Toronto Basin Media Hub | 21m | 5s | Hackman Capital Partners | SOM

[Northern Light]

Gingko are amazing, branches doesn’t break easy, wind resistant, pollution resistant, low maintenance. It’s a legacy tree. A favourite tree of mine with so many cultivars with different shape and size. It’s true it’s not the favourite trees for birds but my gingko attract a lot of birds and wish I would see more of this tree in premium locations.

Generally speaking, Ginkos are not nesting habitat, nor are they a food source for any wildlife native to Ontario.

They have the lowest rating possible in regard to the above.

Which is why landscapers love them; because even insects and pests ignore them.

But that makes them a high risk for becoming invasive, and they offer little to no ecological value.

I have no objection to one in a botanical garden, but don't want to see them in widespread use.

 

[canucks83]

Generally speaking, Ginkos are not nesting habitat, nor are they a food source for any wildlife native to Ontario.

They have the lowest rating possible in regard to the above.

Which is why landscapers love them; because even insects and pests ignore them.

But that makes them a high risk for becoming invasive, and they offer little to no ecological value.

I have no objection to one in a botanical garden, but don't want to see them in widespread use.

It’s not an invasive tree and doesn’t look like it’s going to be the only tree planted.

Same for every tree we need to be careful over planting it but it’s a sound choice for cities.

Wish we would see more gingko and from all cultivars. It’s not that popular with home owners because 1) slow growing (usually), it’s a tree for the next generation 2) need to select a male cultivator to avoid the unpopular fruit.

 

[Northern Light]

It’s not an invasive tree and doesn’t look like it’s going to be the only tree planted.

Same for every tree we need to be careful over planting it but it’s a sound choice for cities.

Wish we would see more gingko and from all cultivars. It’s not that popular with home owners because 1) slow growing (usually), it’s a tree for the next generation 2) need to select a male cultivator to avoid the unpopular fruit.

We will have to disagree. Yes, its better than planting Norway Maple; but no, that's not sufficient to justify it.

There are an abundance of native species that are preferable in every colour, and height, and characteristic.

 

[ProjectEnd]

Brick is gone.

Main office building components are now clad in green metal insulated panels. The stages are now ribbed precast concrete much more in line with the existing soundstage buildings in the area. It’s just more of a basic studio now which is fine, but why go through three rounds of design review panel to end up with something completely different and arguably worse than the original concept?

But that's just it: it's a private movie studio - by nature just a bunch of big sheds - so why was this ever given any treatment but that? Moreover, why is a large, private, movie studio (which will be surrounded by a huge wall) given such prime placement on Toronto's waterfront? That's the question I'd like answered. If anyone thought we were going to get some sort of evocative SOM building(s), sorry, but you're a mark.

 

[Northern Light]

But that's just it: it's a private movie studio - by nature just a bunch of big sheds - so why was this ever given any treatment but that? Moreover, why is a large, private, movie studio (which will be surrounded by a huge wall) given such prime placement on Toronto's waterfront? That's the question I'd like answered. If anyone thought we were going to get some sort of evocative SOM building(s), sorry, but you're a mark.

I suspect that the hope was, as with Pinewood, 'Studio Tours' and some type of tourist trap compatible buildings/public realm integrated with the working studios.

I can picture people dreaming of the old hollywood backlots. Most of which had limited to no public access, and much of which is now torn down, but I digress.

It was always a suspect vision, as tourist eyes are a nuisance to any working tv/film production.

Which does bring us back to why here?

I think there actually is a roughly good reason, though the wrong spot on a detail level.

Proximity to downtown Toronto.

A lot of productions do their outdoor shoots in downtown, or if they have a historical vibe, Distillery, and the virtue of those being close at hand, along with the historical presence of smaller studios nearby on Lakeshore and Eastern play into this.

That makes the case for them being in the area, prime real estate or not, the industry is a big employer.

But should the siting have been done on the turning basin? One could certainly argue that the south side of Eastern, or Lakeshore would have made more sense, but the former is largely privately owned, while the latter has major facilities that would have to be relocated at public expense (Toronto Hydro, Wheel Trans garage etc )

****

That said, whereas the land in question is public, the City was free to impose as a condition of lease design standards agreeable to the DRP. That they apparently chose not to do that raises further questions.

 

[3Dementia]

Hopefully someone will pick up the costs of a promenade (it's huge)... but the only walkable/bike-able attraction here would be my (brilliant ;-) idea of a big split-screen video wall on the exterior showing what's happening inside the studios .

I realize there's a thousand legal reasons this Hollywood peek-a-boo behind the curtain would never happen but hey, it would be an industry first.

Granted in an industry where "hurry up and wait" is often the de facto protocol (as @Lenser will attest ;-)... there may not many opportunities to catch Zendaya's body double blocking out a nude shower scene. But even a glimpse of the crew messing around a sci-fi set would get me on my bike.

When nothing is happening ... just run promos/ads from the tenants/producers in town (Amazon/MGM, Apple etc.). Then get on your bike and wonder if it was worth the trip.

Link

 

[Lenser]

I must agree with Northern Light; tourists and avid film/star buffs will very likely not be welcome on any active shooting site (which doesn't involve extras, of course) - they bring security and insurance concerns and the shooting schedules are rather tight and very expensive as it is. It might seem peachy keen from the outside peering in, but the reality of making most film ands series content is like discovering precisely what goes into the proverbial sausage. It's a lot of hard work - and, for shooting crews especially - a lot of waiting around between shoots. The days can get rather long.

Love the idea of the video wall, though. I just don't see them ponying up the cash to do it. It might be an excellent promotional device - but again, these studios view the Portlands primarily as a practical work hub rather than a publicity attraction for the greater city around it.

