Toronto Lower Don Lands Redevelopment | ?m | ?s | Waterfront Toronto

[Northern Light]

Is there any appetite/plans to spend big bucks on the river north of Corktown? Or do anything at all to it?

Right now? No.

The Mayor's Office has been clear to City departments that its important to catch up on SOGR, to complete outstanding projects and to deliver some of the good, bold'ish ideas already in the works; so please do not add new mega-projects to the wish list.

The last time the ideas raised above got a once over of any consequence was after the big flood of the Bala sub and the stranded GO train, with the examination driven by the issue of resilience of the rail infra.

To the best of my knowledge, that very cursory look only considered options north of Gerrard, not south.

Cost quickly de-railed (pun intended) any serious examination of the options.

Evergreen raised some of these ideas a few years back as well, but they really didn't gain huge traction.

There is some sympathy for these ideas among staff........but the project scale would be daunting, and there is no political push to pursue it at this time.

 

[evandyk]

A colleague of mine was on that train. My recollection of any discussions back then were mostly "good idea, but not planning on doing anything" much like fixing the DVP/Bayview intersection/ramps. Hence we got the big flood gates on Bayview that don't work when it rains heavily.

 

[AMOR]

Regrettably, that won't happen, at least in the foreseeable future. It would require elevating all of the road bridges over the Don (Gerrard, Dundas, Queen, Eastern, and that in turn would require altering the approaches to same.

The most realistic changes to expand natural space in 'The Narrows' are:

1) Remove Bayview south of Gerrard to just south to just south of Eastern. That would create several acres of potential wetland/forest habitat.

2) You could optionally push the rail corridor slightly west if Bayview were removed, but only north of King/Queen, below which it would be constrained to the existing alignment.

3) Re-align the track to the east side of the River, next to the DVP, at the same height at the current DVP (it would still flood), but this option, in conjunction with option 1 above, would allow the actual re-alignment of the river, giving it some natural curves back and providing for habitat expansion.

****

Option one above requires the acquisition of the car dealership that fronts Bayview or at least eliminating its access from Bayview, but likely full acquisition to have space for re-aligning the river.

The cost is in the range of 250-750M, depending on what properties are purchased, and whether the utilities now under Bayview have to be relocated.

add

Option 3, (moving the railway to the east side, south of Gerrard) also requires enlarging the railway where it currently exists on the East side, to allow for the Don Branch to be joined by the Bala as a 2-sub corridor, to the 1/2 mile bridge, and then keep the Bala locked to the DVP until just north of Pottery Road, before returning to the current alignment.

Estimated cost, without moving the river - 2B-5B

Moving the River - adding 400M-2B depending how how big of a set of moves you make, and the quality of the habitat enhancement.

***

* the large estimate ranges should be vaguely accurate, bit and pieces of the above have been given cursory consideration in the past. However, none of have been seriously pursued due to cost and complexity, there has been no EA, and no detailed design, which is why there is such a wide range in the number

Regrettably, that won't happen, at least in the foreseeable future. It would require elevating all of the road bridges over the Don (Gerrard, Dundas, Queen, Eastern, and that in turn would require altering the approaches to same.

The most realistic changes to expand natural space in 'The Narrows' are:

1) Remove Bayview south of Gerrard to just south to just south of Eastern. That would create several acres of potential wetland/forest habitat.

2) You could optionally push the rail corridor slightly west if Bayview were removed, but only north of King/Queen, below which it would be constrained to the existing alignment.

3) Re-align the track to the east side of the River, next to the DVP, at the same height at the current DVP (it would still flood), but this option, in conjunction with option 1 above, would allow the actual re-alignment of the river, giving it some natural curves back and providing for habitat expansion.

****

Option one above requires the acquisition of the car dealership that fronts Bayview or at least eliminating its access from Bayview, but likely full acquisition to have space for re-aligning the river.

The cost is in the range of 250-750M, depending on what properties are purchased, and whether the utilities now under Bayview have to be relocated.

add

Option 3, (moving the railway to the east side, south of Gerrard) also requires enlarging the railway where it currently exists on the East side, to allow for the Don Branch to be joined by the Bala as a 2-sub corridor, to the 1/2 mile bridge, and then keep the Bala locked to the DVP until just north of Pottery Road, before returning to the current alignment.

