Detailed plans were unveiled for naturalizing the mouth of the Don River and transforming the Lower Don Lands, a 125-hectare (308-acre) industrial area located south of the rail corridor in the east end of Toronto’s harbour, into a new model for sustainable city building.
Plans include re-naturalizing the mouth of the Don River, by re-routing it through the middle of the area, and building in features such as wetlands boarders and a spillway and varying river depths to provide necessary flood protection to the flood prone area. The re-born river mouth will also be the centerpiece of a new mixed-use sustainable community featuring abundant parks and public green space.
The area’s first community will be the Keating Channel neighbourhood which runs from East Bayfront to the Don River and from the West Don Lands to Villers Street. The precinct plan for the area consists of 25 blocks that will feature a variety of built-forms and architecture that supports a diversity of experience and uses.
Plans for the Lower Don Lands were developed by Waterfront Toronto in partnership with Toronto and Region Conservation, City of Toronto and Toronto Transit Commission through a comprehensive Environmental Assessment process which has included the examination of several alternative planning solutions.
Waterfront Toronto will submit the Keating Channel Neighbourhood Precinct Plan and related documents to the City of Toronto for approval this fall. The approval process is expected to be completed by the end of the year. More information.
Source: Waterfront Toronto
