Toronto, you’re about to get a whole lot more land to play with! Now, by no means is this going to be an overnight happening, but the moment I saw the news of all three levels of government pitching in $1.25 billion (with a B) to clean up the Toronto Port Lands, my head went directly to music.

According to the Toronto Star, “Toronto’s Port Lands [is] considered one of North America’s largest under-used and under-developed urban areas. The funding will flood-proof the southeastern downtown area, making possible the long-sought after dream of transforming the polluted, industrial area into a mixed-use community surrounded by parks and green space.”

That phrase, “mixed-use,” is the one that got me. This area isn’t going to be just parks, although it’ll have them too, it’s going to be a place for people to build homes, offices, shops, and… wait for it, MORE VENUES! Not to mention the THOUSANDS of new jobs that will come to the area. This isn’t just a good move for Toronto but for Canada as a whole.

Before/After of Port Lands via Waterfront Toronto
Before/After of Port Lands via Waterfront Toronto

Over the next 30 years or so, the federal government will be putting up to $384 million and the province and city will each put in more than $400 million to develop the 400-hectare (988+ acre) area.

Mayor John Tory also stated that the project will mitigate the impact of climate change on the city. What other project, ever, has added thousands of jobs, pulled usable land out of seemingly nowhere for city use, AND helped stop climate change in the region? It sounds like an incredible opportunity for the region and Canada as a whole.

What are your thoughts on the project? Happy? Sad? Angry?

Reach out on Twitter! We’d love to hear!


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