Today, City Council approved the Waterworks application with some amendments to those adopted by Toronto and East York Community Council last month.  Details of the journey through the approval process and of the latest amendments can be found in this link to the final report or in this pdf copy.

   

​The Design Review Panel is comprised of private sector design professionals – architects, landscape architects, urban designers and engineers – who provide independent, objective advice to city staff aimed at improving matters of design that affect the public realm. This includes matters such as preserving the uniqueness of place, maintaining vitality, ensuring comfort and safety, and making new development compatible with its surroundings. The Panel provides advice for both private development and public projects, including advice on new urban design policy. Advice is based on professional judgment, understanding of good design principles, conformance with the Official Plan and other related documents (design guidelines, secondary plans etc.), and the design quality of the subject project.

It's been a busy week for the Waterworks team of MOD Developments and Woodcliffe Landmark Properties.

First, on Monday October 24th they presented plans for their condominium and Food Hall then addressed community questions and comments at a public consultation meeting at Metro Hall.  We learned that there have been some minor changes to the plans originally posted in the sidebar here ... so return in a couple of weeks to view any updates. 

Then, on Thursday they hosted a sales launch and pulled out all the stops.  The future food hall was decked out with lights and tables where guests could socialize, drink and nibble on hors d'oeuvre from some of the best establishments King West has to offer.

An architectural scale model of the building site, material mock-ups of kitchens and bathrooms standard in the condo suites, and unit floor plans were all on display.  The sales office will open in a few weeks.  Projected completion date for the development is 2020.

Some great photos of the event can be found on Waterworks' website or Twitter page.

​The open house on September 10th marked a transfer of property stewardship from Build Toronto to the development team consisting of MOD Developments and Woodcliffe Landmark Properties.

If you missed it, view this CTV News video to get a good sense of what was on show.  Both Canadian Architect and the Globe and Mail give excellent accounts.
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And the Waterworks site itself (http://waterworkstoronto.com/) is informative, especially this link.

And the next step? 
Community Consultation Meeting to be held:
Date:                     Monday, October 24, 2016
Time:                     7-8 PM
Location:              Metro Hall, Room 310 (55 John Street)

Last night (January 26th) members from the community along with Joe Cressy and City staff met in the Metro Hall Rotunda to brainstorm ideas on how to revitalize St. Andrew’s Playground.  Lori Ellis from Parks, Forestry and Recreation opened with an informative history of the site (this playground was Toronto’s first in 1909), complete with old photos and maps from the Archives.  She also shared some creative ideas used in parks and playgrounds elsewhere in Toronto as well as in other cities around the world.  Community members then formed groups to discuss and present their visions for this treasure of a site.