Toronto Ontario Place | ?m | ?s | Infrastructure ON

WislaHD said:
On one hand, I am kind of glad that we have a government that recognizes that drastic changes need to occur at Ontario Place, rather than the grass-lawn expansion policy of the previous government.

On the other, I am terrified at what they might have in mind.
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Let's begin the countdown clock to the fire sale of Ontario Place to private developers. Does anyone want to guess which kind of developer will scoop it up? Residential, Entertainment-based, other?
 
WislaHD said:
On one hand, I am kind of glad that we have a government that recognizes that drastic changes need to occur at Ontario Place, rather than the grass-lawn expansion policy of the previous government.

On the other, I am terrified at what they might have in mind.
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Yeah...I think it's just pragmatic to accept progress, and how parts of OP are wasted, so it's not a matter of if, but how? And Ford and spare tires are hardly the bastions of articulated grace. I couldn't think of anyone worse to do this.
 
ryguy7787 said:
If Douggie really wants a ferris wheel, might as well go all out and make it the world's largest with a couple other flat rides with varying degrees of intensity to bring in tourists. Something like the Marineland quadruple tower, instead of looking at the falls you'll have the CN Tower/ downtown and the islands.
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Given the controversies surrounding Marineland over the years, that's about as inapt an ideal to offer--though I wouldn't put it beyond the classless tackiness of DoFo thinking.

Oh, and if this gov't's operations are as Trumpian as a lot are fearing, don't be surprised if this link winds up being removed without notice. "Heritage statement? We don't see any heritage statement..."

http://www.mtc.gov.on.ca/en/ontario...xX84wy9udUzuVgz3zUauVv4h1HeS1E7HUcMf58FPFBJhI
 
I am just annoyed that if we proceed with a casino, Ontario Place is still a poor location to do it.

The exhibition grounds to the north (or the Canadian International Airshow parking lots on the south side of Lake Shore) are vastly superior from a connectivity perspective for a casino.

If we do a casino, Ontario Place should have a different vision that compliments the casino (e.g. a place for casino-goers to go to before and after their merriment for entertainment and food and drink, and a relaxing stroll along the lakefront), rather than housing the casino itself.
 
Yes Ontario Place seems like a somewhat mediocre location for a casino. Guaranteed we'll be seeing proposals for an A-grade casino located around Union sometime soon to go along with a lower-tier Ontario Place site. Anyways was playing around with a residential development idea located alongside the OH lands. Using a to-scale Esplanade/St Lawrence as the template (since it's one of the truest urban renewals the region has and will ever see, and came to be around the same time as the unbuilt "Harbour City" proposal for the island airport lands).

What's shown is about 3k pop.(?) in a mix of low and midrise, and It'd likely need a wavebreak. Is there money to be made creating developable land in the lake? Would it work out to be cheaper than downtown developments that are on terra firma?

Ontario-Place-Esplanade-St-Lawrence.png
 
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44 North said:
What's shown is about 3k pop.(?) in a mix of low and midrise, and It'd likely need a wavebreak. Is there money to be made creating developable land in the lake? Would it work out to be cheaper than downtown developments that are on terra firma?
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I think you're very close with concept, but it would be a far higher priced spread than the St Lawrence Co-op margarine. Developers are going to want to squeeze this for all it's worth. There are major problems though for services, (sewer, roads, fire dep't, etc) no matter what is built there. It's a little ironic that the Sidewalk plan is where it is, and not at OP. Not that I favour the concept in either locale, but the Cons will try and wrap whatever's coming in syrup of some sort.
 
steveintoronto said:
I think you're very close with concept, but it would be a far higher priced spread than the St Lawrence Co-op margarine. Developers are going to want to squeeze this for all it's worth. There are major problems though for services, (sewer, roads, fire dep't, etc) no matter what is built there. It's a little ironic that the Sidewalk plan is where it is, and not at OP. Not that I favour the concept in either locale, but the Cons will try and wrap whatever's coming in syrup of some sort.
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This was just an exercise to show the scale of the site and lakefront with regards to an existing high-density low/midrise residential development. Not to be taken seriously. Having said that I'd imagine any artificial island community to be 99% car-free. Works well in 'squeezing for all it's worth' since no private autos. Car free = carefree. Fire would presumably be similar to the Islands, with service roads only for police/fire/ems.

AlvinofDiaspar said:
My guess is between the cost of site formation and the height limits necessitated by YTZ, you won't get much out of it.
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Do wonder about this though. One person's trash is another's treasure. LDL using The Well's excavation to build land in the Inner Harbour, the urban oasis that is Tommy Thompson on a foundation of urban rubble. With an artificial island there'd be automatic reduction in costs if using fill from projects like Queen Subway or The Hub, for both parties. It's virtually free material, sourced and transported locally. That, or take a page from the design of the current pavilions at OH and elevate above water using stilts.

Anyway just mild musing. When you're on the Spit, then see things like houseboats in Scarb or the architecture at Ontario Place, hard not to think about the potential of offshore habitation and naturalization.
 
WislaHD said:
I am just annoyed that if we proceed with a casino, Ontario Place is still a poor location to do it
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I don't want a casino in our greater downtown, but if I had to pick a spot that is somewhat removed from the natural rhythms of the city, I'd probably pick this spot. I'm not against casinos per se, but I hate the way they "vaccum up" all the urbanity around them. Putting it on an island, sort of like Montreal has done, seems to help prevent that.
 
44 North said:
Yes Ontario Place seems like a somewhat mediocre location for a casino. Guaranteed we'll be seeing proposals for an A-grade casino located around Union sometime soon to go along with a lower-tier Ontario Place site. Anyways was playing around with a residential development idea located alongside the OH lands. Using a to-scale Esplanade/St Lawrence as the template (since it's one of the truest urban renewals the region has and will ever see, and came to be around the same time as the unbuilt "Harbour City" proposal for the island airport lands).

What's shown is about 3k pop.(?) in a mix of low and midrise, and It'd likely need a wavebreak. Is there money to be made creating developable land in the lake? Would it work out to be cheaper than downtown developments that are on terra firma?

View attachment 169981
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44 North:

"Apropos" of your thought to add humans as a element of Ontario Place rebirth, here's my old (vodka-infused?) impossible dream for OP revitalization along with a new (floating) neighbourhood.

Thought you might get a kick out of it.

This UT story link also includes a PDF link at the end if you're interested in the strategy/technology and master plan concept.

Enjoy ;-)


Ontario Place Redux (2013): UT story

http://urbantoronto.ca/news/2013/04/ontario-place-redux-unique-plan-unique-destination
 
3Dementia said:
44 North:

"Apropos" of your thought to add humans as a element of Ontario Place rebirth, here's my old (vodka-infused?) impossible dream for OP revitalization along with a new (floating) neighbourhood.

Thought you might get a kick out of it.

This UT story link also includes a PDF link at the end if you're interested in the strategy/technology and master plan concept.

Enjoy ;-)


Ontario Place Redux (2013): UT story

http://urbantoronto.ca/news/2013/04/ontario-place-redux-unique-plan-unique-destination
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The 504B to Dufferin Gate could now be extended south, as opposed to relying on the "the oft-maligned Dufferin bus service".
 
3Dementia said:
Thx Lost... appreciate that read it lol.
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I have little faith that anything so interesting will be built, but it's fun to dream.

I'd also like to see a new ferry terminal integrated into OP, but that doesn't seem to be on anyone's radar. It would sure be sweet to be able to ferry to the island or downtown from OP though...
 
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