Senior management posts not filled, Council fractious, Committee suspended — City of Nanaimo staff proceed with South Downtown Waterfront Lands master planning process regardless

The @CityofNanaimo, shortly after the South Downtown Waterfront Committee Chair, VIU VP Dave Witty, in frustration,...
Posted by Nanaimo Commons on Thursday, December 3, 2015

Dave Witty's PP presentation to Council: here.

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From Winnipeg Free Press —From parking lot to urban paradise

It is rare for a city to be given an opportunity to build a brand new neighbourhood in the heart of its downtown. When it happens, it is usually the result of an industry that was once the economic engine relocating out of the modern core.

In Toronto, the railway lands along Lake Ontario have seen a multibillion-dollar transformation into a forest of highrises, altering the city's postcard skyline image into something resembling lower Manhattan. False Creek was once the industrial heart of Vancouver, but today it is home to 60,000 people living in a signature West Coast condo tower neighbourhood.

When the rail yards at the intersection of the Red and Assiniboine rivers were closed 30 years ago, Winnipeg was given that same opportunity -- but went in a different direction... Read more: From parking lot to urban paradise - Winnipeg Free Press

Nanaimo South Downtown Waterfront master plan terms of reference report has been sent to Council

BACKGROUND: On 2013-MAR-27, the City purchased 10.8 ha (26.7 acres) of land and water from Canadian Pacific (CP) Railway along the southern Nanaimo waterfront (1 Port Drive). Since that time, a number of initiatives have been undertaken to prepare the property for redevelopment, including environmental studies and select demolition work. The 2015-2019 Financial Plan identifies completing the plan as a priority for 2015; the planning process is scheduled to begin in September 2015 with a target completion date of February 2016. 

The next step is to issue a Request for Proposals for consulting services based on the attached Terms of Reference. The purpose of the Master Plan is to provide specific guidelines for future land use, transportation, servicing, open space, trails and environmental protection, as well as phasing of development for this portion of the south downtown waterfront. The long-term vision for the area includes enhancement of the downtown waterfront, improving connectivity of the south downtown with the surrounding neighbourhoods, and creating opportunity for a new regional transportation hub.

The report was presented to Council on July 20. Pdf here

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Toronto’s New Waterfront Street — Queens Quay Open After Three Years of Revitalization Work

After three years of construction, Toronto’s revitalized waterfront boulevard is open – on schedule, and in time for the Redpath Waterfront Festival and the upcoming Pan Am and Parapan Am Games.

Once a street that featured poor design, insufficient room for pedestrians, and ageing infrastructure, Queens Quay has been transformed into a beautiful boulevard that includes a separated TTC right-of-way, a new section of the Martin Goodman Trail that connects the Trail across the downtown waterfront, and an enlarged pedestrian promenade that reflects the central waterfront’s importance as the second most-visited area of the city. Under the street, key infrastructure has been replaced or upgraded, including power, gas, water, sewage and telecommunications systems.

Area: Central Waterfront  Topic: design excellence,  parks & public spaces, queens quay,  reconnect to the water,  sustainable development

Read more: Toronto’s New Waterfront Street - Queens Quay Opens on Time After Three Years of Revitalization Work / Waterfront Toronto

Where's Senior Gov's help in #Nanaimo?—Canada, Ontario + City created WaterfrontToronto to oversee waterfront renewal http://t.co/dIwNaiO2xl

— NanaimoCommons (@NanaimoCommons) June 30, 2015

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Canadian Institute of Planners — 5th annual Great Places in Canada contest

2013 Great Public Space winner - Saint John NB City Market CNW Group/Canadian Institute of Planners

2015 edition of Great Places in Canada and all features on the greatplacesincanada.ca website have now been activated! Nominations from people across the country will be posted online as they compete for the title of Great Street, Great Neighbourhood and Great Public Space for 2015. The Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP), created this contest to engage Canadians in sharing their favourite places and to recognize the work accomplished by Professional Planners to make these places possible. Read ore: Canadian Institute of Planners | Great Places in Canada 2015 Kicks Off Today!

