Ontario Revitalizes West Don Lands Via Constructing Athletes’ Village Now for 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games

This is an update to my previous posts:

• You’re Invited: Public Consultation on Toronto Port Lands’ Development & Implementation Plan Dec. 12, 2011

• You’re Invited: Celebrate Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games Handover Ceremony Oct. 30, 2011

Here is a video showing the exciting revitalization and transformation of the West Don Lands in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, into a beautifully designed, sustainable mixed-use riverside community as well as the temporary Pan/Parapan American Games Athletes’ Village in 2015:

“THE CITY OF TORONTO, PROVINCE OF ONTARIO AND GOVERNMENT OF CANADA ARE COMMITTED TO MAKING THE REVITALIZATION OF TORONTO’S CENTRAL WATERFRONT A REALITY.”

Henceforth, Ontario is starting construction for a new waterfront community in the West Don Lands for the following purposes:

• building the temporary Athletes’ Village for Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games
  • to be created in partnership with Waterfront Toronto, Infrastructure Ontario and the Ontario Ministry of Health Promotion
  • to accommodate more than 10,000 athletes and officials who are involved with more than 40 sports in 17 municipalities across the Golden Horseshoe
  • plus a new 82,000 square-foot YMCA recreational facility, which will function as training facility during the Games, then serve the West Don Lands and surrounding communities following the Games;

  • Location:  Centred on Front Street, between Bayview Avenue and Cherry Street and from north of Front Street to the rail corridor.

  • Size:  14.29 hectares (35.30 acres)

  • Sustainable development: all buildings will achieve LEED® Gold certification.

    LEED® buildings focus on healthy indoor environments, reduced greenhouse gas emissions and efficient use of energy, water and other resources.

  • Athletes’ Village facilities: A welcome and accreditation center, a 3,500-seat dining hall, parking and service facilities, and a transit mall will be built as temporary structures.

  • Timing:

    • Pan American Games – July 10-26, 2015
    • Parapan American Games – August 7-14, 2015

• newly revitalized West Don Lands will benefit residents with:
  • 32 hectare (80 acre) area will feature:
    • 6,000 new residential units,
    • ample space for employment and commercial uses,
    • at least one elementary school, and
    • two child-care centres – all surrounded by nearly 9.3 hectares of parks and public spaces
  • a beautifully designed, sustainable mixed-use riverside community
  • new condominiums,
  • affordable housing for more than 1,150 Canadians in Ontario
  • the next phase of West Don Lands infrastructure, roads and public spaces, including new municipal services, Front Street promenade, local streets, and the reconstruction of Eastern Avenue and Cherry Street, which will include a new streetcar route
  • a YMCA recreation centre with a gym, a pool and a fitness and exercise area
  • George Brown College‘s first-ever student residences

• create more than 15,000 jobs for Canadians

• will be the single largest economic driver in the region in the next four years
  • 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games is the first international multi-sporting event held in Ontario, Canada, in more than 80 years, which is expected to draw more than 250,000 visitors to the Greater Golden Horseshoe region.
  • Athletes’ Village development project is expected to create and support 5,200 jobs, including employment of approximately 700 workers on the construction site.

Please note that:

• 787 units of market housing, which will be used temporarily for Games accommodation, then converted for permanent occupancy following the Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games.
  • Once converted, up to 100 units representing five per cent of the total residential units will be reserved for affordable ownership;

• 253 units of affordable rental housing, representing 24 per cent of the total residential units being built in time for the Games, which will be used temporarily for 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games accommodation,
  • then converted for permanent occupancy following the Pan/Parapan American Games.

• Infrastructure Ontario and TO2015are also working with municipalities, universities and provincial agencies to develop other Pan/Parapan American Games venues across the Greater Toronto Area and Golden Horseshoe, such as the:
  • Aquatics Centre
  • Velodrome
  • Pan Am Athletics
  • Soccer stadiums
  • and others

Regarding the cost of the Athletes’ Village development project:

• fixed-price contract between Dundee Kilmer and the Province of Ontario is for $514 million, and will be paid in stages at significant construction milestones, to ensure the project’s on-time and on-budget delivery

• the Province will recover approximately $65 million in development costs from future facility operators,

• for a total net provincial outlay of approximately $449 million

And did you know that the revitalization of Toronto’s waterfront is the largest urban redevelopment project currently underway in North America, and it is one of the largest waterfront revitalization efforts ever undertaken in the world?!

Please click here for more info about the Toronto’s waterfront revitalization as well as the key project areas which include West Don Lands.

Ontario, Canada: Newsroom

NEWS RELEASE

Construction Begins In The West Don Lands In Time For The 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games

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