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Parc Downsview Park

Bilbao effect anyone?

idomo.jpg
 
Seems to me that the first urban park will be Cityplace Park.

Actually, Toronto already has urban parks. Every park in the city is an urban park.

Downsview is set to become the first National urban park (National park in an urban setting). Picture Banff National Park (Minus everything that makes Banff amazing), but in the heart of an urban area.
 
I think the City should have been handed control, and that way, it could at least be a nice, multi-use park like Centennial Park or Chinguacousy Park, with development along the fringe near the subway stations.
 
Give up hope for the heritage forest, then renew your hope and look to the heritage fallow field!

The project could use some porc Downsview pork...what's Ken Dryden been up to lately?
 
Ken Dryden has an excuse right now - he's not in power - the Regressive Conservatives are. They could do something for Downsview, but that would be progressive, and that ain't part of their name nor mandate anymore.

42
 
what's this news about a hockey stadium for a second toronto NHL tram? called legacy?
 
Ken Dryden has an excuse right now - he's not in power - the Regressive Conservatives are. They could do something for Downsview, but that would be progressive, and that ain't part of their name nor mandate anymore.

42

That's no excuse to not fight for slivers of porc Downsview pork (bacon Downsview bacon?) wherever possible, or keep some attention on the project through the media, etc. Assuming Dryden cares about Downsview, of course. He loses nothing by ignoring the project since blame for the nothingness on-site falls onto the Conservatives, but he could gain something by supporting it in whatever miniscule way he can.

The thread title is still missing its 'Parc'...
 
Thanks for the official FAQ, Asterix.
This really is like a math quiz.
So...the entire site is 644 acres.
There's also 370 acres Bombardier has. [aside: I know they have a runway but do they use it for groundwork or do planes actually take off and land there?]

Presumably that 370 is in addition to the 644 but that's not made entirely clear.

Anyway, 72 acres of the 644 went to the military and the parc/park is 572 acres. Fine.

Of that, 320 acres are set to be "traditional parkland."
And 212 acres are "dedicated to opportunities that provide a revenue stream to finance the construction, development and management of Downsview Park."

How that adds up at all, I do not know.
I see they've started work on a 10-acre lake and the 33.5 acre Canada Forest (ha ha!) so that (sort of, almost) accounts for the missing 40 acres. Maybe?

I don't know about any of you but I'm totally unclear as to what's what.
I'm set to go there for an event in a couple of weeks and will try to see what the heck is going on since the website claims, "The transformation of Downsview Park is well underway."

Mm hmm. From the Allen it looks like an underused, abandoned military base. Maybe from Dufferin it looks more like a parc/park??? Maybe that side isn't surrounded by fences topped with barbed wire?
 
yes planes do take off and land there. Not a ton, but they do. Mostly test flights from what I can tell, they fly very low in circles near my house at the Allen and Eglinton, and around the general area.
 
Hey! I know how to make Parc Downsview Park work!

Hand it over to the Toronto Pork Authority/ Administration Porc de Toronto! Put John Baird in charge! I hear Lisa Raitt might need a new job anyway now.
 
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Daily Commercial News

Looks like the Province is looking for a partner to develop a portion of the Downsview site with some density ~ :)
**********

MIXED USE BUILDINGS
Proj: 9106418-1
Toronto, Metro Toronto Reg ON
CONTEMPLATED
Stanley Green Neighbourhood, QW quadrant of Downsview Park, Keele St, M3K 2B6
$30,000,000 est


Note: REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST from Developers closes 15:30 September 30, 2009 at the Owner. Developers are required for two sections of the Stanley Park neighbourhood, measuring 19 hectares (46.7 acres). DOCUMENTS are available at www.downsviewpark.ca and at 1-35 Carl Hall Rd, as of August 14, 2009. An INFORMATION MEETING and site tour will be held 14:00 September 9, 2009. Proponents should meet at 1-35 Carl Hall Rd. ENQUIRIES should be forwarded to Carrie Lee, Procurement Coordinator, procurement@downsviewpark.ca or fax 647-438-0520. Owner will short list a select group of proponents late 2009. A developer will be selected early 2010. Further update Winter, 2009.

Project: proposed construction of 736 residential units and development of the market housing portion of the Stanley Green Neighbourhood. The project may also include some retail space.

Scope: 736 units; 19 hectares

Development: New

Category: Apartment bldgs; Retail, wholesale services

This report Mon Aug 17, 2009.


http://www.dailycommercialnews.com/cgi-bin/top10.pl?rm=show_top10_project&id=0fee4bdc3e5d2847a8c4f1e70df1284c5fe27421&projectid=9106418&region=ontario
 
Information derived from the Downsview Park, Government of Canada website:

http://www.downsviewpark.ca/eng/stanleygreene.shtml

In summary:
  • 12.25 acres (4.95 hectares) for use of Canadian Forces Housing Agency (CFHA)
  • 11.7 acres (4.74 hectares) for private housing development ... lands subject to the current Request for Expression of Interest
  • 225 CFHA units
  • 668 condominium units
  • 48 townhouses
  • Total of 961 residential units
***************

Stanley Greene Neighbourhood Request for Expressions of Interest (REI)

Overview

Parc Downsview Park Inc. (PDP) is currently interested in selling two sections of the Stanley Greene Neighbourhood to appropriate residential developers. This Neighbourhood measures some 46.7 acres (19 hectares) in total land area and is located within the southwestern area of Downsview Park.