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Huntsville Alabama $70m downtown mixed use development calls for "road diet"

The project will include 230 apartments, a 150-room hotel, multiple restaurants and stores, professional office space and a six-level parking deck. Huntsville Chief Planner said the city needs to put Williams Street on a "road diet" so people who live, work and shop at CityCentre won't have to walk across four lanes of traffic to get to the park. CityCentre will initially cover more than six acres. More at Huntsville OKs $70M downtown mixed-use development next to Big Spring Park

Baltimore Inner Harbour "the model for post-industrial waterfront redevelopment"

Baltimore’s Inner Harbor has many stories to tell, from its heyday in the 18th century as the nation’s leading shipbuilding site, to a major site for oyster canning, steel working, railroad building, immigration port and military supply center. In 1980, the Inner Harbor area underwent a major revitalization with the addition of many attractions, hotels, restaurants and shops. Today, the Inner Harbor is a major tourist destination and port of call for cruise ships. More at: Baltimore Inner Harbor 

1. The Inner Harbor is a historic seaport, tourist attraction, and landmark of the city of Baltimore, Maryland, USA. It was described by the Urban Land Institute in 2009 as “the model for post-industrial waterfront redevelopment around the world.” Wikipedia

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#Nanaimo— Remember our Foundry? Here's North Van's waterfront.

#Nanaimo—Remember our Foundry? RT @lower_lonsdale: Last night's sunset was unreal! http://t.co/BU1GNRRZZU #northvan pic.twitter.com/EvM2nQCBex

— NanaimoCommons (@NanaimoCommons) February 17, 2015

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Waterfront Toronto development to create 2,000 plus jobs—100% privately funded

Post by Nanaimo Commons.

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From FutureChristchurch.co.nz Art and creativity bring life to Christchurch streets

More at: Christchurch: The Ever Evolving City - Chapter 2: IMAGINE Pohewa from Future Christchurch on Vimeo.

From Sustainable Cities Collective — Sydney Harbor Development Barangaroo Comes Together

After nearly ten years of planning and development, Barangaroo, a 22-hectare port on the Sydney waterfront, is coming together as a rich, $6 billion, mixed-use development that will fill in missing gaps in the city’s waterfront promenade and offer a stunning, one-of-a-kind park with an embedded Aboriginal cultural center. As Peter Walker, FASLA, PWP Landscape Architecture, described at the ASLA 2014 Annual Meeting in Denver, “it’s the most amazing project I’ve ever worked on.” Throughout Barangaroo, there will be a 50/5o split between buildings and parks. Headland Park, in the north, will be entirely green public space, while Barangaroo South will be entirely developed... offering a mix of residential, commercial, and retail space. 

Read more: Sydney Harbor Development | Sustainable Cities Collective

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New @WaterfrontTO + Port Lands video Via @GraphicMatt

New @WaterfrontTO hype video concludes with a snazzy Port Lands render. https://t.co/w3ufLXl8IS pic.twitter.com/6IbOy4rFzH

— Matt Elliott (@GraphicMatt) November 7, 2014

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From Price Tags — Arthur Erickson on False Creek development – 1983

Fascinating Jack Webster interview with Arthur Erickson in 1983, discussing the development of B.C. Place (when it was a proposed megaproject to be developed by the Province) for which he was the consulting architect. Renderings start at 9.45. (A very-80s Dave Podmore, head of planning for B.C. Place, shows up – that’s him pictured.) Full post at: Arthur Erickson on False Creek development – 1983 | Price Tags

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South Downtown Waterfront, Georgia Park On Monday Council Agenda

South Downtown Waterfront Committee — Revised Mandate and Objectives To obtain Council support for the continuation of the South Downtown Waterfront Committee.

Minutes of the Georgia Park / Insight Developments Public Hearing. Adopt the amended minutes.

100+ in attendance, a large majority of the delegations were opposed. Councillor Brennan's motion to defer the Staff Report back for further work, clarification, defeated. Councillor Brennan, Kipp, Pattje in favour. Motion to approve the height and square footage increases approved, Councillors Brennan, Kipp, Pattje opposed. Council now to decide on method of "elector  assent".

