rail deck park

The massive rail deck park in Toronto has been cancelled in favour of condos

A massive, unique park, which was to be built on top of a rail deck has just been cancelled.

The21-acre green spaceknown as the Rail Deck Park would haveblanketed the Union Stationrail corridor between Bathurst Street and Blue Jays Way, and was touted as Toronto's Central Park.

Billed as a legacy project from Toronto Mayor John Tory and council who moved forward withplans back in 2017, the Rail Deck Park could have cost close to $1.7 billion.

But the province's Local Planning Appeal Tribunal quashed those dreams on Wednesday when they instead favoured plans for theORCA ProjectfromCRAFT Development Corporation.

The decision was disappointing for councillors and the general public.

"It's a hugely disappointing decision for the future of our city and the vibrancy and livability of downtown,”Councillor Joe Cressy tweeted.

Many people agreed.

"What a disappointment- COVID has shown us we need space to enjoy the outdoors - similar disappointment that TTC lands at midtown Yonge Eglinton instead of a park that I thought we would get, will be a bunch of large towers-very little space for people outside,"one person tweeted.

Unfortunately, while the city made plans for the massive park, they never owned the air rights. The air rights, necessary for building the elevated park over the rail corridor, were mostly obtained by developers,the appeal decision notes.

So the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal is instead favouring the ORCA Projectplan for a 16-acre communityof condos, office towers and some green spaces.

rail deck park

The ORCA Project, a development of condos and an office building was favoured over a large public park. Rendering viaThe Orca Project

The proposed project, if approved, will sit on a platform above the active rail corridor. That platform will allow a mixed-use development made up of residential towers ranging in height, rooftop terraces, plazas, walkways and a 36-storey office building.

rail deck park

The project will have a park but it won't be as big as the Rail Deck Park. Rendering viaThe Orca Project

The project's centrepiece is instead of the original 21-acre park, a 12-acre park, which would include public art, lawns, and trees that could connect to the existing Northern Linear Park in CityPlace.

这个项目仍有很长一段路被建立了s council can still reject the development plans.

Lead photo by

Future Landscapes


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