In anticipation of the Downsview Area Secondary Plan review being completed shortly, PDP has initiated a Request for Expressions of Interest (REI), intended to solicit interest from the development industry in the opportunity presented by the Stanley Greene Neighbourhood. Through an open and transparent REI process, PDP seeks to identify and establish a short-list of qualified developers interested in purchasing the market housing portions of the Stanley Greene Neighbourhood and building thereon an estimated 736 market-based units.

The vision for the 231.5-hectare (572-acre) Downsview Park is of a multipurpose recreational space, incorporating both open spaces and renovated historic buildings relating to Canada’s aviation history that will be a year-round attraction for the local community and for visitors. The Park must be self-financing (no government funds or tax-payer dollars are attributed to supporting the Park by the federal government). Therefore, although most of the lands will remain under the ownership of PDP, a small portion will be sold or leased to appropriate partners in order to sustain the Park. The development lands will be designed, built, and operated as a prototype sustainable community to demonstrate environmentally innovative practices and technologies, and to serve as a model and educational resource for the country.

The Stanley Greene Neighbourhood property is generally bounded on its west side by Keele Street and the existing Cuffley Crescent neighbourhood, on the east by a CN rail line, on the south by Mount Sinai Memorial Park Cemetery and Downsview Secondary School, and on the north by Downsview Park. This neighbourhood is presently used as a residential area for personnel of the Department of National Defence (DND).

The Stanley Greene Neighbourhood will contribute to the revitalization of Keele Street’s east side by providing a mix of housing in both mid-rise and low-rise forms. Reinvestment in the Stanley Greene Neighbourhood area, in the form of innovative and attractive forms of housing in a mix of built form, will encourage reinvestment for other properties on Keele Street.

Parc Downsview Park Inc. is currently working with the City of Toronto to set in place a new Downsview Area Secondary Plan and approved zoning for the Downsview lands, and anticipates that the Secondary Plan and recommended zoning provisions will be before Toronto City Council by the end of November 2009.

Parc Downsview Park Inc. is hopeful that this process will result in the lands being sufficiently designated and zoned to allow for 961 residential units to be created on approximately 23.95 acres (9.7 hectares), comprising three separate land parcels, within this neighbourhood. Included in this total are some 225 medium density units (to be located on approximately 12.25 acres, or 4.95 hectares) to be provided to Canadian Forces Housing Agency (CFHA). The areas which are the subject of this exceptional residential opportunity comprise the remaining 736 units and 11.7 acres (4.74 hectares) of property (in two separate areas noted below as Stanley Greene West and East Residential Land Area).

StanleyGreeneMap_Web.jpg


Parc Downsview Park Inc. has a number of planning, development, design and sustainability objectives to which it will require the purchaser(s) to adhere. These include, but are not limited by the following:

  • To ensure high standards of project delivery, PDP will require prospective purchasers to demonstrate a proven track record for successfully designing and developing innovative, sustainable buildings and communities.
  • Design review and approvals procedure will be implemented by PDP to demonstrate that all development meets PDP?s high standards of design, sustainability and innovation.
  • The Stanley Greene Neighbourhood, will be designed, built and operated as a prototype sustainable community, to demonstrate environmentally innovative practices and technologies, and serve as a model and educational resource for the country.

While it vastly expands the public park resources available to Greater Toronto Area residents and visitors, Downsview Park is also a source of a proud living heritage of national and international significance.

Downsview Park integrates a national and natural resource within a park setting dedicated to the preservation and celebration of natural heritage. The park development process is remarkable in that the Park is positioned first as the driving force of the development, and the rest of the lands are planned to ensure that the Park will thrive for generations to come.

Throughout this process it is PDP’s intent to keep the community informed of progress and status. To ensure an open and transparent process for all stakeholders, PDP will be utilizing the Internet www.downsviewpark.ca as a primary means for communicating additional aspects and details of the REI.

Parc Downsview Park Inc. understands that with progress comes change and with change come questions of interest and concern. For any questions regarding the REI, please contact procurement@downsviewpark.ca.
 
I know that the trees grow slowly. Couldn't they have planted some trees at least?

High Park was Howard's farm with a woodlot, but at least the trees had grown enough to be called trees when he died in 1890. Look how it looked by 1917 (27 years after his death) or abouts.

fo1231%5Cf1231_it2195.jpg

fo1231%5Cf1231_it0087.jpg

ser372%5Css0052%5Cs0372_ss0052_it0208.jpg

ser372%5Css0052%5Cs0372_ss0052_it0294.jpg

fo1231%5Cf1231_it2197.jpg

fo1231%5Cf1231_it1476.jpg

High Park is to the right, I think.
 

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