The Leslie Street Spit will never be the same.[rssbreak]
That could be a good or a bad thing, depending on your perspective.
Visitors who enjoy the rough and tumble of the place and those who think of it as Toronto’s best-kept secret will be a little disappointed by the attempt at order in the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority’s redevelopment plans for the Spit, aka Tommy Thompson Park.
But after much back and forth, Friends of the Spit – the group that’s worked tirelessly to keep the dump-turned-accidental-wilderness informal, unmanicured and car-free since a master plan for the site was contemplated in 93 – have agreed to sign on to TRCA’s revamp.
A minor miracle, given the bigger-is-better mantra the Waterfront Toronto panel reviewing designs for the Spit redo seemed to be pushing – almost approving plans without a quorum on one occasion.
Final plans include a gateway building to welcome visitors, an environmental shelter for nature-watching, a bird banding station and a booth for parks staff. They’ll be officially unveiled at the TRCA’s annual Spring Bird Festival at the Spit Saturday (May 8).
We got a sneak peek at the proposal. Images from TRCA show structures of a modest scale, from 500 to 1,225 square feet, with flat roofs to blend with the natural surroundings.
The emphasis is on the low-key. The environmental shelter and gateway building will be concealed by berms.
All the buildings will comply with the city’s bird-friendly development guidelines, a good thing considering the Spit’s internationally recognized rep as a sanctuary for thousands of migratory avian species.
The one possible remaining sticking point: reorganization of the existing parking lot.
Friends of the Spit is pushing for separate access for autos on Unwin to keep the main entrance at the foot of Leslie clear for pedestrians and cyclists.
