J
Jarrek
Guest
Excellent project. Detailed plans can be found here:
www.towaterfront.ca/third...a7&fourth=
Mimico Linear Park dig begins
Two property owners stall Phase 2 by 5 to 10 years: TRC
TAMARA SHEPHARD
Jul. 11, 2006
Mimico is getting its multi-million dollar ecological and recreational waterfront improvement plan, but only Phase One for the foreseeable future.
Construction began this week on Toronto Region Conservation's Mimico Waterfront Linear Park, to extend the waterfront trail approximately a half kilometre from Norris Crescent Parkette east to Superior Avenue Parkette.
Phase Two - extending the trail another half kilometre farther east from Superior Avenue Parkette to Humber Bay Park West - won't begin until TRC secures two properties.
Extending the trail involved securing approximately three metres of shoreline from 15 property owners, Nancy Gaffney, waterfront specialist with TRC said in an interview this week. While a couple owners gave their land for free, all but two others "signed almost immediately for lower dollars," she said.
Two other property owners demanded to be expropriated, Gaffney said. TRC negotiates, not expropriates, she said.
In all, TRC paid $3 million to purchase the properties at market value, she said.
"It's all about money at this point," Gaffney said, referring to when Phase 2 can begin.
"But if (the property owners) see there's nothing to lose and a lot to gain, they may come negotiate with us. It hasn't been easy to engage them in a conversation that's very meaningful. We won over the other property owners and offered them an amount they believed was reasonable compensation."
Gaffney wouldn't name the two property owners, but described them as "large corporations" and "absentee landlords".
Phase One includes the trail extension, creation of a sheltered embayment, installation of a sand dune feature and cobble beaches and enhancement of terrestrial and aquatic habitats.
Earlier plans to turn Amos Waites Park beach, one of the oldest in the area, into a dense wetland was scrapped, Gaffney said, after a public outcry in 2001 to save the beach, and West Nile Virus concerns.
The beach section will be expanded, Gaffney said, adding the sand will be anchored, avoiding the need to add new sand every year due to water erosion.
A sand feature with sand dunes is planned south of the boardwalk that can grow tall grasses, a deterrent Gaffney said, to geese, as well as litterers tossing syringes and beer bottles. Clean sand will be added north of the boardwalk, she said.
Phase One is expected to be complete in 2008. But Phase Two could take five to 10 years, Gaffney said.
"We're very excited that Phase One is beginning, but disappointed that Phase 2 is being delayed," said Jim Lord, president of Humber Bay Shores. Its 6,000 members in 13 condominiums is one of Toronto's largest ratepayers groups.
"Phase Two for us is the critical link to increase the bicycle path, the Discovery Walk and connect with Phase Two. We feel very strongly that Phase Two has to proceed as quickly as possible to integrate the whole lakeside park system."
Cyclists, for example, could travel as far west as Marina Del Rey, then be forced to head north to Lake Shore Boulevard West, before connecting again with the trail farther west.
Some residents say the plan could be the catalyst needed to regenerate and clean up the area. Complaints of garbage littering, public drunkenness and drug paraphernalia along the shoreline continue to plague the decades-old community.
The project could also be good for local business, said David Pritchard, chair of the Mimico-by-the-Lake Business Improvement Area. Some of its 50 members are already planning landscaping, signage and maps to market use of the park and the trail.
"We believe it will ultimately transform Mimico-by-the-Lake as a destination community, which it currently isn't, and take advantage of all the beautiful waterfront we have," said Pritchard, owner of Birds and Beans. "We'll be happy when it's built through Phase Two. There's a barrier for people starting here going downtown or people downtown coming here."
It was back in 1999 that TRC officials unveiled to the public a new vision for the Mimico waterfront that became a now $10.6-million rejuvenation plan. A public consultation process involved the formation of a working group of private and public stakeholders.
Since then, the Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Corp. agreed to fund the project to the tune of $6.5 million, as part of a financial contribution agreement between all three levels of government.
