Photo courtesy Waterfront Toronto
Waterfront Toronto has launched an international competition to secure a development partner for the Quayside lands.
The first step in this effort is to issue a request for qualifications (RFQ) to identify potential development proponents with the proven experience, design portfolio, financial resources, and shared vision necessary to bring Quayside to reality.
“The people of Toronto have told us that they want to see a bold vision realized on the waterfront that reflects the confident, welcoming, and imaginative civic spirit of our city,” said Stephen Diamond, board chair for Waterfront Toronto.
“We are looking for leaders in the development field that will share our ambition to create a place that fuses Quayside to the water, and provides more beauty, utility, and originality than previously imagined. We want Quayside to be timeless, adaptive, and to propel us into our rightful place among the great waterfronts of the world,” Diamond said.
“Quayside is an opportunity to reimagine a stronger economic future and create a post-pandemic landmark community that addresses many of the vulnerabilities the COVID-19 crisis has exposed,” said George Zegarac, Waterfront Toronto CEO. “The past year has driven people apart, when they would rather be together. We will know we have been successful when anyone who has ever thought about moving away from the city looks at Quayside and remembers every reason they wanted to live in Toronto in the first place.”
The Quayside site totals 5 ha (12 acre), including 3 ha (8 acre) of developable land across five development blocks. It is one of the last undeveloped expanses of land steps from Toronto’s downtown. Through the RFQ stage of this competition, a short list of proponents will be selected to participate in the request for proposals (RFP) to select a winning team.
The RFQ submission deadline is May 12. Waterfront Toronto aims to select a winning proponent before the end of 2021.
