Ford’s Port Lands plans derailed: report
Posted September 20, 2011 11:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
It seems there may be no monorail and no ferris wheel built at Toronto’s Port Lands, as Mayor Rob Ford and Coun. Doug Ford have planned.
Reports state that after a public outcry and a revolt among some members of the mayor’s executive, an agreement is being worked on that will confirm Waterfront Toronto as the lead agency for developing the lakefront properties.
“This is actually a victory for the citizens. I don’t think people really realize that people in Toronto are actually watching what’s happening on the waterfront, and they really do feel that this waterfront belongs to them. It is a new moment in Toronto’s history,” Coun. Paula Fletcher told CityNews.
Just two weeks ago, Ford and his brother Doug announced their plans for the Port Lands and attempted to seize control of the area from Waterfront Toronto.
Waterfront Toronto, an agency funded by federal, provincial and municipal governments, is involved in a 25-year, $625 million project to revitalize the area near the mouth of the Don, including the West Don Lands and central waterfront.
After the mayor’s executive committee approved the proposal with amendments earlier this month, city council is scheduled to vote on the deal Wednesday.
“One of the things I hope we’ll do tomorrow is re-affirm Waterfront Toronto as the lead agency for the Port Lands and the rest of the waterfront, but we’ll also ask them to speed up development along the waterfront,” said Fletcher.
“I call this a Toronto moment, or a Jane Jacobs moment, where citizens of our city really make their wishes known and generally councils listens.”
