Wow! Toronto has the second largest number of tall buildings in North America next to New York City!
Next time I drive into Toronto downtown, I will look at Toronto with more admiration and appreciation.
Now the City of Toronto would like you to know that a consultant’s study, “Tall Buildings, Inviting Change in Downtown Toronto”, will be presented at the following three open houses/community meetings in April:
Monday, April 4, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., St. Basil’s Church, Parish Hall – 50 St. Joseph St.
Thursday, April 7, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Palmerston Library, Theatre Room – 560 Palmerston Ave.
Monday, April 11, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., St. Lawrence Community & Recreation Centre, Gymnasium – 230 The Esplanade
You are invited to ask questions and provide feedback on the study’s findings and recommendations.
Then the city staff will report the results of your community feedback and “proceed with seeking Council’s direction this spring regarding implementation options stemming from the study’s findings.”
Toronto is using the study’s results and your community feedback to determine the architectural rules and parameters to help protect and improve the quality of life of people living and working downtown.
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
News Release
March 21, 2011
City of Toronto presents findings of study
‘Tall Buildings, Inviting Change in Downtown Toronto’
Downtown Toronto is characterized by tall buildings. As the city grows and evolves, tall buildings will continue to accommodate people and businesses drawn to the downtown area. The City of Toronto is holding three open houses/community meetings in April to present “Tall Buildings, Inviting Change in Downtown Toronto,” a consultant’s study. Staff will present the objectives of the study, the study’s findings and recommendations, and give the community an opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback.
Members of the public are invited to any of the following three meetings:
Monday, April 4, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., St. Basil’s Church, Parish Hall – 50 St. Joseph St.
Thursday, April 7, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Palmerston Library, Theatre Room – 560 Palmerston Ave.
Monday, April 11, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., St. Lawrence Community & Recreation Centre, Gymnasium – 230 The Esplanade
The study was conducted by Urban Strategies Inc. and Hariri Pontarini Architects. It identifies where in the downtown area tall buildings belong and sets out rules about their height, form and relationship to their surroundings. The study focuses on protecting and improving the quality of life of people living and working downtown.
The study area, which encompasses portions of Wards 20, 27 and 28, is bounded by Bathurst Street on the west, Dupont Street on the north, the Don Valley Parkway on the east and Lake Ontario on the south. Secondary Plan areas do not form part of the study. Secondary Plans are those plans that have already established development policies to guide growth in certain parts of the downtown wards affected by the study. Examples of these Secondary Plans include King-Spadina, King-Parliament and the Railway Lands East.
Regulations being proposed as a result of the study have been derived from an on-the-ground assessment of local conditions within downtown Toronto, and have been supplemented by an assessment of experiences of cities from across North America. The “Tall Buildings, Inviting Change in Downtown Toronto” study builds upon pre-existing, city-wide design guidelines known as the “Design Criteria for Review of Tall Buildings Proposals.”
Staff intend to report to Toronto City Council about the results of the community feedback and proceed with seeking Council’s direction this spring regarding implementation options stemming from the study’s findings.
Please note updated web link:
The “Tall Buildings, Inviting Change in Downtown Toronto” study is available online at http://www.toronto.ca/planning/tallbuildingstudy.htm
Toronto is Canada’s largest city and sixth largest government, and home to a diverse population of about 2.6 million people. Toronto’s government is dedicated to delivering customer service excellence, creating a transparent and accountable government, reducing the size and cost of government and building a transportation city. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can dial 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.