The Fords want Waterfront development to speed up, and Waterfront Toronto is trying to figure out how.
On Monday,
Waterfront CEO John Campbell led a public consultation in the form of a series of round table discussions on what's being called the
Port Lands Acceleration Initiative.
The meeting "is the kick-off for an extensive public consultation effort," states a Waterfront news release. "Our goal is to ensure a transparent process, engage the widest possible audience and provide ample opportunities for people to be involved."
Mayor Rob Ford and his brother, councillor Doug Ford, have wanted things to move faster on the waterfront. Since the mandate for acceleration passed a vote in council on Sept. 21, Waterfront's been working with the city, the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority and other bodies to figure out the best course of action. Monday's consultation was the first step towards getting the public in on it.
In January, applications will be accepted for membership in the ongoing Stakeholder Advisory Committee, which will have a total of six meetings on the subject, in tandem with two more public consultations.
Currently set to take 25 years to complete, Toronto's "new blue edge," as the project has been tagged, is expected to create about 40,000 new residences and 40,000 new jobs. Waterfront Toronto was established as Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Corporation in November 2001.
Writer: Bert Archer
Source: Waterfront Toronto
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