1

METROLINX and IO Presentation, Toronto, June 17, 2014

Mount Dennis Community Association, Marabelle McTavish, President Greenhills Community Association, Patrick Saavedra, OAA, RAIC, AIA, NCARB

Kodak Lands Redefined:A Community’s Perspective

2

Presentation Overview

1.

HISTORY AND CONTEXT2.

OPPORTUNITY3.

CASE STUDIES4.

OUR VISION5.

TOD PRECEDENTS 6.

SUMMARY7.

Q

& A

3

1. HISTORY & CONTEXT

4

5

Redeveloping the Kodak Lands:The Perspective of the

Community Working Group

History

• Community has longstanding involvement in discussing our need for quality development of this site – we want the MSF, plus, plus!

• Since 2009 the community has made presentations to TTC and People Plan Toronto, held Jane’s walks, convened discussions with Metrolinx Senior Management, taken part in Mobility Hub Planning

• Our Aspirations…………………..

7

Our Aspiration

• Community revitalization and rejuvenation• Development opportunities• Catalyst for community enterprises• Neighbourhood improvements• A place for jobs, (long term, skill building and

apprenticeship opportunities)• A destination site (stimulates economic growth,

businesses)

8

City Consultation and Refocus Kodak

• City and Metrolinx consulted with the community representatives, the Kodak Lands Working Group

• With Metrolinx agreement arrived at the 9 Planning Principles

• Refocus Kodak Project then initiated by Learning Enrichment Foundation to stimulate community engagement and interest in mobility hub intensification

• See handout, the display and RefocusKodak.ca website for community input to date on future development plans

9

2. OPPORTUNITY & PARTNERSHIP

10

OPPORTUNITY

Five Key Ideas for Stage OneWe want to work with you to ensure 5 key ideas getimplemented in the first stage of development, and completed by 2018-2020

1. The Kodak Employees Building 2. Public Placemaking3. The Bus Depot site4. Connections 5. Jobs

11

• Graphic from Ryerson design team

Idea 1: Re-make Kodak Building

12

BIG, GREEN and Innovation• Repurpose The Kodak Building is part of Mount Dennis Station –

• enlarged upwards and outwards to • add compatible program functions • Incorporate into larger redevelopment of the site• Incorporate a public square • Connections to public concourse, open space and transit

• Exemplary sustainable practices• people, planet, prosperity• eco-design statement• Adopt the best sustainable site and building practices

• Potential institutional development• Higher education facilities for design-based learning, research and

commercialization

13Victoria Park Station Roof

14

Station Co-Development OpportunityNew building with mix of Institutional, Office and Commercial uses built from street level over track-way and bus bayNew Commercial-

Residential building built above Western Entrance

Mix of Institutional Office and Commercial uses with expansion of existing building

15

Idea 2: Placemaking

• A public commons from Weston Road and Hollis, • incorporate the heritage Scotia Bank building to the Station Entrance• new affordable mixed use development can become a focal point for

Mount Dennis • Consider a multi-flex public space

• suitable for a community-run green arts marketplace and public events• Transform and connect

• link with an underground concourse • Connect to public square

• Extend a public plaza across the frontage and redefine Eglinton• Neighbourhood links to Keelesdale Drive green open space

Build above Bus Depot withEglinton Avenue Frontage extending over the track-way

Add floor spaceabove and out from existing Kodak Building

Scotia Bank

Mount Dennis Green Arts Marketplace Concourse Level Link across rail

corridor with Public Concourse under GO Platform

Lower Concourse(Below LRT)

Photography Drive Extension

Public Commons from Entrance to Weston Road and Hollis GO Trains

above

Bring grade to main floor level, build interior-exterior public square

LRT Platform

Corner of Weston Road and Eglinton

Link to Keelesdale Drive Green Space

Station Co-Development Opportunity

Build above Mount Dennis Station

17

Idea 3: Integrate Bus Terminal Site

18

Mount Dennis Station Development Complex• Eglinton frontage with retail and street level entry • Build over the tracks, extending up and overtop • Simultaneous development with the Station, build it now• Prime location for corporate head office, institutional and

university uses, transit supply chain business • Opportunity for micro business activities that draw people to the

site at street level to • Animate Eglinton and strengthen the connection between

Weston Road and Black Creek Drive• Integrate design, allow for bike path and pedestrian walkway

across the Eglinton frontage; connections between the Kodak Square and the Keelesdale Drive green open space

