East Bayfront
Encyclopedia
East Bayfront, or the East Bayfront Precinct, is an emerging neighbourhood in Toronto
, Ontario
, Canada
. It is currently undergoing a transformation from industrial use to mixed use.
The area is bordered by the Parliament Street to the east, Jarvis Street
and the Jarvis Slip to the west, and the rail line and Gardiner Expressway
to the north.
The area is 15.5 hectares or 38 acres of land
The area was filled in during the 19th and 20th Century to accommodate growth of business needing access to the waterfront.
Existing
A number of small industrial-commercial business parks dots the area, but some are being demolished and replaced with parking lots. There are 4 privately owned public parking lots in the District.
New
The District has been a concrete wasteland with very few trees or greenspace. The Water's Edge Promenade will provide tree line board walk to the area. Sugar Beach and the future Sherbourne Common will provide some green space. In the long term much of the area will give way to residential development and some commercial development. Remaining industrial business, including Redpath will likely relocated from the area. The area's revitalization is being managed by Waterfront Toronto, a partnership of Federal, Provincial and local governments encouraging progressive and sustainable development of the Toronto waterfront.
There are a number of local routes in the area cut off by either Lake Ontario or the Gardiner:
Most of these local routes exists to service local businesses and customers.
Future plans by the TTC would see streetcar service in the district. Streetcars would run from Union Station down to Bay and Queen's Quay, head east along the Queens Quay (southside) to Parliament Street. The interim terminus at Parliament will feature a loop, but the TTC plans to extended the route into the East Donlands in the future.
The Toronto Transit Commission
has two bus routes in the precinct's west end:
There is no public transit in the east end of the precinct.
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It is currently undergoing a transformation from industrial use to mixed use.
The area is bordered by the Parliament Street to the east, Jarvis Street
Jarvis Street
Jarvis Street is a north-south thoroughfare in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada, passing through some of the oldest developed areas in the city. Its alignment extends from Bloor Street in the north to Queens Quay East in the south. South of Front Street, it continues as Lower Jarvis Street...
and the Jarvis Slip to the west, and the rail line and Gardiner Expressway
Gardiner Expressway
The Frederick G. Gardiner Expressway, colloquially referred to as "the Gardiner", is a municipal expressway in the Canadian province of Ontario, connecting downtown Toronto with its western suburbs...
to the north.
The area is 15.5 hectares or 38 acres of land
The area was filled in during the 19th and 20th Century to accommodate growth of business needing access to the waterfront.
Changing land use
The area is undergoing a transformation and will host a number of different tenants:Existing
- Toronto Tours Limited - one of a few local tour operators in the area
- Docking facilities for tour boats operating in the inner harbour in the east and west ends of the District
- Guvernment Nightclub 1996
A number of small industrial-commercial business parks dots the area, but some are being demolished and replaced with parking lots. There are 4 privately owned public parking lots in the District.
New
- Water's Edge Promenade - a tree lined boardwalk from Jarvis to Sherbourne
- Dockside at Corus QuayCorus QuayCorus Quay, originally named First Waterfront Place, is an 8 storey commercial office tower located on a waterfront site in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The $160 million building is the first major development planned for the East Bayfront Precinct, and completed construction at the foot of Jarvis...
- home to Corus EntertainmentCorus EntertainmentCorus Entertainment Inc. is a publicly traded Canadian media and entertainment conglomerate.Corus is a leading Canadian specialty television and radio producer, with additional assets in pay television, advertising services, television broadcasting, children's book publishing and children's...
at Corus QuayCorus QuayCorus Quay, originally named First Waterfront Place, is an 8 storey commercial office tower located on a waterfront site in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The $160 million building is the first major development planned for the East Bayfront Precinct, and completed construction at the foot of Jarvis... - Sugar BeachSugar BeachSugar Beach is an urban beach park in Toronto, Canada, that opened in 2010. It is located across from Redpath Sugar Refinery in Toronto's eastern East Bayfront. Like HTO Park, the beach has no direct access to the Lake Ontario and is a landlocked beach....
- Sherbourne Common - a 1.5 hectare (3.75 acres) park being designed by Phillips, Farevaag, Smallenburg
- future home of George Brown CollegeGeorge Brown CollegeGeorge Brown College is a public, fully accredited college of applied arts and technology with three full campuses in downtown Toronto, Ontario...
