After spending the last eight years in development purgatory, it looks like there's finally hope for Toronto’s Rail Deck Park, with the project springing back to life this week with the announcement of a public consultation later this month.
Conceptually, the project has struggled to take off, as initial city plans for a sprawling green space were quashed by the revelation that developers owned the air rights above the plot. However, on February 23, the public is invited to a digital open house where ideas will be discussed in a bid to resuscitate the project.
A High-Density, Walkable Concept
Ultimately, the Rail Deck Corridor will abide twenty-first century urban design principles predicated on the creation of mixed-use, accessible communities between Bathurst and Blue Jays Way. In addition to creating much-needed housing, the Rail Deck will feature plenty of greenery, bringing a sense of Arcadia to the concrete jungle that is Toronto’s urban core.
The development team is composed of Craft Development Corporation, Kingsmen Group, Fengate Asset Management, and Liuna, and a team of experienced rail deck consultants have been brought on board. Although the project has moved at a snail’s pace, a rezoning application is slated for tender this spring, according to the Rail Deck’s website, with construction expected to begin next year and the project delivered in 2025.
If early images are anything to go off of, Toronto’s Rail Deck urban oasis, which is inspired by The High Line in Manhattan, the southwestern downtown will be virtually unrecognizable.