19

Eglinton: Animate and Integrate

with street-level frontage on Eglinton Avenue

20Brisbane

21

Idea 4: Connections

22

• Extend a new road and bike path from Photography Drive to Industry Street and to Todd Baylis Boulevard

• Build pedestrian pathways to public spaces between Weston Road and Black Creek Drive

• Link with complementary development to No-Frills site• Link through complementary planning and design• Link through safe way finding and signage

Linkages

23

Benefits

• Simplifies connection for transit users to get to and from the employment and residential areas north of the MSF

• Improves Traffic Flow by providing alternative routes for buses, delivery vehicles, emergency services and cars

• Defines the footprint of the yards, delineate sites for future development and mobility hub intensification

• Strengthens the connections across Eglinton frontage • Integrates the MSF into the community

24

Idea 5: Jobs Generator…

25

Our Community’s Employment Land

• We are partnering with Toronto Community Benefits Network (and we hope with you!) to create local access to construction, operations and maintenance jobs

• Partner with the City, consider site plan approval process to design and build to allow intensification, revitalization and jobs

• Be Eco-Leaders: Demonstrate the best of green design and sustainable practices and innovation; sustainable partners

• Partner with suppliers to encourage them to locate and co-locate here for manufacturing, fabrication and servicing

• By design, be a magnet for strategic partnerships, attract new businesses into the area; work with us to rebuild the local economy

26

3. CASE STUDIES

27

Transit Oriented Development

28

Lessons Learned• Intensification and Density =

Quality Urban Design + Makes $ and Sense• TOD examples all over the world • Case Studies: precedents analyzed by Refocus Kodak:

• Illinois• Hong Kong• Shops at York Mills • Anderson Station, Calgary

29

Case Study: Anderson Station

30

4. OUR VISION

31

"Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men's blood and probably themselves will not be realized. Make big plans; aim high in hope and work."

— Daniel Hudson Burnham (1846-1912)

32

The Big Picture: Developing a Grand Vision

• Metrolinx: a long–term hub development

vision (25+/‐

year 

horizon)• Completion by 2020‐2025• We all benefit from Intensification

NOW!: • Increases revenues• Generates jobs• Adds to public tax base• Strengthens

the community connections, and• Adds vitality

(and safety) to Eglinton

Ave

33

Metrolinx Vision

34

Reducing the MSF footprint• Optimize the space needed for train storage and vehicle parking

thus reduce the MSF land requirements• Where possible make space for multi-use• Locate MSF ancillary buildings and substation away from the

development edge, use the ponds as urban design features• Allow for future development over the south end of the site by

putting in supporting services work now• Now incorporate infrastructure elements that will support future

quick-start developments• Develop opportunities to attract wider development interest!• Design Excellence

• Inspirational, creative, gateway, quality architecture and iconic development

35

Our Site Analysis

36

Compact MSF: option 1

37

Compact MSF: option 2

38

Stack Uses and Integrate Transit

39

Eglinton Presence

40

Density & Gateway

41

Kodak Redefined

42

43

5. TOD Precedents

44Washington DC

45Victoria Park Station

46Portland

47Santa Monica

48Rockville MD

49Washington DC

50Richmond Hill

51Markham Centre

52Vancouver

53

Black Creek Bridge

54

Black Creek Bridge

55

56

57

58

59

6. SUMMARY

60

MSF Efficiency = City Building Opportunities

• Highest and best use of the land• Reduce overall MSF foot print• Plan should be compact and efficient• Stack uses• Build underground• Parking below grade• Phase program and track areas to allow future unused

parcels for contiguous development close to Eglinton • “Make no little plans……………….

61

Intensify Now ?

• City’s 9 Planning Principles has full community support

• City’s Development Permit System will designate areas such as the Mount Dennis Mobility Hub for streamlined approvals

• Immediate mobility hub intensification will kick start area revitalization and minimize construction disruption

• Catalyst for the private sector development • Integrate Community enhancement

62

We are your partners; we will work with you to 

make it happen.

Thank you!

Kodak Community Working GroupMount Dennis Community Association

andGreenhills Community Association

63

7. Q & A

64

Questions