WELCOME
Thank you for your continued interest in Downsview Park and welcome to this issue of the Downsview Lands newsletter. In an ongoing effort to engage and encourage public participation, Canada Lands Company has developed this newsletter to offer subscribers the latest information about the Downsview Lands project and offer insight into the planning process as Canada Lands continues to develop these exciting new neighbourhoods and deliver on community benefits. Please let us know your thoughts, we welcome your feedback!
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What are the Downsview Lands?
The Park and Lands defined
What was once a 572-acre Canadian Forces Base is being transformed into a unique urban park along with five diverse neighbourhoods. Over half of this former military site is now home to a large 294-acre parkland component, better known as Downsview Park, and the remainder, referred to as the Downsview Lands, comprises five neighbourhoods to be developed as described in the City of Toronto's approved Secondary Plan. The first neighbourhood to be established is Stanley Greene, which lies to the south end of the site. The other neighbourhoods will be developed over the course of many years through thoughtful planning and consultation. The community's involvement in contributing to their design and function will be a key contributor in making
the future vision for these sites a reality.
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New Website Launch
Downwsview Lands site coming soon
Canada Lands Company is pleased to announce the upcoming launch of the official Downsview Lands website. The new website will be the definitive source for current information about the neighbourhoods and news of ongoing plans, as well as opportunities to engage with Canada Lands during the planning processes.
Please keep checking with us at www.DownsviewPark.ca
for news and updates of when this new site will be ready.
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Stanley Greene Neighbourhood Update
Heritage, site service, and public artworks
Street Names Commemorating Heritage
Street names in the Stanley Greene neighbourhood have now been approved by the City of Toronto, and Canada Lands is pleased to support this initiative as part of its commitment to commemorate the heritage of the Downsview site. Street names will honour the site's rich aviation, military, and agricultural history, with names such as Downsview Park Boulevard, Stanley Greene Boulevard, Frederick Tisdale Drive and George Butchart Drive. This neighbourhood will be the first of the five communities that are part of the Downsview Lands to be established.
Site Servicing Update
Canada Lands is in the process of finalizing engineering design approvals from the City of Toronto. We are expecting these final approvals in the next few weeks after which site servicing work will immediately proceed.
Stanley Greene Neighbourhood Public Artworks
In 2014, Canada Lands issued a call to international and local artists interested in developing th
ree
permanent public artworks for the Stanley Greene Neighbourhood.
Following the artist selection process, Canada Lands will enter the design phase where possible concepts will be prepared for review by a panel and stakeholders will be able to provide feedback. We expect an opportunity for community representation on this panel and will provide an update on this process in the near future.
Looking for a New Home?
If you're interested in being part of this up-and-coming, vibrant new neighbourhood, please visit the Mattamy Homes website for more information.
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William Baker Neighbourhood Update
Access to new, permanent natural area coming this spring
As you may have noticed, the concrete barrier at Keele Street in the William Baker Neighbourhood has come down in
preparation for opening up the space for access to a new natural area.
Following further work set to be completed in the late spring such as pathway installation, seeding and tree planting, Canada Lands will be pleased to provide the community with safe pedestrian access to a mature, permanent woodlot that's perfect for
having a leisurely
stroll, birding and observing wildlife and nature in the
southern portion of the
William Baker neighbourhood.
As development in this neighbourhood proceeds, Canada Lands will further enhance the woodlot and the connectivity in this area by adding paths to and from William Baker, Downsview Park, and major streets such as Sheppard Avenue and Keele Street.
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Allen Road Neighbourhood Update
Responding to the Build Toronto submission
Planning for the Allen neighbourhood is underway as Build Toronto, the City's real estate and development corporation recently submitted its District Plan to the City of Toronto which will act as the framework for developing the Build Toronto property. The eastern half of the Allen district,including Banting Park and the Downsview TTC Station lands, is approximately 73 acres. Canada Lands owns approximately 40 acres on the west of Allen Road. The review and approval of the District Plan for Build Toronto lands are being considered by the City as phase one. Canada Lands' property will be considered as phase two of the District Plan approvals process.
For the time being, Canada Lands has no plans for its site other than cooperating with Build Toronto on coordinated planning efforts of major infrastructure elements, such as common intersection locations on Allen Road. Canada Lands looks forward to engaging the community at a later date to discuss its property in phase two of the Allen neighbourhood in its own consultation process to determine a detailed development plan for the land. We will keep the community informed as we move forward. For more information about Build Toronto and its development in the Allen neighbourhood, please visit www.buildtoronto.ca.
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Other Initiatives
Transit road and improved Park connectivity in the works
Other initiatives Canada Lands is currently working on include its participation in the City of Toronto led environmental assessment process for Transit Road, the new proposed major arterial road running along the south and west boundaries of the site. Transit Road will provide much needed connectivity from the south-east to the north-west of the Downsview area, while relieving traffic from the Allen and Sheppard intersection. Canada Lands is also studying ways cyclists and pedestrians can connect to Downsview Park and Keele Street from the new TTC/Metrolinx station at the north end of its property. More information about these initiatives will be provided in future newsletters.
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Downsview Park Update
Action-packed winter season continues
With spring just around the corner, park activities are in full swing with various sport leagues, events, and educational programs running throughout the winter. We've had many visitors and families stop by for some bird watching, to enjoy a stroll around the Circuit Path, walk their dogs, and even play in the snow. Our staff continues to maintain the Park throughout the winter months, so feel free to come out and enjoy!
Downsview Park Office Move
We would like to wish our friends at the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority who occupied 70 Canuck Avenue all the very best as they move into their new home in Vaughan. Canada Lands will be moving its office and the community Discovery Centre from 35 Carl Hall Road into a portion of 70 Canuck Avenue in the coming weeks.
Improved Signage
Last year, Canada Lands began rolling out an improved directional signage program along Carl Hall Road and Canuck Avenue. These improvements included the the installation of new building identification signs,and directional signage for drivers and pedestrians. In production are three new Park maps that will complement this signage program and to help educate new visitors. These new maps will be made available for download on our website shortly.Canada Lands plans to continue signage improvements by adding new pedestrian signs around the site, installing pylon signs along Keele Street to help users access the Park and parking.
Argonauts
It's been a few months since the Argonauts have moved into their new practice home at the Park, and it looks like the CFL team is settling in quite nicely. Team practices will continue to be open to the public when the season resumes.
Centennial College Update
Centennial College is proceeding with its plan to move to 65 Carl Hall Road. The College has assembled a project team and is proceeding with its design phase and anticipates submitting a site plan application very soon. The building will be completely restored and provide classrooms, labs, hangar facilities and student services. The college is planning to begin construction in late 2015 and tentative occupancy in fall 2017. This will be a great example of Canada Lands' commitment to the heritage of the site and the revitalization of this portion of the property.
Subway Construction Update
2014 was a big year for the TTC with over 60 per cent of track installed in the new tunnels. In April, the TTC hit a milestone with the completed southbound track installed at the future Downsview Park Station. The TTC looks to be gearing up for another year of heavy construction and we couldn't be more excited! Follow their progress at http://www.ttc.ca/Spadina/index.jsp
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HERITAGE
In 2014, most of the buildings on the site were listed by the City of Toronto on its inventory of heritage buildings. Any future plans pertaining to the built and cultural heritage of the site will need the support of the City of Toronto and appropriate heritage consideration will need to be incorporated into any new development strategy for those neighbourhoods. In the meantime, we are continuing our active maintenance and leasing program until plans for those areas are established through our planning process.
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