Estimated cost, without moving the river - 2B-5B

Moving the River - adding 400M-2B depending how how big of a set of moves you make, and the quality of the habitat enhancement.

***

* the large estimate ranges should be vaguely accurate, bit and pieces of the above have been given cursory consideration in the past. However, none of have been seriously pursued due to cost and complexity, there has been no EA, and no detailed design, which is why there is such a wide range in the numbers.

thanks for the detailed response.
yes, bayview can definitely be removed south of river street.
but i still like the idea of elevating the tracks between the rail yard to just south of the adelaide street bridge. the water's edge extending in to corktown common would be incredible. imagine a small beach there!
once the rail line touches grade again, to achieve vertical clearance under the adelaide street bridge, it would be great if it is aligned further west as you mention.

 

[UtakataNoAnnex]

I daydream about the rail line being elevated here (red line) so the west river bank can be naturalized below it - think junction triangle track separation.

this would add more flood water resiliency to the rail line. and it would give us more access to the water's edge from corktown common or from the intersection of king/queen/river. it would be awesome!


View attachment 607881

*Imagines GO trains going threw a glassed underwater observation tunnel all the way up the Don River...like the one they have Ripley's Aquarium*

 

[LUVIT!]

Huh! You could be right. I've taken that stretch of road for many years now, but maybe it's only "new" to me because I'm going westbound on it; and previously the westbound lanes were not as bumpy? Or I could just be old and senile!

The west bound lanes were always 'up and down' along the westbound Lakeshore. Especially adjacent to the (removed now) old pillars of the Gardiner access ramp. Someone here mentioned that alongside the current eastbound lakeshore the road is 'up and down' adjacent to the Gardiner pillars. If I was a passenger in our car I could not do anything on my phone because it bounce around so much. If one was speeding it could easily be very dangerous.

 

[rdaner]

Taken 31 October.

I believe that this site has been graded since my last tour and a fence has been erected.

The intersection of Cherry and Polson is being worked on and will form the southern edge of the South Park.

 

[rdaner]

Part 2:

 

[DSC]

New island in the Port Lands named Ookwemin Minising, place of black cherry trees

Today, Mayor Olivia Chow and Councillor Paula Fletcher (Toronto-Danforth) were joined by Elder Shelley Charles (Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation) and members of an Indigenous Advisory Circle to announce the name of the new island that is being created in the Port Lands and its new park.

The announcement comes after a year-long engagement and consultation process where the City of Toronto turned over naming power to the Indigenous community as part of its commitment to reconciliation. Now, the Circle is returning names for both the new island and the new park as a gift, sharing their symbolic meaning and significance to the history of the lands.

Ookwemin Minising

The Circle chose Ookwemin Minising (pronounced Oh-kway-min Min-nih-sing) as the island’s name meaning “place of the black cherry trees” in Anishinaabemowin/Ojibwemowin. Alongside the new island name, the Circle also chose a name for the surrounding park, determined as Biidaasige Park (pronounced Bee-daw-sih-geh) meaning “sunlight shining towards us” in Anishinaabemowin/Ojibwemowin.


The City collaborated with LURA Consulting and MinoKamik Collective led by Elder Shelley Charles on an Indigenous engagement process to discover, reflect on and determine place names for the island and park.


This process included an Indigenous Advisory Circle comprised of Elders, Knowledge Keepers, language speakers, youth and community members, as well as broader engagement with First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities. The Circle met seven times this year, walking the land to discuss the area’s history, cultural values and stories to determine the names.

Two hundred years ago, the area now called the Port Lands, was one of the largest freshwater marshes on Lake Ontario. Elders in the Indigenous Advisory Circle recalled that this area had an abundance of Ookwemin “black cherry” trees that grew throughout the waterfront area.

The island’s name honours the natural history of the land, is grounded in a vision of environmental restoration and highlights the future care of Indigenous plant communities, emphasized through the native planting palettes and ecological design of the Port Lands Flood Protection project, and guided by Elder Shelley Charles and the MinoKamik Collective.

The Port Lands Flood Protection project is renaturalizing the mouth of the Don River. As a result, this new island is forming in the area, bounded by Lake Ontario, the Keating Channel and the new river mouth. Toronto City Council directed City staff to further engage with First Nations, Inuit, Métis and urban Indigenous communities and report back on a permanent name for the island in April 2024 at the Executive Committee meeting.

