Waterfront Toronto Newsletter

Pilot Soil Recycling Facility Awarded Brownie

Waterfront Toronto’s Pilot Soil Recycling Facility and innovative approach to soil remediation were acknowledged with a 2010 Canadian Urban Institute Brownie Award. The prestigious Brownie Awards are considered the Canadian industry standard for recognizing excellence in leadership and innovation in brownfield redevelopment, and commitment to the remediation of brownfield projects. Waterfront Toronto’s pilot soil recycling facility, located in the Port Lands, won in the Remediation Technologies and Technological Innovation category.

Waterfront Toronto established the Port Lands Pilot Soil Recycling Facility in July 2010 as part of its soil management strategy and overall commitment to sustainability. The objective of the pilot is to determine the viability of treating and reusing impacted soil as an alternative to the traditional dig-and-dump disposal of brownfield soil.

For the pilot, the latest and best technologies available were used to treat contaminated soils including soil washing, complemented by field trials of a number of other cutting-edge technologies.

Next Steps for Soil Recycling Pilot
The processing stage of the soil recycling pilot recently wrapped up. Between early September and early November, the facility operators DEC and Tetra Tech /Stuyvesant processed approximately 20,000 cubic metres of soil. The operators are now preparing reports for Waterfront Toronto’s review and assessment.

During the first quarter of 2011, Waterfront Toronto will complete its evaluation of the pilot test results and determine a go forward plan. A public meeting will be held in the spring to present and discuss the findings and plan with the community and stakeholders.

The pilot soil recycling facility is being shut down for the winter with the site being cleaned and temporarily reconfigured to reduce the potential for rainwater and snowmelt runoff. The soil washing equipment, which cannot be operated in the winter, is being cleaned and will remain on the site until the spring.

2010 Living City Award

Waterfront Toronto’s integrated stormwater management system in East Bayfront received the 2010 Living City Award for Healthy Rivers and Shorelines at the Charles Sauriol Environmental Dinner.

The Living City Awards, sponsored by Toronto Region and Conversation (TRCA) were presented to organizations who exemplify TRCA’s vision of the Living City “where human settlement can flourish forever as part of nature’s beauty and diversity.”

Waterfront Toronto has designed and is constructing a stormwater management system in East Bayfront that is integrated into the area’s public realm including the water’s edge promenade and boardwalk, Parliament WaveDeck and Sherbourne Common. This integrated approach means that necessary stormwater infrastructure will be beautiful, functional, sustainable and cost-effective, and is an example of Waterfront Toronto’s practice of building smart infrastructure.

TRCA Chief Administrative Officer Brian Denney presents the Living City Award for Healthy Rivers and Shorelines to Waterfront Toronto President and CEO John Campbell.
Photo provided courtesy of TRCA.

How it works
Learn more about how the integrated stormwater management system in East Bayfront works.

Request for Qualifications for the West Don Lands Pan Am Athletes’ Village Project

On October 26, Infrastructure Ontario, in partnership with Waterfront Toronto, released a Request For Qualifications (RFQ) to pre-qualify and short-list teams to design, build and finance the development of the section of the West Don Lands that will be home to the Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games Athletes’ Village.

The RFQ, available at www.merx.com, is the first step in the process to select a team to deliver the project. RFQ submissions will be reviewed to pre-qualify project teams with the required design, development and construction experience, as well as the financial capacity to deliver a project of this size and complexity. Short-listed teams will be invited to respond to a Request for Proposals in early 2011.

East Bayfront Construction Update

Sherbourne Common North

Work continues on the north side of Sherbourne Common which is on track to be complete by the end of the year. Final finishes are underway on the raised pool where water collects after being released from the park’s dramatic art features. The pool’s extensive concrete formwork is now complete and crews are beginning to install the stainless steel weirs which allow water to cascade from one part of the pool into another. Decorative stainless steel cladding which reflects light and colour is also being installed along the side of the pool.

Finishing work is also underway on “Light Showers,” the park’s art features designed by Vancouver artist Jill Anholt. Over the next few weeks, stainless steel and glass inlays will be added to the concrete sculptures which rise almost nine metres above the park. In addition, stainless steel mesh scrims for each art piece are being installed. These scrims allow water to cascade down toward the raised pool creating a textured wall of water for visitors to the park.