Waterfront campus opening in 2012
- home to Corus Entertainment
- Parkside - Great Gulf Group 36 floor condo project designed by Moshe Safdie
- Bayside - city owned land for future residential, cultural and retail development
- Quayside - future commercial and residential development
- Parliament Wavedeck - mixed use public space/water treatment facility
The District has been a concrete wasteland with very few trees or greenspace. The Water's Edge Promenade will provide tree line board walk to the area. Sugar Beach and the future Sherbourne Common will provide some green space. In the long term much of the area will give way to residential development and some commercial development. Remaining industrial business, including Redpath will likely relocated from the area. The area's revitalization is being managed by Waterfront Toronto, a partnership of Federal, Provincial and local governments encouraging progressive and sustainable development of the Toronto waterfront.
List of Quays and Slips
Most of the remaining slips are not in use due departure of a number of business along the water's edge:- Jarvis StreetJarvis StreetJarvis Street is a north-south thoroughfare in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada, passing through some of the oldest developed areas in the city. Its alignment extends from Bloor Street in the north to Queens Quay East in the south. South of Front Street, it continues as Lower Jarvis Street...
Slip - Parliament Street Slip
- Pier 27
Transportation
The Bayfront area is accessed by various roads and expressways:- Queen's Quay (Toronto)Queen's Quay (Toronto)Queen's Quay is a prominent street in the Harbourfront neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The street was originally commercial in nature due to the many working piers along the waterfront...
East - provides access through the centre of the precinct - Lake Shore Boulevard East - provides access along the northern end of the district
- Gardiner ExpresswayGardiner ExpresswayThe Frederick G. Gardiner Expressway, colloquially referred to as "the Gardiner", is a municipal expressway in the Canadian province of Ontario, connecting downtown Toronto with its western suburbs...
- forms northern boundary along with Lake Shore Boulevard East with on/off ramps at Jarvis and Sherbourne - Lower Jarvis StreetJarvis StreetJarvis Street is a north-south thoroughfare in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada, passing through some of the oldest developed areas in the city. Its alignment extends from Bloor Street in the north to Queens Quay East in the south. South of Front Street, it continues as Lower Jarvis Street...
- forms western boundary;one of the few north-south routes connecting the area to the neighbourhoods north of the Gardiner - Parliament Street - one of the few north-south routes connecting the area to the neighbourhoods north of the Gardiner
- Lower Sherbourne Street - one of the few north-south routes connecting the area to the neighbourhoods north of the Gardiner
There are a number of local routes in the area cut off by either Lake Ontario or the Gardiner:
- Freeland Street - named for Rand Freeland, owner of Fantasy Farm
- Cooper Street - likely for mill operator William Cooper (businessman)William Cooper (businessman)William Cooper was an Upper Canada business man and owner of mills along the Humber River in Ontario, Canada. Prior to 1838, the former name of the Village of Lambton Mills was Cooper's Mill, named in his honour in 1806....
- Richardson Street - named for Hugh Richardson (shipowner)Hugh Richardson (shipowner)Hugh Richardson, was a Canadian shipowner, captain, and office-holder.-Biography:He was born in London, England and went to sea at in 1798, serving with distinction until he was taken captive by the French in 1810. Imprisoned at Verdun, Arras, and Paris, he was not released until eight years later...
, Toronto's first harbour master - Shaw Street - named for former Mayor John Shaw (Canadian politician)
- Bonnycastle Street - named for Richard H. G. BonnycastleRichard H. G. BonnycastleRichard Henry Gardyn Bonnycastle was a Canadian lawyer, fur trader, adventurer, and a businessman who helped found and then owned the romance novel publishing company, Harlequin Enterprises....
, founder of Harlequin Enterprises (now owned by nearby Toronto StarToronto StarThe Toronto Star is Canada's highest-circulation newspaper, based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its print edition is distributed almost entirely within the province of Ontario...
)
Most of these local routes exists to service local businesses and customers.
Future plans by the TTC would see streetcar service in the district. Streetcars would run from Union Station down to Bay and Queen's Quay, head east along the Queens Quay (southside) to Parliament Street. The interim terminus at Parliament will feature a loop, but the TTC plans to extended the route into the East Donlands in the future.
The Toronto Transit Commission
Toronto Transit Commission
-Island Ferry:The ferry service to the Toronto Islands was operated by the TTC from 1927 until 1962, when it was transferred to the Metro Parks and Culture department. Since 1998, the ferry service is run by Toronto Parks and Recreation.-Gray Coach:...
has two bus routes in the precinct's west end:
- 6 and 6A Bay - running along Queen's Quay East, Freeland Street and Lower Jarvis
- 75 Sherbourne - running along Lower Sherbourne, Lower Jarvis and Queen's Quay East
There is no public transit in the east end of the precinct.
See also
- Port Lands
- Corktown
- Regent Park
- St. Lawrence MarketSt. Lawrence MarketSt. Lawrence Market is one of two major markets in Toronto, the other being Kensington Market.It features two buildings, both on the west side of Front St. East and Jarvis St. Each building holds different purposes:...