2021 work and achievements update – Bathurst Quay Neighbourhood Association

Highlights include the Community Air Quality Study with University of Toronto, Proposed Development at 545 Lake Shore Blvd. West; Canada Malting Silos (Bathurst Streetscape and Public Realm); The Bathurst Quay Neighbourhood Plan (BNP); Toronto Billy Bishop Airport Community Liaison Committee.

The new Bathurst Quay Neighbourhood Plan promenade

2021 OVERVIEW

Bathurst Quay Neighbourhood Air Quality Exposure Study with the University of Toronto

Joan Prowse, Chair of BQNA, initiated an air quality study in 2019 with University of Toronto researchers. This work was inspired by the CBC Documentary ‘Something in the Air’ which featured Marianne Hatzopoulou, who is co-Chair with Joan Prowse for this important Air Monitoring Project. The two year study will be completed in 2023 with input from local “citizen scientists” offering their buildings as testing sites for indoor air quality monitoring and rooftop outdoor air testing. Two public information sessions were held in 2021 to introduce the research team and to share early results. The public meeting on January 27, 2022 further updated the community on this year’s monitoring.

Outdoor air quality monitor on the balcony of a citizen scientist.

Proposed Development at 545 Lake Shore Blvd. West

A revised proposal from Canderel, the developers, was presented at a virtual public meeting on September 27, 2021 by the City of Toronto’s Planning Department. A 22 storey tower at the corner of Bathurst and Queen’s Quay is just one of several concerns the BQNA has relating to height, density, traffic, affordability, and suitability of retail tenants in the new plan. Currently the BQNA board is collecting letters from individual buildings’ Boards to ensure development on the last available site in our community fits with its existing buildings & by-laws. More information here.

Canada Malting Silos (Bathurst Streetscape and Public Realm)

The Silos are designated Heritage Buildings and the City continues to make secure the external and internal structure as part of the Bathurst Quay Neighbourhood Plan. Eventually the City believes private developers will make creative use of these buildings. This last year, members of the BQNA participated in four stakeholder advisory meetings, led by the City, to inform a public presentation by PFS Studio, the landscape architects selected to activate the area around the silos. Also underway, celebrated by a ground-breaking and ribbon cutting on November 2 is the renovation of the adjacent red brick building by the Ireland Park Foundation, to be called The Corleck, as an arts, culture and heritage hub on Toronto’s Waterfront.

MPP Chris Glover, Norm Di Pasquale, Bryan Bowen - Project Manager, Waterfront Secretariat and Joan Prowse, BQNA Chair.

Toronto Billy Bishop Airport Community Liaison and Noise Committees

Members from the BQNA and community continue to monitor and report on activities at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport. Members of BQNA sit on the Noise Subcommittee and on the Community LiaisonCommunity with the airport to bring new data and any public concerns/observations to Ports Toronto and Nieuport Aviation. BQNA will continue to work to reduce light, air and noise pollution generated by the airport and report back to the community on Ports Toronto’s Request for Investors, a potential new carrier (Connect Airlines) and more “slots” (take-offs and landings) proposed for summer 2022.

The new electric ferry crossing the Western Gap.

Finally, we thank all the volunteer board members and engaged community representatives who give their time and resources to help keep our neighbourhood safe, healthy and a desirable place to live in downtown Toronto.