Toronto Downsview West District | ?m | ?s | CLC | Perkins Eastman

[turini2]

Downsview West District is a 30 hectare (74 acre) property bordered by Sheppard Avenue West to the west and north, the Barrie GO Train line to the east, and Carl Hall Road to the south. I've crudely marked Downsview Park station on the photo below. The site is owned by Canada Lands Company, who are working with the city and id8Downsview on the wider vision for Downsview.

Canada Lands Company own the eastern parcel of Downsview next to Sheppard West TTC (thread here [no thread yet?]) as well as the land west of Sheppard Ave in the photo above (thread here). The Bombardier site itself is being redeveloped by id8Downsview (thread here).

Generally speaking, they're proposing high density housing and employment (35-60 storeys centred on the subway station, 8-14 storeys elsewhere), as well as new parkland, reuse of the 40 Carl Hall Road building, and a new east-west street crossing the Barrie GO Line.

 

[turini2]

Community consultation began in 2022, building on previous work prior to the Bombardier site announcing its closure, and the entire id8Downsview consultation process.

The 2022 consultation considered a substantial uplift in density compared to previous plans - centred on the TTC & GO station while also reusing the 40 Carl Hall Road building. It also considered a new east-west street over the Barrie GO line.

The 2023 consultation expanded on the proposals, with four character areas, more concrete ideas for parkland and urban realm, street network and density (2.8 FSI, 35-60 storeys centred on the subway station, 8-14 storeys elsewhere), retention of the Fire Hall and parts of the 40 Carl Hall Road building. Next steps will be municipal approval by the city in spring 2024, apparently.

 

[Northern Light]

@turini2 You've always seemed a 'morning person' to me. The combo of encountering you most often in the first 1/2 of the day, along w/your Avatar, has imparted that.

But even by your standards, this seems early.

To me.........it's 4am.

 

[turini2]

@turini2 You've always seemed a 'morning person' to me. The combo of encountering you most often in the first 1/2 of the day, along w/your Avatar, has imparted that.

But even by your standards, this seems early.

To me.........it's 4am.

I am in London! My job allows me to work flexibly, so I get a few hours of "me morning time" before starting at 10am.

 

[Northern Light]

I am in London! My job allows me to work flexibly, so I get a few hours of "me morning time" before starting at 10am.

I recall knowing you were across the pond....... but still not this early to posting, most days. (I don't think)

 

[Northern Light]

I've submitted feedback, you get zero points if you guessed that I suggested consolidating the two northern parks to create a larger, more functional park.

 

[abovegrade]

I am in London! My job allows me to work flexibly, so I get a few hours of "me morning time" before starting at 10am.

Cool! If you don't mind me asking where does your interest in Toronto development come from?

 

[turini2]

Cool! If you don't mind me asking where does your interest in Toronto development come from?

Not at all! I'm an urban planner by trade in London - specifically, I write planning policy. I did a exchange year at TMU in 2012/13, really enjoyed my time living in Toronto, and I have strong connections to friends in the GTHA. Been back several times (including for months at a time!), but paying attention to what's going on helps maintain the connection.

From a selfish perspective, I can't speak that openly on development in my neck of the woods - but I can express my thoughts on a place where I have no skin in the game!

 

[abovegrade]

Not at all! I'm an urban planner by trade in London - specifically, I write planning policy. I did a exchange year at TMU in 2012/13, really enjoyed my time living in Toronto, and I have strong connections to friends in the GTHA. Been back several times (including for months at a time!), but paying attention to what's going on helps maintain the connection.

From a selfish perspective, I can't speak that openly on development in my neck of the woods - but I can express my thoughts on a place where I have no skin in the game!

That’s really cool mate. Thanks for sharing. For all that we complain, there are a lot of positives about Toronto. Although, London is lovely and probably my next move if I can swing it XD

 

[FormerTorontonianBackInTO]

Community consultation began in 2022, building on previous work prior to the Bombardier site announcing its closure, and the entire id8Downsview consultation process. View attachment 538489View attachment 538490

The 2022 consultation considered a substantial uplift in density compared to previous plans - centred on the TTC & GO station while also reusing the 40 Carl Hall Road building. It also considered a new east-west street over the Barrie GO line.

The 2023 consultation expanded on the proposals, with four character areas, more concrete ideas for parkland and urban realm, street network and density (2.8 FSI, 35-60 storeys centred on the subway station, 8-14 storeys elsewhere), retention of the Fire Hall and parts of the 40 Carl Hall Road building. Next steps will be municipal approval by the city in spring 2024, apparently.

View attachment 538491View attachment 538492View attachment 538493View attachment 538494View attachment 538495

"low rise existing buildings add character and variety", which refers to two massive ugly structures eating up tons of valuable real estate this near to a subway/GO train station, might be the dumbest thing I've seen from governments in the context of a housing crisis...and they're clearing quite a high bar on this one....how do people not get held accountable for this nonsense...there's taxes being payed for this stupidity to be uttered

 

[abovegrade]

"low rise existing buildings add character and variety", which refers to two massive ugly structures eating up tons of valuable real estate this near to a subway/GO train station, might be the dumbest thing I've seen from governments in the context of a housing crisis...and they're clearing quite a high bar on this one....how do people not get held accountable for this nonsense...there's taxes being payed for this stupidity to be uttered

Yeah I agree, I feel like cursing. This makes ZERO sense. Everyone coming to these meetings for the most part have been asking why density isn't being increased.

 

[Northern Light]

@AlexBozikovic has a good column out giving a sneak peak into the proposals here, for which the application has now been submitted, but is not yet public-facing.

Canada Lands development Downsview West plans to deliver affordable housing, novel design

Toronto’s largest development project, situated on a former Canadian Forces base, is remarkable for its scale and design approach

www.theglobeandmail.com

He's extremely positive on the proposal, for reasons with which I broadly agree; though its important to note that we don't have all the plans to dissect yet, and even then, these are highly conceptual and reliant on future architects and builders.

The two things Alex highlights are an extraordinary commitment to 20% affordable housing, and a plan that largely eschews the typical street grid for something a bit different.

Two renders are included in the piece, and I will bring those forward:

There is much to be said for a cohesive and ambitious plan; though the players are different here, it may remind one of the fine work of Allies and Morrison on the Christie site.

I applaud that.

We must, of course, observe the contrast between Alex' (and my) perception of this site, and McCleary and Villiers.

Both are well intended, both are ambitious.

But one reads (Portlands) reads as a bit too planning by rote; that is to say, by formula and by reliance on fitting the ambition into the established order; where the more successful exercises seek, at least in part, to upend the way things are typically done.

Worth noting though, is another key difference. The Christie site will have its own dedicated GO Station, with very frequent service, relatively close to downtown.

This site will have the already built Downsview GO Station and Downsview Park and Sheppard West subway stations; and quite possibly a new GO station further south near Wilson, and quite probably, a Sheppard subway too.

The Portlands, within the site, will have no subway or GO access, with median distances to same in the 1km+ range.

 

[rdaner]

Alex has been busy! Spreading the good word!

 

[picard102]

and quite possibly a new GO station further south near Wilson, and quite probably

Is there a thread for this??

 

[Northern Light]

Is there a thread for this??

For the GO Station? No.

Its a conceptual proposal in some of the Downsview Plans, Mx hasn't yet agreed to pursue it.