Waiting for Queen’s Quay

By Ulla Colgrass –

Officials on hand at the opening of the WaveDeck at Spadina and Queen’s Quay West.

The York Quay Neighbourhood Association (YQNA) recently welcomed the new WaveDeck at Spadina and Queen’s Quay—the first of three of elegantly curved wooden slips that connect the sidewalk with the water’s edge.

This gem of a slip is like icing on the cake, but the neighbourhood is still waiting for progress on the cake itself: the redesign of Queen’s Quay, which is the essential element in the waterfront plans that were tested in a trial run two summers ago. Since then, a couple of public meetings were held by Waterfront Toronto as part of the environmental assessment, but YQNA has heard nothing for almost a year now. From being the most important element in waterfront revitalization, Queen’s Quay appears to be languishing somewhere, while other waterfront projects are surging ahead.

This dilemma was discussed at a packed YQNA meeting on Sept. 16 in the Radisson Admiral Hotel. Olivia Chow was on hand to hear a request to make Queen’s Quay a top priority again, with all the “icing on the cake” items to follow, if necessary. The group took the stance that the longer the Queen’s Quay’s transformation is postponed the more entrenched the through traffic will be, which could jeopardize the entire project.

In other waterfront news, noise has become music while music has become noise.

Progress has been made in reducing the impact of amplified music from Harbourfront Centre’s open Sirius Stage on nearby residents. An article in The Bulletin in June gave waterfront residents an avenue to lodge complaints that had been brushed aside in the past.

YQNA believes there has been a concerted effort by Harbourfront Centre staff to lower the volume at the stage. The music is as popular as ever and people still flock to the open-air concerts. It is hoped that a permanent solution is on the way when further improvements are made. Until then, YQNA continue monitoring sound levels.

In contrast, Virgin Fest bands on Centre Island were over-the-top loud on Sept. 6, 7 and 8. There was no escape from the 16 hours of thumping, screeching and announcements, and windows along the waterfront were vibrating from the noise.

Numerous complaints were filed with 52 Division police, the Marine unit, Pam McConnell’s office and Municipal Licensing and Standards. Residents are following up with the help from our councillors to prevent this kind of excess, which would not be tolerated anywhere else in the city.

Finally, YQNA’s planning committee was delighted to see a new study of the circular and straight ramps that connect the Gardiner expressway at York and Harbour streets. A shortened ramp and removal of the circular ramp is the stated goal, which McConnell described as a “no brainer” at David Miller’s executive committee meeting this summer.

YQNA members have advocated for taking down the circular ramp for years and hope to have the park inside become a green welcome to Queen’s Quay and a waterfront entrance to the renovated Union Station through and extension of the PATH system.

Colgrass is the chair of the York Quay Neighbourhood Association.