Casino, condos ruled out for Ontario Place redevelopment: province
TORONTO – Ontario has ruled out a casino and condos on the site of Ontario Place on Toronto’s waterfront as it issues a call for development proposals, but the future of the park’s iconic Cinesphere is in question.
Michael Tibollo, the minister of tourism, culture and sport, said the government wants to see the site turned into a world-class, year-round destination both for Ontarians and for tourists.
”We have a jewel in Ontario Place,” he said. ”It just needs to be polished.”
The government will consider a broad range of ideas, from sport and entertainment landmarks, to public spaces and parks, to recreational facilities and retail space, Tibollo said.
”But I want to be clear: our vision for Ontario Place does not include residential developments or casinos,” he said.
The development guidelines do not, however, require the famous white Cinesphere cinema to be preserved.
Ontario Place – Call for Development from Colliers Capital Markets Canada on Vimeo.
The province closed Ontario Place to the public in 2012 due to falling revenues at the government-owned theme park and tight provincial finances. At that time, the government said attendance had fallen from 2.5 million when it opened in 1971 to about 300,000.
Various proposals have been floated since its closure, including a year-round waterpark with a retractable roof, a casino complex and hotel, as well as residential development.
Speaking alongside @ONPlace4All, @KGreenbergTO & @ChrisGloverMPP on the Province’s unilateral announcement on Ontario Place. I am deeply concerned with this move, that includes no public process or consultation. The City owns lands within Ontario Place. They must work with us. pic.twitter.com/IRlw2JkgoR
— Joe Cressy (@joe_cressy) May 28, 2019
.@joe_cressy reiterates his call for the city to be at the table with the Province to discuss the future of Ontario Place. He believes handing over more than 150 acres of land to the private sector is doomed to fail. More tonight @CityNews pic.twitter.com/tlwi2WDNBT
— Adrian Ghobrial (@CityAdrian) May 28, 2019
Infrastructure Minister Monte McNaughton said the government will not be putting up any capital or operational money for the project.
”It’s important that we activate and engage the private sector,” he said. ”This is going to be a very, very exciting process that begins today, that wraps up on Sept. 3, so it’s a very quick turnaround, but we expect there’s going to be a lot of big names interested in putting forward ideas.”
The Budweiser Stage, used for concerts, is not subject to redevelopment and the government says it also intends to maintain three hectares of park land.
Trillium Park was opened at Ontario Place in 2017, five years after it had closed, and was connected to the city by the William G. Davis recreational trail, named after Ontario’s premier the year Ontario Place first opened.
The proposal stipulations say the government prefers a plan for a comprehensive development of the whole site, but ”smaller-scale creative and bold concepts may also be considered for portions of the site.”
The mainland, east and west islands, the pod complex and Cinesphere cinema are open for development. The marinas can be reconfigured or relocated, but a marina must be maintained somewhere on the site.
To maximize the #OntarioPlace opportunity for tourism, important to set a high bar for development proposals. Ample waterfront and park access, protection of key heritage elements (pods and Cinesphere) and joint planning with Ex Place are all essential. pic.twitter.com/DXbLpCOHUi
— Andrew Weir (@ABWeir) May 28, 2019
Here is my statement on the provincial government’s Ontario Place announcement. pic.twitter.com/QT7PuITo8c
— John Tory (@JohnTory) May 28, 2019
Interested parties are invited to visit OntarioPlaceDevelopment.com for more information on the opportunity and details on how to make a submission. Submissions are due September 3, 2019. Infrastructure Ontario has engaged KPMG and Colliers to market and promote this opportunity.
Ontario Place Call for Development:https://t.co/ZcrhsDhcwE
— Gil Meslin (@g_meslin) May 28, 2019
Hoping to see the iconic pods and Cinesphere retained? There are no limitations on their use or retention in the call. pic.twitter.com/KMDckmVYPR
— Gil Meslin (@g_meslin) May 28, 2019
In fact, and I will quote here: “There is no requirement for unrestricted public access. If necessary, access to all or portions of the Site can be controlled…”
For the People (who can pay).#OntarioPlace pic.twitter.com/RD8LK4aigR
— Gil Meslin (@g_meslin) May 28, 2019
1. Privatizing Ontario Place, Toronto’s downtown provincial park, would be a disastrous self-own. Any competent government would see the highest use of this space as parkland. https://t.co/tQ9LpT7trT
— Alex Bozikovic (@alexbozikovic) May 28, 2019
2. It’s a beautiful, interesting and well-located public place. The value of that to society — for tourism, investment, reputation — is huge. In a fast-growing city and region, even more so. @michaeltibollo #onpoli
— Alex Bozikovic (@alexbozikovic) May 28, 2019
3. The place should be planned together with the adjacent @ExPlaceTO (which the city has been ruining, BTW). It should remain public, and remain mostly open space. #onpoli #Topoli
— Alex Bozikovic (@alexbozikovic) May 28, 2019
4. @fordnation: Chicago is the greatest city in the world! Toronto should be more like that!
Chicago: Our central waterfront has a giant waterfront park!@fordnation: …. #Onpoli #OntarioPlaceforAll pic.twitter.com/qJySKXJ8p0— Alex Bozikovic (@alexbozikovic) May 28, 2019
Today, I joined @joe_cressy and @ONPlace4All to respond to Doug Ford’s call for private partners to develop @OntarioPlace Ont. Place is not Ford’s private property. It belongs to the people of Ontario, and he must listen to what they want for our precious waterfront. #onpoli pic.twitter.com/tAJmkSyNVX
— Chris Glover, MPP (@ChrisGloverMPP) May 28, 2019
Cynthia Wilkey says Ontario Place for All is horrified by @fordnation redevelopment guidelines, says it sets stage for mass privatization of public space. Likens it to handing High Park to private interests. #onpoli #topoli pic.twitter.com/WlfLzhvocc
— David Rider (@dmrider) May 28, 2019
Wilkey says iconic pods and Cinesphere could be destroyed under m expressions of interest released by @fordnation govt. only Budweiser Stage is untouchable because of existing lease.
— David Rider (@dmrider) May 28, 2019
Councillor @joecressy says city ownership of “waterlot” connecting mainland to Ontario Place islands means province must partner w Toronto. When asked if city could launch legal challenge or launch public opposition campaign against @fordnation plans …
— David Rider (@dmrider) May 28, 2019
…@joe_cressy says “we’re not there yet” but wonders if private developers will want to bid on a project knowing they could face “years” of legal challenges over Ontario Place redevelopment. #onpoli #topoli
— David Rider (@dmrider) May 28, 2019
The post Casino, condos ruled out for Ontario Place redevelopment: province appeared first on Canadian Architect.