elad
New Member
BEST THOUGHT SO FAR!!!!I still think a land swap with Exhibition Place could give them the best of both worlds.
BEST THOUGHT SO FAR!!!!I still think a land swap with Exhibition Place could give them the best of both worlds.
gil penalosa proposed this, no one gave it any thoughtI still think a land swap with Exhibition Place could give them the best of both worlds.
Happy New Year Ontario Place? Sorry you'll still be pretty much abandoned for the foreseeable future.
@Northern Light (and Alex too) are easily in my top 5 UrbanToronto contributors (the other 3 are photographers of course) and I have showered applause on those many, many contributions (like most folks here I'm a cheapskate so my lazy applause is limited to likes and loves clicks).
But... I'm going to put myself on the wrong side of this discussion for a minute or so:
1. Is $30 million for Trillium Park the "grand vision" that will revitalize, reinvent and restore this entire site to its former glory (and human traffic)?
No.
2. Where's the big plan (and $$) to restore and re-animate the Pods and Cinesphere as genuine destinations all year which is at least promised by Therme? Are we going to paint the rust with Tremclad and have occasional art shows here?
3. I love the Live Nation plan for the Molson Stage... all weather, all season concerts on the lake ('world class' venue don't you know ;-).
Will Live Nation stick with their plan without another new big splash (quasi-partner) at Ontario Place, generating (local and tourist) visits and cash-flow... another "there there" type of offering?
Highly doubt it.
A new park is of course great but c'mon... it ain't rocket science to say after all these years this Place still needs (and deserves) a grand re-think beyond more disconnected (under-used?) parkland on an island across the Lake Shore highway, next to a soccer stadium.
So if no Therme... then what? Seriously, what?
So this is happening?UT's own @AlexBozikovic is out with some more thoughts on this proposal in the Globe and Mail. As usual, his opinion is so wishy washy you can't discern his point of view at all............ LMAO (just kidding).
The proposed waterpark at Ontario Place will be Toronto’s worst building
A proposal for an indoor waterpark by Therme, an Austrian company, will dramatically alter the strong heritage value of Ontario Placewww.theglobeandmail.com
The article above is paywalled. If you can read it and support Alex's work, please do, if not, a few highlights below:
Let me start by saying Alex has previously expressed his negative views on this project, and he and I, and many of you are in agreement on its shortcomings. That said, this piece adds value. Alex takes a closer look at the most recent plans in detail; looks at the absurd cost of the proposed parking garage, considers a very practical alternative; does a good job giving the lay person insight into the building's scale and probable architectural finishes...... on top of which, its just a good, thorough, eviscerating takedown.
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On the parking:
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On the scale:
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On the appropriateness of Therme in this location:
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On the alternative:
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Point, Set, Match to Alex. He's got this one just right.
So this is happening?
...it's a case of how they get a white elephant through the constricted door of public scrutiny. One piece at a time, that is. /sighTherme? I don't know that we've seen evidence of a signed, fixed, contract as yet, but certainly all indications are that it's headed that direction.
Losing the Cinesphere as a venue for movies would suck to be honest, even if they do only show second-runs and classic movies. It will be the only real IMAX theatre left in Toronto after the demise of Scotiabank theatre, and it’s one of the few left in the world that still projects film, in addition to IMAX Laser. Operating it with just science-related documentaries would be a waste of its potential. Maybe the province could find a balance if they do relocate the science centre, but for some reason I doubt it.The Province is exploring moving the Ontario Science Centre to Ontario Place, into the pods, (restored) along with a new pavillion on the mainland.
It could be a second campus for the OSC, but I believe it's a wholesale move that's being examined closely.
Alex and I would both be happy to endorse this idea.
Alex also notes that nixing the parking garage alone would provide 450M with which to invest in OP.
That would pay for more than a restored landscape.
What else you prefer is up for discussion; but it certainly could deliver a radically enhanced public beach, if so desired. It could certainly put back something resembling the original Children's Village. That's not a bad start. It could also provide at least one over-Lake Shore 'enhanced' connection to Exhibition Place.
I don't mind the idea of a modest-sized, publicly owned waterpark, as this was part of OP from day one. That could be paid for a by a private operator with a medium-term lease; or achieved for about 100M and be pretty spectacular.
In the alternative, the City could also build its largest outdoor pool yet and operate it as a City-owned pool, depending on secondary features (decks, cabins, concessions, kidding pool, lazy river, dive tanks etc.) price range 20M-60M
Which seems like a much more reasonable cost for a parking garage, assuming it's included in that.also to note is that there is a "site servicing rfp" that went out on the 19th.
from: https://www.infrastructureontario.ca/Ontario-Place-Revitalization/
- Site Servicing RFP: December 19, 2022
seems to include the pods cinesphere and bridges
according to IO's novermber update its "less than 200 mil"
Might be related to thisalso to note is that there is a "site servicing rfp" that went out on the 19th.
from: https://www.infrastructureontario.ca/Ontario-Place-Revitalization/
- Site Servicing RFP: December 19, 2022
seems to include the pods cinesphere and bridges
according to IO's novermber update its "less than 200 mil"
Starting this fall, our beloved Cinesphere will undergo necessary dome improvements to bring it back to its original grand appearance on the Ontario Place waterfront! To accommodate the transformation, Cinesphere will be temporarily closed as of October 17, 2022.
Thanks Alex - Always appreciate your insight on matters, even if we perhaps disagree here.Hi, Alex here. Thanks for all the comments on my piece.
On parking: there are currently 1200 surface parking spots. This plan would provide 2100 underground and roughly 600 surface. This is being driven, so far as we know, by the requirements of Therme.
The $450-million estimate comes from an informed reading of a document from a cost consultant as well as other reporting. It’s a realistic number. Crazy, but real.
The $200-million contract is something else.
No public figures have been stated for the cost of the park and public realm changes.
I note in your article that you used Altus group numbers - Where specifically did you find that number? Looking at their 2022 cost guide, they put an underground parking garage at $195-265/ft, which is in line with what I've seen in the past.