Biidaasige Park

The park’s name relates to the hopeful light of a new day shining on waterway restoration and reconciliation, and acknowledges the relationship between the earth, water, sun and moon as relatives and teachers. The name recognizes water awareness as central to the Port Lands Flood Protection project and creation of the renaturalized Don River, valley and park. Additionally, the name honours the Indigenous water walker movement, an Anishinaabe initiative led by Josephine Mandamin, that highlights the significance of water as essential to life.

 

[HousingNowTO]

New island in the Port Lands named Ookwemin Minising, place of black cherry trees

Today, Mayor Olivia Chow and Councillor Paula Fletcher (Toronto-Danforth) were joined by Elder Shelley Charles (Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation) and members of an Indigenous Advisory Circle to announce the name of the new island that is being created in the Port Lands and its new park.

The announcement comes after a year-long engagement and consultation process where the City of Toronto turned over naming power to the Indigenous community as part of its commitment to reconciliation. Now, the Circle is returning names for both the new island and the new park as a gift, sharing their symbolic meaning and significance to the history of the lands.

Ookwemin Minising

The Circle chose Ookwemin Minising (pronounced Oh-kway-min Min-nih-sing) as the island’s name meaning “place of the black cherry trees” in Anishinaabemowin/Ojibwemowin. Alongside the new island name, the Circle also chose a name for the surrounding park, determined as Biidaasige Park (pronounced Bee-daw-sih-geh) meaning “sunlight shining towards us” in Anishinaabemowin/Ojibwemowin.


The City collaborated with LURA Consulting and MinoKamik Collective led by Elder Shelley Charles on an Indigenous engagement process to discover, reflect on and determine place names for the island and park.


This process included an Indigenous Advisory Circle comprised of Elders, Knowledge Keepers, language speakers, youth and community members, as well as broader engagement with First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities. The Circle met seven times this year, walking the land to discuss the area’s history, cultural values and stories to determine the names.

Two hundred years ago, the area now called the Port Lands, was one of the largest freshwater marshes on Lake Ontario. Elders in the Indigenous Advisory Circle recalled that this area had an abundance of Ookwemin “black cherry” trees that grew throughout the waterfront area.

The island’s name honours the natural history of the land, is grounded in a vision of environmental restoration and highlights the future care of Indigenous plant communities, emphasized through the native planting palettes and ecological design of the Port Lands Flood Protection project, and guided by Elder Shelley Charles and the MinoKamik Collective.

The Port Lands Flood Protection project is renaturalizing the mouth of the Don River. As a result, this new island is forming in the area, bounded by Lake Ontario, the Keating Channel and the new river mouth. Toronto City Council directed City staff to further engage with First Nations, Inuit, Métis and urban Indigenous communities and report back on a permanent name for the island in April 2024 at the Executive Committee meeting.

Biidaasige Park

The park’s name relates to the hopeful light of a new day shining on waterway restoration and reconciliation, and acknowledges the relationship between the earth, water, sun and moon as relatives and teachers. The name recognizes water awareness as central to the Port Lands Flood Protection project and creation of the renaturalized Don River, valley and park. Additionally, the name honours the Indigenous water walker movement, an Anishinaabe initiative led by Josephine Mandamin, that highlights the significance of water as essential to life.

Pronounced “oh-kwhe-min Min-nih-sing” -- according to the Toronto Star...

An emerging neighbourhood on Toronto’s waterfront is getting a new name. Here’s what it means

On Friday, the city announced a new name for Villiers Island as part of the multibillion-dollar rehabilitation of the mouth of the Don River.

www.thestar.com

 

[DSC]

Cherry and part of Commissioners will be closed from 4am to 7pm tomorrow for final paving. I was pleased to note a few minutes ago that they have fixed the VERY dangerous curb that I posted about here a few weeks ago (and reported to WT).

 

[Toronto Rocks]

New island in the Port Lands named Ookwemin Minising, place of black cherry trees

Today, Mayor Olivia Chow and Councillor Paula Fletcher (Toronto-Danforth) were joined by Elder Shelley Charles (Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation) and members of an Indigenous Advisory Circle to announce the name of the new island that is being created in the Port Lands and its new park.

