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Waterworks Open House

9/20/2016

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​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.
​
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)
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Waterworks Revitalization Open House on Saturday September 10

9/7/2016

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Be sure to stop by this open house from noon to 3pm on Saturday.  View the renderings, ask the architects and developers questions, state your opinions.  If you like a bit of fanfare, guest speakers are scheduled for 1pm.
The GDNA will be represented and members will be identifiable by their promotional buttons ... Say hello, get to know us.
Afterwards we will post whatever information/diagrams we can get our hands on.  So be sure to check back on our website and spread the word.
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Things are beginning to move at the Waterworks site on Richmond Street West

8/14/2016

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We had already been told that the site would house a recreational YMCA and that Saint Andrew’s Playground would be expanded and revitalized.
Now the developers (MOD Developments and Woodcliffe Landmark Properties) have been announced, supporting documentation is available, UrbanToronto.ca has provided us a peek – AND – a public open house has been scheduled:
Date: Saturday, September 10, 2016
Time: Noon to 3 p.m.
Location: Great Hall of the Waterworks Building (enter from Brant Street @ Camden)

Much more detailed information is available at www.joecressy.com/waterworks.
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The NW corner of the Waterworks site as proposed
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St. Andrew's Playground - Share your Vision 

2/11/2016

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Two weeks ago we were invited to attend a public meeting at Metro Hall concerning the revitalization of St. Andrew's Playground.  Those in attendance gave input then and there, but now Parks, Forestry and Recreation is looking for broader input, even further input from those that did attend. 
It's your park.  You know how you use it and you know how you would like to use it.
So please submit your views and visions via the supplied website ... by February 24.
http://www1.toronto.ca/wps/portal/contentonly?vgnextoid=eef1a36de9bc2510VgnVCM10000071d60f89RCRD&vgnextchannel=3cf419cb2c521510VgnVCM10000071d60f89RCRD
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St. Andrew’s Playground – Input into its Revitalization

1/27/2016

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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. 
An opportunity for broader input will present itself shortly … stay tuned!
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St. Andrew's Playground Improvements - Public Information Meeting

1/9/2016

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Funding is available to expand and improve St. Andrew's Playground. This will be the first public consultation meeting to discuss what you like and what you want to see changed about this important heritage park.
Date:  Tuesday, January 26, 2016
Time:  
6:30 to 8:00 pm
Location:  
Rotunda, Main Floor, Metro Hall, 55 John Street
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st_andrews_playground_jan_26-final.pdf
File Size: 115 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

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A YMCA recreational facility coming to Richmond Street 

11/24/2015

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Urban Toronto did a good job of reporting on the inclusion of a YMCA to development plans at the Waterworks site:
http://urbantoronto.ca/news/2015/10/ymca-proposed-richmond-street-waterworks-site-accommodate-growing-ward-20-population
One criticism ... in the article they hyperlinked to the wrong URL for the Garment District Neighbourhood Association ... it is GDNAToronto.org 
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Progress Report - Eva's Phoenix

10/31/2015

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Earlier this past week, Maria Crawford, Executive Director of Eva's Initiatives for Homeless Youth, treated some local residents and members of Build Toronto to a tour of the construction site at 60 Brant Street. In hard hats and safety boots the group traipsed through living and office spaces as well as through the print shop which will be located in the basement.  Maria explained how the spaces would be used, which architectural structures would be preserved or modified, where entrances and exits would be positioned ... providing the group with a clear picture of what can be expected from this newest addition to the neighbourhood.  Thank you, Maria.
Read more about the construction in Maria's words.
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The Plan
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The Progress (photo by Sandy Kemsley)
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A Complex History of Development at the Waterworks Site

9/22/2015

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The Waterworks development site can be segregated into four distinct spaces:
Eva's Phoenix
Food Hall
Condo
YMCA
A closely connected fifth space is the St. Andrew's Playground

This Waterworks building is situated on the south side of Richmond Street West between Brant and Maud Streets.  It is a protected heritage site with a colourful history and an amazing architecture detailed by local resident Doug Taylor on his blog site tayloronhistory.com.

In recent history, the building was transferred to Build Toronto which was charged with finding a developer for the property. 

The east wing (known as 60 Brant Street) was excluded from the potential development site as it was dedicated to the relocation of Eva's Phoenix, a transitional shelter for youth. For more information click here and here.  Construction on this part of the site is scheduled for completion in December 2015.

Recently selected vendors for development of the rest of the property have not been officially announced as their engagement is still conditional.  However they have shared some aspects of their tentative vision:

-          A south wing food hall with 12–20 small restaurants and food vendors.  It will retain the open skylight and steel beam architecture you see today.

-          The south wall of the food hall open through vaulted structures (the windows lengthened to ground level) to the park which will be extended and re-envisioned to compliment the building.

-          The inner open courtyard to be retained as much as possible, enabling the public to walk in through the Richmond Street entrance through the courtyard through the food hall out to the park.

-          The north-west corner of the property being developed into a new condominium … maximum height 47.5 meters.

-          The base floors of the condo section to be the location of a new recreational centre and community space.  The proposal for a new YMCA, requiring some City "section 37" funding, was passed by City Council on September 30, 2015.

As for timing, the food hall does not require rezoning and the developers want to begin work as early as December of this year.  The condo/YMCA section however will require extensive rezoning and public consultation so work there won’t likely start until a year later.

 
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    Picture
    No longer available
    Picture
    The NW corner of the Waterworks site 1921
    (Toronto Archives)
    Picture
    The NE corner of the Waterworks site 1936
    (Toronto Archives)
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    The historic plaque in Saint Andrew's Playground
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    South wing interior 2015 ... site of the future Food Hall
    (tayloronhistory.com)

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  • HOME
  • ABOUT
  • INITIATIVES
    • ONTARIO LINE
    • ST ANDREWS PLAYGROUND
    • COMMUNITY CLEANUP
    • YMCA
    • CITY PLANNING
  • ANNOUNCEMENTS
  • RESOURCES
    • DEVELOPMENT >
      • 35-47 Camden
      • 8-18 Camden
      • Ace Hotel
      • King Portland
      • Manga Hotel
      • Waterworks
      • Woodsworth
      • 445 Adelaide
      • 544 King
      • 149 Bathurst
      • 580 King
      • 590 King
      • 123 Portland
      • 135 Portland
      • 450 Richmond
      • 457 Richmond
      • 520 Richmond
      • 543 Richmond
      • 96 Spadina
      • 490 Adelaide
      • Nearby >
        • King Toronto
        • The Well
        • 64-86 Bathurst
        • 164 Bathurst
        • 415 King
        • 663 King
        • 241 Richmond
        • 464 Queen
        • 101 Spadina
        • 147 Spadina
        • 424 Wellington
    • BLOG
    • LINKS
    • HOW TO
  • CONNECT
    • Renew
    • Associate
    • Subscribe
    • Donate
  • Join
  • MEMBERS