The Ministry of the Environment approved the project in August, 2004. Federal authorities provided project authorizations and approvals in December, 2004.
www.towaterfront.ca/third...a7&fourth=
Mimico Linear Park dig begins
Two property owners stall Phase 2 by 5 to 10 years: TRC
TAMARA SHEPHARD
Jul. 11, 2006
Mimico is getting its multi-million dollar ecological and recreational waterfront improvement plan, but only Phase One for the foreseeable future.
Construction began this week on Toronto Region Conservation's Mimico Waterfront Linear Park, to extend the waterfront trail approximately a half kilometre from Norris Crescent Parkette east to Superior Avenue Parkette.
Phase Two - extending the trail another half kilometre farther east from Superior Avenue Parkette to Humber Bay Park West - won't begin until TRC secures two properties.
Extending the trail involved securing approximately three metres of shoreline from 15 property owners, Nancy Gaffney, waterfront specialist with TRC said in an interview this week. While a couple owners gave their land for free, all but two others "signed almost immediately for lower dollars," she said.
Two other property owners demanded to be expropriated, Gaffney said. TRC negotiates, not expropriates, she said.
In all, TRC paid $3 million to purchase the properties at market value, she said.
"It's all about money at this point," Gaffney said, referring to when Phase 2 can begin.
"But if (the property owners) see there's nothing to lose and a lot to gain, they may come negotiate with us. It hasn't been easy to engage them in a conversation that's very meaningful. We won over the other property owners and offered them an amount they believed was reasonable compensation."
Gaffney wouldn't name the two property owners, but described them as "large corporations" and "absentee landlords".
Phase One includes the trail extension, creation of a sheltered embayment, installation of a sand dune feature and cobble beaches and enhancement of terrestrial and aquatic habitats.
Earlier plans to turn Amos Waites Park beach, one of the oldest in the area, into a dense wetland was scrapped, Gaffney said, after a public outcry in 2001 to save the beach, and West Nile Virus concerns.
The beach section will be expanded, Gaffney said, adding the sand will be anchored, avoiding the need to add new sand every year due to water erosion.
A sand feature with sand dunes is planned south of the boardwalk that can grow tall grasses, a deterrent Gaffney said, to geese, as well as litterers tossing syringes and beer bottles. Clean sand will be added north of the boardwalk, she said.
Phase One is expected to be complete in 2008. But Phase Two could take five to 10 years, Gaffney said.
"We're very excited that Phase One is beginning, but disappointed that Phase 2 is being delayed," said Jim Lord, president of Humber Bay Shores. Its 6,000 members in 13 condominiums is one of Toronto's largest ratepayers groups.
"Phase Two for us is the critical link to increase the bicycle path, the Discovery Walk and connect with Phase Two. We feel very strongly that Phase Two has to proceed as quickly as possible to integrate the whole lakeside park system."
Cyclists, for example, could travel as far west as Marina Del Rey, then be forced to head north to Lake Shore Boulevard West, before connecting again with the trail farther west.
Some residents say the plan could be the catalyst needed to regenerate and clean up the area. Complaints of garbage littering, public drunkenness and drug paraphernalia along the shoreline continue to plague the decades-old community.
The project could also be good for local business, said David Pritchard, chair of the Mimico-by-the-Lake Business Improvement Area. Some of its 50 members are already planning landscaping, signage and maps to market use of the park and the trail.
"We believe it will ultimately transform Mimico-by-the-Lake as a destination community, which it currently isn't, and take advantage of all the beautiful waterfront we have," said Pritchard, owner of Birds and Beans. "We'll be happy when it's built through Phase Two. There's a barrier for people starting here going downtown or people downtown coming here."
It was back in 1999 that TRC officials unveiled to the public a new vision for the Mimico waterfront that became a now $10.6-million rejuvenation plan. A public consultation process involved the formation of a working group of private and public stakeholders.
Since then, the Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Corp. agreed to fund the project to the tune of $6.5 million, as part of a financial contribution agreement between all three levels of government.
The Ministry of the Environment approved the project in August, 2004. Federal authorities provided project authorizations and approvals in December, 2004.