There is every indication that Senior Staff and most Councillors want to ensure that the lease of the waterfront park is not an issue for public discussion during the current election campaign. We can each draw our own conclusion as to why they fear its proper public airing.

Written submissions to the hearing (minutes state there were 36 written submissions and 20 delegations) here.

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Squamish Oceanfront Development

Oct 18 + 25 @SqFarmersMarket come chat with staff working on the #Oceanfront project & have your questions answered pic.twitter.com/2pCvG2QWtM
— Squamish Oceanfront (@sqoceanfront) October 15, 2014

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From Squamish Oceanfront Development Corporation website — 
Impressive in scale and inspiring in spirit, Squamish Oceanfront is a new master-planned community that brings together the best British Columbia has to offer for living, working, learning and playing. This is a community in the truest sense of the word, incorporating residential, professional, commercial, educational, cultural and recreational elements in an area already world-renowned for its unparalleled beauty and outdoor recreation opportunities. 

From YourWaterfront.co.nz — Where Auckland City Meets the Sea

"A world-class destination that excites the senses and celebrates our sea loving pacific culture and maritime history. It supports commercially successful and innovative businesses and is a place for all people, an area rich in character and activities that link people to the city and the sea". Read more: Your Waterfront, Auckland | Events, Activities, Marinas, Arts, Restaurants & Bars, Things to Do | Home

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Industrial Revolution: The Design and Influence of #GranvilleIsland @DIALOGvancouver

This is what the South Downtown Waterfront Initiative visioning statement means when it says that the site, done right, has the potential to be truly transformative for Nanaimo...

Industrial Revolution: The Design and Influence of #GranvilleIsland http://t.co/J2KQtG6G7t #dialog
— DIALOG Vancouver (@DIALOGvancouver) August 26, 2014

Just incredible #GranvilleIsland mural taking shape via @designboom http://t.co/QR9GEe7XCN @Van_Biennale @OsGemeos pic.twitter.com/avoXcvFjls

— DIALOG Vancouver (@DIALOGvancouver) August 26, 2014

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From The Globe and Mail — Shored Up: How Toronto's Waterfront Redevelopment is Going Right

On Unwin Avenue in Toronto’s port lands, the ground looks like a blank canvas: it’s largely a scrubland of asphalt and sumacs, punctuated by a power plant. The skyline of downtown shimmers like a mirage, but it’s just four kilometres away.

From here, it’s clear why governments see this area of the waterfront as ripe for development, and why the public agency Waterfront Toronto was created in 2001 to make that happen. But as the agency’s CEO John Campbell explains, it’s not as simple as it looks. “All the land south of Front Street is landfill,” said Mr. Campbell in an interview this week. “It’s all brownfield” – former industrial land, often contaminated – Read more: ”Shored up: How Toronto's waterfront redevelopment is going right - The Globe and Mail

Impending opening of Canadian Museum for Human Rights, what next for #Winnipeg's The Forks? @brent_bellamy

Nearly 20 years ago, the swirling titanium panels of a new Guggenheim Museum transformed a blue-collar city named Bilbao, Spain into a flourishing centre of culture and design. This inspired cities across the globe to build ever-more sensational public buildings, hoping to recreate the elusive "Bilbao Effect."

As Winnipeg prepares to open its own iconic museum, the lesson that can be learned from the experience of these cities is translating a building like the Canadian Museum for Human Rights into a broader development catalyst, requires a focused effort to build complementary projects that expand the museum's influence beyond its walls.

The opportunity for this development in Winnipeg begins with the massive parking lots that sit directly across from the museum at The Forks. Last week, a conceptual master plan for the five-hectare site along the raised rail line was made public, quickly receiving approval by the standing policy committee on downtown development. Read more: More than the museum - Winnipeg Free Press

Please #Winnipeg come out on July 23-26 to refine Forks plan beyond it's current landscape urbanism -> dwelling place http://t.co/QvqwYRAGej
— Hazel Borys (@hborys) July 15, 2014

—@KGreenbergTO talk at the recent Congress for New Urbanism in Buffalo

My talk at the recent Congress for New Urbanism in Buffalo https://t.co/FrxemZ1ksz

— Ken Greenberg (@KGreenbergTO) June 20, 2014

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