Toronto Spadina Pier Revitalization | ?m | ?s | City of Toronto

The Waterfront For All Bathurst Silos Update last night included a lot of info on the pier rehabilitation. The City has appointed created a position to oversee the pier. They stated that the parking garage is being seen as a useful space to store equipment that is currently on the surface as well as housing the new cabling needed for projections/events. So far they have determined that there will be three components: a boardwalk/access point along the east side for marina access along the length of the pier. There will be some sort of permanent ‘park like’ design along the southern edge with seating, washrooms and landscaping. Finally the remaining central area will host events.

There was mention of some sort of wave deck on the north edge of the slip itself. The biggest emphasis will be to make the pier ready for events as soon as possible starting with an openhouse during Doors Open similar to last year’s Nuit Blanche event. Moment Factory, a very well-known and innovative projection/image company out of Montreal is doing the projection events.

Just an idea but someone did ask if there had been consideration to using the garage as an event venue which is something that I have thought of. The response was that to repair/waterproof the garage would cost a huge amount of money and funds are better spent on the surface. Fine. But is there an option to use a smaller portion of the garage? Maybe adjacent to the ramp which could be a theatre? 🤔
 
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taal said:
I'm a little confused, how do you use the garage for cabling and storing equipment if you don't address the waterproofing repair ? :)
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Great question that I do not have an answer for but I will find the name of the City contact.
 
The tour of the pier on Tuesday night referenced the amazing work done with revitalizing piers in New York as inspirations for what could be done here for both design and programming. I have included a few links:

ny.curbed.com

Hudson River Park’s Pier 97 will transform into ‘otherworldly’ green space

The $38 million revamp is the latest upgrade at the West Side waterfront park.
ny.curbed.com ny.curbed.com

thecitylife.org

City Life Org - Hudson River Park Unveils 2024 Summer Lineup

Credit: Hudson River Park Programming features hands-on STEM activities, new fitness classes, wildlife exploration, live performances and more across the Park’s piers and green spaces Hudson River …
thecitylife.org thecitylife.org



From Tribeca Film Festival at Pier 57:

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Any chance we can get a tetrahedron shaped tower built behind this as well?
 
rdaner said:
there will be three components: a boardwalk/access point along the east side for marina access along the length of the pier. There will be some sort of permanent ‘park like’ design along the southern edge with seating, washrooms and landscaping. Finally the remaining central area will host events.

There was mention of some sort of wave deck on the north edge of the slip itself.
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I realize this may be just addressing what could be done sooner rather than later, but my spidey-sense 🕷️ is tingling... especially "some sort of wave deck". I know these are your words of course.

Hoping they're not backing away from the gorgeous concept first released. I realize it takes money but I really hope to see something like this huge waterfront gathering place... could be the best in class yet between Bathurst and Sherbourne.

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UT

Just love this.
 
Does anyone know if there is going to be a booth here during Doors Open? I did hear something during tour but can’t remember details! Lol
 
rdaner said:
Does anyone know if there is going to be a booth here during Doors Open? I did hear something during tour but can’t remember details! Lol
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Yes! The PFR consultation team is hosting a ‘pop-up’ consultation booth both Saturday and Sunday this weekend, generally (weather permitting/contingent) between 11am and 4pm. Intent is to take advantage of foot traffic from Doors Open, much as we did for an identical ‘pop-up’ event during last year’s Nuit Blanche silo projection by The Bentway & artist Mark Dorf.
 
rdaner said:
Great question that I do not have an answer for but I will find the name of the City contact.
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The intent below grade is that it become a restricted access space solely for routing and maintaining the utilities that service the new park and the existing marina. We will also explore the feasibility of re-purposing part of the space for park maintenance/storage uses.

So the structure will still need to be maintained and water-proofed, just not to the same degree of finish/accessibility/cost when compared to the extensive upgrades that would have been required to restore and re-open the parking use to the public.
 
bowen said:
The intent below grade is that it become a restricted access space solely for routing and maintaining the utilities that service the new park and the existing marina. We will also explore the feasibility of re-purposing part of the space for park maintenance/storage uses.

So the structure will still need to be maintained and water-proofed, just not to the same degree of finish/accessibility/cost when compared to the extensive upgrades that would have been required to restore and re-open the parking use to the public.
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I find this fascinating - can you expand more on this ? I don't really follow how you could waterproof less for equipment/storage compared to say parking ? :) I would naively think the same effort to waterproof would be required either way.
 
taal said:
I find this fascinating - can you expand more on this ? I don't really follow how you could waterproof less for equipment/storage compared to say parking ? :) I would naively think the same effort to waterproof would be required either way.
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It’s not a perfect analogy, but consider the differences in monitoring/maintaining/repairing the foundation of a house with a finished versus unfinished basement. Similarly, absent public access and/or commercial uses inside the existing structure, there are simpler methods available to maintain the structure from the interior.
 
Here is the City’s page on the pier:

www.toronto.ca

New Park at Spadina Pier

A new 6,500 m2 (about the size of two soccer fields) community space is coming to Spadina Pier, located at 539 Queens Quay W. in the Bathurst Quay neighbourhood. The improvements are happening in two stages, which include an interim community space with a range of public uses and programming...
www.toronto.ca www.toronto.ca

IMG_2761.jpeg
 
Thanks... so the interim park will be ready in 2026... with community feedback gathered around 2028 or so... followed by draft designs in 2030 for a Spadina Pier vision nothing like what was posted above... followed by community feedback by 2032... followed by a final design, funded and construction start around 2037... with completion in 2040.

Can't wait (if I'm still around).
 
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