One thing that everyone agrees upon is that Harbourfront is now prime real estate, making it attractive to both the private sector and the public sector. With a view to the potential economic benefits to the city, many short term and long term plans for the Waterfront have been developed in order to maximize these opportunities. I won’t bore you with the details. All of the plans can be found by following this link. http://www.toronto.ca/waterfront/reports.htm#fiveyearplan

The Waterfront revitalization plans have great potential. And, many of the ideas and plans seem to make good sense. They include everything from revitalizing and reusing structures such as the Canada Malting Silos on Bathurst Quay to supporting the arts, culture, and heritage programs in Harbourfront. However, public development may be at odds with private investment, as more and more condominiums are developed, overshadowing the green spaces. In essence, it is these green spaces which bring people together and help to create “the neighbourhood identity”. What seems to be lacking is vision and the courage to develop Harbourfront in a way that creates a real neighbourhood and not merely a tourist attraction with incongruous high rise condominiums that is booming in the summer months and desolate the rest of the year.

There is a good deal of mixed emotion concerning these plans, and a good deal of concern. How will these plans impact local business and property values? Who will be paying for all of this? Some feel that the Waterfront revitalization plans are positive for Harbourfront and for the city. Others feel that they are merely ‘cash grab’ opportunities, with little or no regard for Harbourfront as a neighbourhood. On which side to your sentiments lie?