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

This is an update to my previous posts:

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:

Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games Athletes' Village. Above, a conceptualization.
Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games Athletes' Village. Above, a conceptualization.

Revitalization of West Don Lands. Above, a conceptualization.
Revitalization of West Don Lands. Above, a conceptualization.
  • 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

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

January 12, 2012

McGuinty Government Revitalizes Land and Creates 5,200 Jobs

Ontario is starting construction on a new waterfront community in the West Don Lands — in time for the Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games — creating 5,200 direct and indirect jobs.The new community will become the temporary home to more than 10,000 athletes and officials participating in the 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games. Following the Games, the newly revitalized West Don Lands will benefit the community with new condominiums, affordable housing, a YMCA recreation centre and George Brown College‘s first-ever student residences.

The Games are moving ahead, on-time and on-budget. They will create more than 15,000 jobs and will be the single largest economic driver in the region in the next four years.

Investing in new sporting facilities, transit and communities is part of the McGuinty government’s plan to create and protect jobs for Ontarians while strengthening local economies.

QUOTES

“The start of construction on the West Don Lands waterfront community is the first major step towards delivering the 2015 Games on-time and on-budget. The Athletes’ Village will provide an exceptional experience for athletes and bring long-lasting economic and social benefits to the community.”

 – Charles Sousa
Minister responsible for the Pan/Parapan Am Games

“This project represents an important investment that will create jobs, provide economic opportunities and transform an unusable piece of land into a vibrant and environmentally-sustainable community.”

 – Bob Chiarelli
Minister of Infrastructure

“The Pan Am Games was the catalyst to kick-start this vital community project a full five to ten years earlier. The Athletes’ Village will be a state-of-the-art oasis for competitors where they can both rest and train to ensure top-notch performances during the Games.”

 – Ian Troop
CEO, TO2015

QUICK FACTS

  • 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games are the first international multi-sporting event held in Ontario in more than 80 years.
  • They are expected to draw more than 250,000 visitors to the Greater Golden Horseshoe region.
  • More than 1,150 Ontarians will have access to affordable rental housing and student residence accommodations following the conversion of the Athletes’ Village.
  • The new YMCA recreation centre – a space for community activities – will help residents lead healthy active lives with access to a gym, a pool and a fitness and exercise area.
  • Ontario created more than 121,000 net new full-time jobs in 2011.

LEARN MORE

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