Lower Sherbourne Roadwork

Northbound traffic on Lower Sherbourne Street between Queens Quay East and Lake Shore Boulevard is now closed to accommodate future realignment of the street and the southwest boundary of Sherbourne Common north. At the southwest corner of the park, the boundary extends 20 metres across the boulevard and into the existing roadway. Crews have moved the park’s construction fencing into the road area and have begun to remove the asphalt to allow for grading and landscaping work.

This is the first step in the future realignment of Lower Sherbourne Street with Dockside Drive, the new street south of Queens Quay East bordering the new George Brown College campus and Sherbourne Common south. This realignment, approved as part of the East Bayfront Class Environmental Assessment Master Plan, will help to improve the area’s road network. Once the realignment is complete, all lanes of traffic will be restored north of Queens Quay and the street will feature four lanes of north/south traffic and bicycle lanes.

George Brown College

Progress continues on the construction of George Brown College’s new waterfront campus in East Bayfront. Detailed excavation of the site’s four-storey deep foundation was completed in the fall allowing crews to pour the concrete slab at the base of the foundation.

Work is now underway on the formwork for the campus’ three level, underground parking garage and crews have begun pouring concrete for parking levels two and three. Construction is expected to be at grade by January.

More than 3,500 full-time students will start their first semester at the new waterfront campus in September 2012.

West Don Lands Construction Update

The first phase of construction of Don River Park is well underway, with work to date focusing on the pavilion, exterior fireplace and splash pad.

The park’s innovative stormwater collection system, which is located on what will be the central lawn, is also taking shape with the irrigation storage basin structure now under construction. The second phase of construction will include work on the marsh, including installing support piers and footings for the ipe walkway.

The construction tender for Underpass Park has been awarded. The first phase of construction will include excavation and removal of soils, and placement of new clean material. Hoarding around the site will be installed in late November.

Installation of sanitary and storm sewers and watermains continues on Bayview Avenue. On River Street underground utility construction is complete and the installation of other infrastructure is underway. On Mill Street, construction of the utility duct banks is 95 percent complete and progress continues on installation of the silva cells for the boulevard trees.

The settlement period for the north section of the flood protection landform is complete, and all surcharge material can now be removed. Removing the surcharge will facilitate final grading to establish the rough grades for the Woonerfs, the River City Development site and the northern section of Don River Park.

Waterfront Toronto Interactive Exhibit

Waterfront Toronto has created an interactive kiosk display to promote waterfront revitalization to the public. The display is currently in the public entrance area of the Canadian Tire store on Lake Shore Boulevard and Leslie Street at the edge of the Port Lands.

The kiosk features a 42” touch-screen that enables users to learn about our projects by exploring an interactive map, watching videos and viewing dozens of photos. People can also fill out a short survey on waterfront revitalization and sign-up for our newsletter.

The interactive display will be on site at Canadian Tire until the spring and will then move to the pavilion at Sherbourne Common. During this time, we will be tracking usage of the kiosk to measure its success and make modifications and improvements. The Lake Shore Canadian Tire store donated its galleria space to us and the City of Toronto as part of its commitment to community outreach.

Waterfront Toronto Interactive Exhibit at the Lake Shore Canadian Tire.

Open House: Canada Malting Silos

On November 2, the City of Toronto held an open house to answer questions about plans for the Canada Malting Silos site. In September, the City started a first phase of improvements to the site which include repairs to the east dockwall and the demolition of the germination and kiln buildings on the western part of the site. The silos, which are heritage structures, will remain and will be refurbished during the City’s second phase of work.

Waterfront Toronto is working with the City to ensure that these required municipal infrastructure repairs result in a new, vibrant promenade and a safe way to access Ireland Park. When dockwall repairs are complete, Waterfront Toronto will build a first phase of water’s edge promenade next to the silos site. The new 130 metre-long stretch of water’s edge promenade uses the same design recently opened between Canada’s Sugar Beach and Sherbourne Common, and will help connect Ireland Park to Queens Quay.

Representatives from Waterfront Toronto were on hand during the Open House to answer questions about the promenade and our overall plans for the water’s edge along the downtown waterfront.

Cross section of the water's edge promenade on the west side of the Portland Slip.

Reminder: Central Waterfront Community Update Meeting

Join Waterfront Toronto on November 17 for an update on revitalization projects in the central waterfront. In addition to a general update on waterfront progress, agenda topics include:
• Portland Slip water’s edge promenade
• Queens Quay revitalization schematic design

After each presentation you’ll have an opportunity to ask questions and give feedback. There will also be a general question and answer session at the end of the meeting. If you need more information, call (416) 214-1344 or send email to info@waterfrontoronto.ca