Developments
The initial phase of the construction of Downsview Park began in 2005. The first step was to regenerate the soil, which had been compacted by more than 50 years of military base use, so that it will again support the lush vegetation that is planned for a very significant portion of the site. A major feature of this initial work was the development of the Canada Forest, which was started with a partnership with Natural Resources Canada and its 2020 Fast Forest initiative. The planting of a forest within an urban setting actualizes one of the compelling images embodied in the Tree City design.
In 2010, as a result of an in-depth Request for Proposal process to find developers interested in working with Downsview Park to implement the vision for the Stanley Greene neighbourhood, the Park is now in a position to move forward with plans to create this community.
Several residential developers expressed interest in Stanley Greene. Urbancorp was chosen as the first residential developer by Parc Downsview Park (PDP) after an extensive due diligence process. The first residential development phase at Downsview Park will comprise over 1000 homes. Urbancorp is the largest landowner and developer of residential communities in King West Village and the Queen Street West Triangle area in downtown Toronto. Construction of the new community “Neighbourhood of Downsview Park” is expected to begin in fall of 2012.
As evident by the equipment and continuous activity at the north end of the park, the new Sheppard West (Downsview Park) intermodal TTC subway/GO Transit station construction is well underway. More than 50,000 cubic metres of soil have been excavated and moved to make way for subway tunneling. Much of the excavated soil is being kept for reuse within the park.
The Circuit Path is the park’s primary circulation system, designed to guide visitors through its wooded areas and meadows and along the lake’s edge. A pedestrian bridge over a bioswale was installed and paving, lighting and seating will be completed by spring 2012. Details of the trails, materials and slopes were designed to incorporate the present and future elements of the site.
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