One of the more ambitious projects underway on Toronto's ever-changing waterfront is the development of the West Don Lands. The 32-hectare site, formerly an industrial area, was in dire need of soil remediation and flood protection before any development could start. Once that prep work was completed, crews moved in and work began on the multiple projects that will come together to make up the West Don Lands. Let's have a quick look at a few:
↑ Pan Am/Parapan American Athletes' Village: After the 2015 Games are over and the athletes head home, the Athletes' Village and facilities will be transformed: the training facility will be a new YMCA, and the Village itself will be converted into a 500-unit student residence for the new George Brown College campus and 250 affordable Toronto Community Housing apartments.
↑ The Canary District: In addition to the students' residence and the affordable housing apartments, the Canary District ("Canary" is a nod to the iconic Canary Restaurant that was a famously-griity neighbourhood landmark) will contain an 808-unit market-rate condo/townhome development to be called Canary Park. Follow along with their progress on their handy webcam!
↑ River City: River City is a four-phase project by Urban Capital that will consist of 900 loft condos and townhouses soread across five buildings, as well as a retail area with shops and restaurants. There will be a pool and an outdoor dining room, two fully-equipped gyms. Waterfront Toronto considers sustainability to be crucial factor in their projects, and River City is Canada's first residential LEED Gold carbon-neutral development. Curbed Toronto profiled the River City project in May; Waterfront Toronto has some updated renderings.
· Why Waterfront Toronto is a good investment [Torontoist]
· Toronto Gets a New Neighbourhood in 2016 [Urban Toronto]
· Toronto 2015 Pan Am/Parapan athletes' village [Waterfront Toronto]
· Hard at work for the Games [Toronto Star]
· Pan Am Games archives [Curbed Toronto]
· Development du Jour archives [Curbed Toronto]