Photos by Mauricio Calero

Under the bright sky of an immaculate June day, ULI Toronto joined a large group of organizations to celebrate the groundbreaking of a remarkable new project and a big leap forward for the city’s Weston neighbourhood. If the source of Toronto’s incredible vitality is the dedication of its people, it was on display among those who came out that day to show a long-lagging part of the city some love.

The new Artscape Weston Hub and Residential Development by Rockport Group is located at 22 John St. on the site of a former Green P parking lot. It will include 370 new units of rental housing, an 8,200-square-foot arts and cultural centre and 26 affordable live/work units managed by Artscape as well as 12,500-square-foot outdoor community space. A community benefits package with the Hammer Heads organization will provide valuable skills training to local youth through the construction process. The site also includes underutilized podium space within the existing neighbouring tower at 33 King St.

Long identified as lagging in growth and investment, Weston had fallen behind the rest of the city by most measures of social equity. Perched above the Humber River and bisected by an emerging rail transportation corridor, the historic village is rich with history, identity and potential. Toronto’s city builders, including ULI, are coming together with the local community to reach that potential. The site is directly beside a new pedestrian bridge over the rail corridor and is a stone’s throw from the recently completed UP Express/GO Train station.

ULI Toronto has been active in the community for many years, playing a role in helping make the groundbreaking a reality. A 2011 ULI technical advisory panel published recommendations on a revitalization of the area, producing a report that was included in the Weston 2021 Revitalization Report approved by City Council in March 2012. ULI has also actively supported implementation as the project was awarded $85,000 from the ULI Urban Innovation Fund and various partners. The beautiful new specialized bike posts, paying homage to the area’s history of bicycle manufacturing, were provided through this investment.

Speaker after speaker, including Mayor John Tory, extolled the dedication, cooperation and creativity required from many different actors to initiate such a project. Elected representatives from the Parking Authority, Artscape, local business and residents groups, and the developer all heartily thanked the people who had come together to move the project uphill.

Attendees were left with a picture of the cooperative spirit necessary to deliver this kind of innovative, beneficial project essential to the vitality of Toronto.