 

[Ward8]

But that's just it: it's a private movie studio - by nature just a bunch of big sheds - so why was this ever given any treatment but that? Moreover, why is a large, private, movie studio (which will be surrounded by a huge wall) given such prime placement on Toronto's waterfront? That's the question I'd like answered. If anyone thought we were going to get some sort of evocative SOM building(s), sorry, but you're a mark.

They're office buildings. They've got to go somewhere and its perfectly reasonable to say they should be accessible by transit or bike just like any other type of work. That said, in a location like the waterfront, some care should be taken to integrate it into an urban fabric. There is no reason that there couldn't be a greater mix of uses, especially around perimeter. Film studios have stimulated restaurants and catering business in otherwise industrial locations elsewhere in the city. There is no requirement for his project to be so hostile to the waterfront

There is often an urge to say that film studios should on the fringes of the city because they are by definition a poor use of space. I don't think thats true. Toronto has a history of adaptive reuse for film studios, which is a good thing, but new builds should be part of the city like any other development and should reflect good planning practices. I think the developers and architects here are lazy, unimaginative and completely lacking in pride for their work. If the proposal was for a suburban office park with surface parking, we wouldn't say no offices should ever be on the waterfront.

Timing is a bit of an obstacle

Even L.A. (the worst urban city I think I've ever been to) often puts in a moderate effort at some sort of urban integration.

 

[Lenser]

One thing working against that sort of clean& cleaver integration of multiple-use in the Portlands is the cement facilities. They're not going away anytime soon - hence the cement truck traffic (which in turn feeds the constant construction of condos we see all over the GTA) - will continue to be heavy, dusty and noisy.

 

[rdaner]

Apparently this is breaking ground in January 2025. And an image from Leslie Lookout Park of how prominent it will be. Taken and heard 15 September.

 

[Northern Light]

Apparently this is breaking ground in January 2025. And an image from Leslie Lookout Park of how prominent it will be. Taken and heard 15 September.

Possible, but improbable (the timing).

It does NOT yet have NOAC (Site Plan is not yet approved)

No building permits have yet been applied for, never mind issued.

 

[innsertnamehere]

I mean January still gives them 4 months to get their ducks in a line. Totally possible.

 

[smably]

Take this with a big grain of salt, but I was talking to a neighbour who's in the film industry a few weeks ago and he said that Hackman is struggling, the film industry is moribund, and this project is going nowhere fast.

 

[DSC]

I mean January still gives them 4 months to get their ducks in a line. Totally possible.

Pigs might fly!

 

[DSC]

Council this week:​

​

MM23.22 - Parkland obligations at 29, 35, 41 and 75 Basin Street - by Councillor Paula Fletcher, seconded by Deputy Mayor Malik​

Motion without Notice
Consideration Type: ACTION

Ward: 14 - Toronto - Danforth

Attention
* This Motion has been deemed urgent by the Chair.
* This Motion is not subject to a vote to waive referral. This Motion has been added to the agenda and is before Council for debate.

Recommendations​

Councillor Paula Fletcher, seconded by Deputy Mayor Malik, recommends that:

1. Notwithstanding Toronto Municipal Code Section 415-28, Timing of conveyance or payment, City Council authorize that the conveyance of the on-site parkland totaling 576 square metres, as shown on Drawings A1.01.B-SPA, A1.01.C-SPA, and A1.01.D-SPA (dated by the architect: December 1, 2023; Application 23 123486 STE 14 SA) occur within 46 months following issuance of the first building permit for the development.

Summary​

In November 2021, City Council approved a term sheet agreement with Hackman Capital Partners and their affiliate The MBS Group to build and operate the Basin Media Hub, a $300 million, purpose-built, state-of-the-art film, television and digital media hub in Toronto’s Port Lands. Following that approval, Toronto Port Lands Company entered into a lease agreement with Hackman Capital Partners for 29, 35 and 41 Basin Street.

In total, the project covers a combined area of 52,649 square metres (approximately 13 acres), including both the publicly-owned owned property at 29, 35, and 41 Basin Street and the privately-owned parcel at 75 Basin Street. The project will include twelve purpose-built sound stages, production office space, and workshop and production support space.

As per the terms of the lease agreement, Hackman Capital Partners is required to design and deliver a new 18-metre wide publicly-accessible water’s edge promenade along the south and eastern edge of the Basin Media Hub property on property owned by Toronto Port Lands Company. At project completion, the area of the water’s edge promenade will exceed 9,000 square metres (approximately 2.2 acres) and will be transferred in its entirety to the City of Toronto’s Parks, Forestry and Recreation Division to own and operate as a new waterfront park and public realm space. Due to various timing constraints, the water’s edge promenade was not included in the site plan application for the studio project and therefore is not considered an on-site parkland dedication under planning policy.

Under planning policy, the parkland dedication obligation for the Basin Media Hub development is 1,053 square metres. The current proposed on-site parkland dedication for the development is 576 square metres, which the motion authorizes shall occur within 46 months following issuance of the first building permit for the development. This results in a remaining dedication shortfall of 477 square metres.

This project is being delivered on behalf of the City by the Toronto Port Lands Company. It advances numerous City objectives related to economic development and public realm, among others. In light of the project’s commitment to transfer the approximate 9,000 square meters of the water’s edge promenade (to, at a minimum, base park condition) as parkland, it is proposed that the conveyance of the on-site parkland totaling 576 square metres and an off-site dedication of 477 square metres will fully satisfy the parkland obligation required for the development at 29 and 75 Basin Street for the purposes of the current Site Plan Application approval.