Community wants email about waterfront works

By Kimberly Spice –

Implementation of the waterfront projects will require continual coordination of construction, vehicular and pedestrian traffic, Waterfront Toronto told more than 100 area residents at the Radisson Admiral Hotel on May 12.

The projects form part of Waterfront Toronto’s vision of how it will transform what was once labeled “one of the worst waterfronts in the world.”

Pina Mallozzi, project manager, planning and design for Waterfront Toronto, explains that careful planning, transparency and engagement of both the community and various construction sectors will be imperative to accommodate both timelines and minimize area disruptions.

“You really have to strike a balance between what is acceptable disruption and what isn’t,” Mallozzi reports. “So we asked questions at the public meeting about what people are willing to accept as disruption and that information is very valuable to us as we put together traffic management plans and construction management plans.”

Waterfront Toronto wants to be proactive in keeping the community informed.

Making use of the internet and other social media such as blogging will be vital in providing people with up-to-date information.

“I can already tell you that people really like getting updates by email,” revealed Mallozzi about the results of a recent questionnaire. “That was the number one choice.”

During the meeting neighbours learned that Ireland Park, located at the west end of the waterfront, recently became accessible to Queens Quay with the removal of the old marine leg from the Canadian Malting Silos. Work will continue throughout the summer as the dock wall is repaired and a new surface design is fully completed.

The work is expected to be finished by the summer of 2011. York Quay will have a new pedestrian-friendly cultural village after the current parking lot is moved underground creating approximately 100 additional parking spots. The project should take just about one year with work beginning this summer. www.waterfrontoronto.ca or e-mail info@waterfrontoronto.ca.