Isotherm Engineering Ltd., Jablonsky, Ast and Partners, LiveRoof Ontario Inc, TUCKER HIRISE Construction