Gardiner plan ‘short sighted’ Eastern Gardiner consultations will continue through 2015

Anthony Marcusa –

The future of the eastern portion of the Gardiner Expressway is still up in the air after a June 13 public meeting to present the results of an environmental assessment and preliminary plans for the future of the raised highway.

The city and Waterfront Toronto were co-hosts of the meeting at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

Creating green space and pedestrian walkways all around the Gardiner, and even eliminating the Gardiner completely, were discussed as possible outcomes.

One design idea saw Lakeshore Blvd. being relocated farther south, with the space below the Gardiner to be reclaimed by pedestrians or even shops via enhancements in architecture and design. Another idea called for a new expressway to be built on top of the railway, with the current Gardiner demolished and Lakeshore moved to the south, while a different design looks to an underground expressway.

The final alternative called for the entire removal of the Gardiner, replacing it with more efficient and connected transit, connecting the waterfront with the city through greenery and walkways. Many attendees, having discussed with one another at their tabled, favoured this plan.

“The idea of retaining the Gardiner as is doesn’t have a lot of favour,” said one gentleman. “Also, we are very concerned about north-south connections. We are very much in favour of integrated transportation approach, with a focus on cycling, pedestrian and transit and vehicles as necessary.”

“The expressway must come down. It’s a decrepit eyesore,” said another man. “We wondered if we couldn’t have an expressway in a trough,” he added, to much laughter.

Others, however, raised concerns about the scope of a project that focuses only on the Gardiner and waterfront east of Jarvis St.

“If you don’t consider the west Gardiner, you’re left with an awkward situation in terms of how the transition will be, and what it will look like,” said one man. “If we break it into two segments, it seems like we won’t have a comprehensive solution. The terms of reference limit us to very short-sighted solutions, and eliminates a lot of the potentially strong viable long term solutions.”

Consultations will continue. Waterfront Toronto hopes to propose a plan to council in the spring of 2014, with more consultations taking place in the summer and fall of 2014, and a final review and approval in the spring of 2015.