The announcement comes after a year-long engagement and consultation process where the City of Toronto turned over naming power to the Indigenous community as part of its commitment to reconciliation. Now, the Circle is returning names for both the new island and the new park as a gift, sharing their symbolic meaning and significance to the history of the lands.

Ookwemin Minising

The Circle chose Ookwemin Minising (pronounced Oh-kway-min Min-nih-sing) as the island’s name meaning “place of the black cherry trees” in Anishinaabemowin/Ojibwemowin. Alongside the new island name, the Circle also chose a name for the surrounding park, determined as Biidaasige Park (pronounced Bee-daw-sih-geh) meaning “sunlight shining towards us” in Anishinaabemowin/Ojibwemowin.


The City collaborated with LURA Consulting and MinoKamik Collective led by Elder Shelley Charles on an Indigenous engagement process to discover, reflect on and determine place names for the island and park.


This process included an Indigenous Advisory Circle comprised of Elders, Knowledge Keepers, language speakers, youth and community members, as well as broader engagement with First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities. The Circle met seven times this year, walking the land to discuss the area’s history, cultural values and stories to determine the names.

Two hundred years ago, the area now called the Port Lands, was one of the largest freshwater marshes on Lake Ontario. Elders in the Indigenous Advisory Circle recalled that this area had an abundance of Ookwemin “black cherry” trees that grew throughout the waterfront area.

The island’s name honours the natural history of the land, is grounded in a vision of environmental restoration and highlights the future care of Indigenous plant communities, emphasized through the native planting palettes and ecological design of the Port Lands Flood Protection project, and guided by Elder Shelley Charles and the MinoKamik Collective.

The Port Lands Flood Protection project is renaturalizing the mouth of the Don River. As a result, this new island is forming in the area, bounded by Lake Ontario, the Keating Channel and the new river mouth. Toronto City Council directed City staff to further engage with First Nations, Inuit, Métis and urban Indigenous communities and report back on a permanent name for the island in April 2024 at the Executive Committee meeting.

Biidaasige Park

The park’s name relates to the hopeful light of a new day shining on waterway restoration and reconciliation, and acknowledges the relationship between the earth, water, sun and moon as relatives and teachers. The name recognizes water awareness as central to the Port Lands Flood Protection project and creation of the renaturalized Don River, valley and park. Additionally, the name honours the Indigenous water walker movement, an Anishinaabe initiative led by Josephine Mandamin, that highlights the significance of water as essential to life.

Something tells me it may not stick and locals will continue calling it Villar's Island just like Yonge Dundas Square is still called Yonge Dundas Square.

 

[Parkdalian]

I doubt that locals will still call it "Villiers Island" because most people wouldn't have any clue that is its temporary name - it only officially became an island in the last few months.

I like the new name! People can say "Tecumseth" and "Mississauga" and heck "Toronto" - we'll get used to "Ookwemin Minising"

(I do think people might mispronounce that first syllable as "Ooo" instead of "oh," though)

 

[afransen]

I think picking a native language name for the island is appropriate (unlike Sankofa square which is ahistorical and without local cultural context), but a 6 syllable name is not ideal and unlikely to gain traction for locals.

 

[afransen]

"Tecumseth" and "Mississauga" and heck "Toronto"

3, 4 and 3 syllable names respectively. 6 syllables is a mouthful and will get abbreviated. Kinda like how people don't say "let's go to Province of Ontario" (7 syllables), but instead shorten to Ontario (4).

 

[Northern Light]

I think picking a native language name for the island is appropriate (unlike Sankofa square which is ahistorical and without local cultural context), but a 6 syllable name is not ideal and unlikely to gain traction for locals.

I concur, but would go a touch further and say that its important to choose a name that an English language speaker could phonetically sound out.

Toronto is fairly straight forward, and note that we anglicized the spelling from Tkaronto which would not be intuitive to an English speaker.

Likewise, Canada is derived from Kanata though that would seem straight forward to sound out.

But let's have another look at Mississauga, shall we?

In its original language the name is Misi-zaagiing

I fail to understand why we are adopting names that aren't easy to say, using the spelling of a language most don't speak.

We can put the original spelling of the original language in the fine print; but we ought to aim for a name that will be easily said and widely adopted.