Gucci stores, a Ferris wheel and a football stadium are among the loopy ideas for the waterfront that the Ford admin is pushing as it severs ties with what it calls the “boondoggle” of Waterfront Toronto. The numbers tell a different story. From the reclaiming of brownfields to new public spaces and green-inspired buildings, Waterfront Toronto’s visioning exercise is one of the boldest of its kind.
800 hectares
Size of the area tapped for waterfront development, from Mimico in the west to Port Union in the east, the largest revitalization of its kind on the planet.
300 hectares
Amount of waterfront land that has been designated for parks and open spaces.
55
Hectares of contaminated industrial land reclaimed for development in the East Bayfront and West Don Lands.
$1.9 billion
Gross output for the Canadian economy generated since 2001 by Waterfront Toronto projects.
$750 million
Amount invested by Waterfront Toronto and its government partners in development projects along the water’s edge since 2001.
$20 million
Revenue generated for the city by waterfront projects between 2001 and 09.
40,000
Number of jobs that will be created on the waterfront once projects are completed.
40,000
Number of residential units planned.
34,000
Number of trees that will be planted.
30
International design awards won by waterfront projects.
21
Projects currently under development include Don River Park, George Brown College, Sherbourne Common, Underpass Park, Mimico Waterfront Park.
17
Number of new parks.
11
Projects completed include Sugar Beach, Corus Quay, Cherry Beach, Marilyn Bell Park, Western Beaches Watercourse.
