Toronto Lower Don Lands Redevelopment | ?m | ?s | Waterfront Toronto

May 2: Villiers Island Density Study In Person Drop In​

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Learn more about the plans for ‘Villiers Island’ and the future opportunities for public input.​

Port Lands Flood Protection opens 240 hectares of underused post-industrial land for development near downtown. That work will be completed by the end of 2024, with new parks and greenspaces opening in 2025. ‘Villiers Island’ is the planned community that will develop on the new island created by the rerouted Don River as part of Port Lands Flood Protection. This island is almost entirely public lands, and presents an opportunity to build new housing, including affordable housing.
The City of Toronto, CreateTO and Waterfront Toronto were tasked with finding ways to increase density to deliver more housing. Including affordable housing, without compromising the vision set by the Villiers Island Precinct Plan and Port Lands Planning Framework for a sustainable, complete community.
A public meeting in June 2023 presented possible approaches to increasing density on the island. The Density Study is now complete, and the project team is reporting back with the proposed approach to updating massing (or buildings) set by the Villiers Island Precinct Plan.
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Meeting Details​


At a virtual public meeting in March 2024, we shared the recommended approach to increasing housing, including affordable housing on the new island, that resulted from a Density Study. In this meeting, team members from the City of Toronto, CreateTO and Waterfront Toronto presented the next steps for ‘Villiers Island’, including future opportunities for public input. This presentation was followed by a Q+A .
To follow up this virtual presentation, we are hosting an in- person drop in on Thursday, May 2 at 251 Queens Quay East from 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Details presented in the meeting will be on display and project staff will be available to answer questions.
Please note that the front door is at the side of the building per the map below.
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How to get there:
By bike: The building is located off the Martin Goodman Trail. There is bike parking on either side of the building.
By transit: Take the 19 or 72 bus to Dockside Drive (George Brown College), then walk east to 251 Queens Quay East.
By car: Turn on to Merchant’s Wharf from Queens Quay East, then turn left on Edgewater Drive where you will see the entrance to the building’s paid underground parking.
Register to receive a reminder for this meeting, and other related information. Registration is not required to attend. A summary from the March 26 and May 2 meetings will be available after the drop in. Please let us know about any accessibility accommodations. If you have any questions, please email info@waterfrontoronto.ca.
 
hawc said:
Are Sakura Cherry trees native or invasive?
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Is sakura even a specific species of tree? I thought it was just the Japanese word for cherry flowers? Ontario does have some native cherries, but I don't think they include the ones that Japan sent us to plant in High Park.

Personally I like apple trees in flower more than cherry trees, but they bloom later so you don't have the same "first days of spring" impact.
 
PL1 said:
Not sure this is the best place for this, but the Cherry drawbridge is stuck open . I thought at first this was from 5 years ago, but nope!

From the above article (and X/Twitter):
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The bridge's mechanicals are supposed to be upgraded this coming winter - they may have waited too long! See details at:

Port of Toronto Ship Channel Bridge – Rehabilitation Project | PortsToronto

www.portstoronto.com www.portstoronto.com

Phase 2 – To commence in late 2024.
  1. Restoration of the Bascule lift bridge structure.
  2. Replacement of end of life mechanical and electrical lift systems.
The majority of work related to this phase of the project is limited to the winter months when the Ship Channel Bridge lift is not operational. It is expected that the overall project will be completed in 2027.
 
Northern Light said:
The new Villiers Precinct Plan is headed to the April 24th meeting of the Waterfront Design Review Panel:

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Presentation Materials are now online.


From the above:

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Conceptual Render:

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This (below) is very good work, praise-worthy. It actually tests all the different permutations of height/massing, particularly podium levels and their impacts on sun access.

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One may recall that a concern I expressed over jacking density here is that the level of planned transit would not support it: The modelling certainly points in that direction, like with the Golden Mile.

That does not mean one can't do higher density here, but there if you want higher density you must plan (and deliver) the appropriate level of transit and other supporting infrastructure.

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There are a lot more slides if you follow the link, but only so many can be placed in one post.
 
In Addition to the above, WT has posted its 2024/2025 Business Plan, and in it, we do see some budgetary plans of interest.

Plan:


From the above:

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Observations;

1) Keating bridge is set to proceed, but we have yet to see the winning design.

2) No real detail on the outstanding matter of all the slip bridges.

3) Rees Park still shows as funded but no approved design.....

4) Why is Love Park in the budget for 400k this year and 200k next year? Fairly small sums, hmmm
 
Northern Light said:
In Addition to the above, WT has posted its 2024/2025 Business Plan, and in it, we do see some budgetary plans of interest.

Plan:


From the above:

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Observations;

1) Keating bridge is set to proceed, but we have yet to see the winning design.

2) No real detail on the outstanding matter of all the slip bridges.

3) Rees Park still shows as funded but no approved design.....

4) Why is Love Park in the budget for 400k this year and 200k next year? Fairly small sums, hmmm
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I was sorry not to see funding (and completion dates) for:

1. The 'promenade' at Sherbourne Common - the wooden decking on top of the metal girders they have erected there above the storm-water pipes.
2. Actually building the QQE LRT. For a project that was started in about 2006 with the slogan "Transit First" it is VERY unfortunate that it is now "Transit Last"!
3. Work on the promised 'attraction' at the foot of Yonge Street to replace the surface car park.
 
DSC said:
I was sorry not to see funding (and completion dates) for:

1. The 'promenade' at Sherbourne Common - the wooden decking on top of the metal girders they have erected there above the storm-water pipes.
2. Actually building the QQE LRT. For a project that was started in about 2006 with the slogan "Transit First" it is VERY unfortunate that it is now "Transit Last"!
3. Work on the promised 'attraction' at the foot of Yonge Street to replace the surface car park.
Click to expand...

On the last one, I think this is tied up with WELRT at this point, as that lot will be involved in that project. I suspect they will wait until design is further advanced, including costing for both #2 and #3.

Agree #1 should be there along with any and all other finishing touches to the original concept (including the slip bridges)
 
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