In Brief: New Vision Unveiled for Toronto Waterfront

In February, Waterfront Toronto announced the winning submission for a new vision to transform a 12-acre (4.9 hectare) site into a community for residents and visitors to live, work and play.

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Quayside aerial view of proposed development. Building heights and densities are conceptual and subject to public consultation and approvals. (Waterfront Toronto)

In February, Waterfront Toronto announced the winning submission for a new vision to transform a 12-acre (4.9 hectare) site into a community for residents and visitors to live, work and play.

Among the highlights of the winning submission from Dream Unlimited and Great Gulf Group were proposals to create:

  • More than 800 affordable housing units, more than doubling the affordable housing Waterfront Toronto has brought to the waterfront, with many delivered in earliest stages to address an urgent need.
  • New public spaces, including a two-acre (0.8 ha) forested green space, plus a significant urban farm atop one of Canada’s largest residential mass timber buildings.
  • A landmark cultural destination and multi-use arts venue that brings together space for the performing arts, Indigenous-centered cultural celebrations and flexible education spaces.
  • Exemplary low-carbon development and innovations, making Quayside the first all-electric, zero-carbon community at this scale;
  • Visionary world-class architecture that will raise the bar on design across the entire neighborhood and create a visually striking focal point on Toronto’s waterfront.

This project had previously been under development as part of Google parent company Alphabet’s Sidewalk Labs, but that plan was abandoned in 2020.

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A rendering of the Timber House, designed by Adjaye Associates. (Waterfront Toronto)

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A rendering showing rooftop urban farming, community gardens, greenhouses at ground level. A green space called the Community Forest is being designed by SLA Landscape Architects. (Waterfront Toronto)

Brett Widness is the managing editor of Urban Land. Previously, he worked in online editorial at the Washington Post, AARP, and AOL, now part of Yahoo!
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