Early in the election I polled candidates running in lakeshore wards about their hopes for the waterfront over the next term of council. They discussed both short- and long-term possibilities, and many displayed a dedication to the improvement of public spaces that is an encouraging sign for the future of the waterfront. Here are the responses from candidates in wards 28, 30, and 43. Ward 28, Toronto Centre - Rosedale Pam McConnell On current priorities: Building strong, healthy, and sustainable communities -- ensuring that our new waterfront communities are mixed-use, mixed-income neighbourhoods. These communities need ...

Early in the election Spacing polled candidates running in Waterfront Wards about their hopes for the Waterfront over the next term of council. Their responses discussed both short- and long-term possibilities, and many displayed a dedication to the improvement of public spaces that is an encouraging sign for the future of the waterfront. Here are the responses from candidates in Wards 14 and 20. Ward 14: Parkdale-High Park Rowena Santos "Based on our experience with our waterfront in Ward 14, it is paramount to make sure that the planning ...

A few weeks ago Spacing posted a story about the Toronto Waterfront Viaduct (TWV), a plan to rid the city of the Gardiner Expressway and create connections between communities down by the Lake. To call the plan ambitious is an understatement: it’s an idea the likes of which Toronto has not seen (let alone developed) in a long time. Many of Mayor David Miller’s supporters were dismayed by his unenthusiastic response to the Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Corporation’s recommendation to tear down the Gardiner east of Spadina ...

Spacing Votes has polled some higher profile Torontonians to see how they feel the city's public spaces could be reclaimed. Popular filmmaker Atom Egoyan was one of the jury members for the Central Waterfront Design Competition, awarded to West 8 in June. When asked what he would like to see happen to improve the Waterfront, he offered this response: "I would love to see the Waterfront connected to the city in a more profound and resonant way. We are one of the largest waterfront cities on the continent, and yet it doesn't really enter into most of ...

A few weeks ago Spacing posted a story about the Toronto Waterfront Viaduct (TWV), a plan to rid the city of the Gardiner Expressway and create connections between communities down by the Lake. To call the plan ambitious is an understatement: it's an idea the likes of which Toronto has not seen (let alone developed) in a long time. Many of Mayor David Miller’s supporters were dismayed by his unenthusiastic response to the Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Corporation’s recommendation to tear down the Gardiner east of Spadina Avenue, ...

Stop The Plant, the organization trying to stop the construction of the Portlands Energy Centre, has made a video to encourage the public to get involved. The video, which features criticisms from members of the Toronto Energy Coalition and Mayor David Miller, likens the struggle to stop the plant with the battle to stop the Spadina Expressway. Most interviewees are critical of the government's failure to conduct a full environmental assessment, especially given the potential environmental impact of a large power-generating plant. It's worth watching, ...

Last night it became apparent very quickly that the Portlands Energy Centre (PEC) was going to be a large factor in the "Who Wants to be Mayor?" debate. Members of Stop the Plant were busy handing out flyers to each person that walked through the doors of the St. Lawrence Centre of the Arts, and they were scattered about the auditorium holding their signature yellow and black signs for the duration of the two-hour discussion. A lively and vocal crowd heard the opinions of both David Miller ...

The Task Force to Bring Back the Don recently released their Fall 2006 Newsletter (PDF). Among articles about Chester Springs Marsh and Green Development Standards being developed by the city, there is a list of questions to be raised to would-be councillors and incumbents. A summary of one question and some elaboration: Do you support continuing to expand financial support for Toronto's "Water Pollution Solution"? Council has raised the water rates to fund what used to be called the Wet Weather Flow Master Plan. But there are no quick fixes to cleaning stormwater and eliminating combined ...

Today's Star has an article about a report on the Gardiner Expressway that has hit a bump in the road on its way to council's and the public's eyes. A city clerk said Friday that the report is waiting for council "as a whole [to] decide whether it can be released." The report looks at the four options — do nothing, take it down, take down part of it and redo some of the ramps. The main recommendation reportedly calls for the expressway to come down east of Spadina. The report was first delivered to the ...