Waterfront Toronto has released the draft Master Innovation and Development Plan (MIDP) for Quayside to the public. Chairman of the Board, Stephen Diamond, has written an open letter (see below for full letter) — addressing the evaluation process and offering insights from Waterfront Toronto’s initial review of the MIDP.
The MIDP is over 1500 pages long and has 3 volumes:
Volume 1 – focuses on the development plan and the physical manifestations of proposed innovations within that plan, including estimated economic impacts.
Volume 2 – outlines their proposed innovations for Mobility, Public Realm, Buildings and Housing, Sustainability, and Digital Innovation.
Volume 3 – describes the commercial proposal including governance, roles and responsibilities, transaction economics and implementation plans.
The MIDP is available on Waterfront Toronto’s QuaysideTO.ca website, physical copies will be coming to Toronto Public Library branches across the city, and public consultations will begin on July 15th.
To assist the public consultations, Waterfront Toronto is preparing a “Note to Reader” for the public. This will be finalized and available shortly.
It is intended to help the public navigate the document, offer questions for the public to consider, and demonstrate the unique perspective Waterfront Toronto brings to this process as stewards of the public good.
To all members of the public interested in the future of Toronto’s waterfront,
Waterfront Toronto has received the draft Master Innovation and Development Plan (MIDP) proposed by Sidewalk Labs. The review and evaluation process now begins. It is Waterfront Toronto’s responsibility, informed by consultation with the public, technical experts, and all three levels of government to determine if the ideas in this proposal are in the public interest and respond to the objectives for Quayside that we agreed to with Sidewalk Labs in July 2018 (as reflected in the Plan Development Agreement).
It is important to know that Waterfront Toronto did not co-create the MIDP. While Waterfront Toronto and Sidewalk Labs did work together earlier in the process to do research, generate ideas, and consult the public, the roles of the two organizations then separated, allowing Waterfront Toronto to focus on creating a robust framework for review and evaluation of the MIDP. Sidewalk Labs’ responsibility is to prepare and submit the MIDP. The MIDP is subject to the approval of Waterfront Toronto’s Board of Directors and Sidewalk Labs.
Based on our initial review of the MIDP, there are a number of exciting ideas that respond to challenges we face, particularly related to environmental sustainability and economic development. There are also proposals where it is clear that Waterfront Toronto and Sidewalk Labs have very different perspectives about what is required for success. Here are early examples of what concerns us:
Waterfront Toronto is preparing a “Note to Reader” to support the public review of the MIDP. It will be released shortly, and identifies a number of areas of the Sidewalk Labs proposal that we understand are of particular public interest. We want to know, what do you like about the MIDP? What concerns you? What risks would you like to see Waterfront Toronto consider? And under what conditions (if any) you would want to see these proposals explored further? We encourage you to participate in the upcoming public consultation process to share your thoughts on these questions with us, along with any other comments or advice you would like us to consider.
As we have said before, this project has stirred vigorous debate and, regardless of the outcome, raises issues to consider. Whether the Quayside project proceeds or not, the conversation we are having is important for all of Toronto.
Sincerely,
Stephen Diamond
Chairman of the Board of Directors,
Waterfront Toronto
