We get lots of stories posted about the ongoing drama of Canada's sole megalopolis.
I posted that one earlier about some of the positives compared to other world level cities.
http://www.ehmac.ca/everything-else-eh/99901-toronto-not-so-bad.html

The GTA has more people than New Zealand and represents a very large slice of the Canadian economic activity.

Love it or hate it - inside or out of it - it has a major role in Canada as its largest metropolis and perhaps the most multi-cultural city in the world as some claim. It has huge provincial level budgets yet no formal party system for good or ill and continually battles both Ontario and the Feds for it's share of tax revenues and fair treatment on issues like support for the huge diversity of incoming immigrants..

I thought it might be a good idea to keep a running a running thread of most things GTA.

•••

Thought I would kick it off with what I consider a damn fine idea.

Marcus Gee

Man-made Humber islands would solve two problems at once

MARCUS GEE (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/authors/marcus-gee/) From Saturday's Globe and Mail

http://beta.images.theglobeandmail.com/archive/01398/web-humberislan_1398252cl-8.jpg
Potential island site at Toronto's Humber River mouth (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/toronto/potential-island-site-at-torontos-humber-river-mouth/article2409519/?from=2409781)

Published Friday, Apr. 20, 2012 8:41PM EDT http://s0.2mdn.net/3285811/Transformers_120x240.jpg (http://ad.ca.doubleclick.net/click%3Bh%3Dv8/3c60/3/0/%2a/w%3B253809090%3B0-0%3B0%3B77414735%3B62-120/240%3B46756866/46773339/1%3B%3B%7Eaopt%3D0/ff/91/ff%3B%7Efdr%3D254530939%3B0-0%3B1%3B47464582%3B62-120/240%3B46792268/46808706/1%3B%3B%7Eaopt%3D6/1/ff/0%3B%7Esscs%3D%3fhttp://static.2mdn.net/2340584/index.html?url=https://services.google.com/fb/forms/adwordscredit3/?site=aol&utm_term=na-en-ha-aw-globe-q1tr&utm_source=na-en-ha-aw-globe-q1tr&utm_medium=ad&utm_campaign=en)
Officials often come to city council to propose new bylaws, garbage fees or tree-planting programs. It is not every day that one of them suggests creating an archipelago. That was what Lou Di Gironimo did this month when he presented a clever plan to build a series of small islands off the mouth of the Humber River on the western waterfront.




continues

Man-made Humber islands would solve two problems at once - The Globe and Mail (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/toronto/marcus-gee/man-made-humber-islands-would-solve-two-problems-at-once/article2409781/)

read about this on the weekend. I think it is a great idea.. as long as no more 35 floor condos end up on the islands..
But I am not against a park that is open to all or if we must put the new casino there and let it be our jersey shore boardwalk/atlantic city.

read about this on the weekend. I think it is a great idea.. as long as no more 35 floor condos end up on the islands..
But I am not against a park that is open to all or if we must put the new casino there and let it be our jersey shore boardwalk/atlantic city.

It would take a long time for such an island to be ready for major structures, I would think. I imagine the ground--soil and concrete-- would need to settle or be compacted extensively.

It would take a long time for such an island to be ready for major structures, I would think. I imagine the ground--soil and concrete-- would need to settle or be compacted extensively.

if they can build palm and world islands in dubai then can easily do this.. ;)

if they can build palm and world islands in dubai then can easily do this.. ;)

All it takes is money.... oh wait.

All it takes is money.... oh wait.

they were going to spend it any way dumping it.. so why not sell it off and make money too.
kills two birds with one stone..
get rid of the dirt and bodies.. then sell it to private investors
problem solved..

they were going to spend it any way dumping it.. so why not sell it off and make money too.
kills two birds with one stone..
get rid of the dirt and bodies.. then sell it to private investors
problem solved..

Private investors are primarily interested in 50+ story condo towers. ;)

In all seriousness, the cost of building the island, ensuring it's stable, and doing all the necessarily environmental assessments to be able to build on it is very likely going to be too high for most private investors to take interest--the payback period would be too long, or the return on investment not sufficiently attractive.

They may take interest only after someone else (i.e., government) has spent a lot of money on doing the expensive and time-consuming environmental work... or if it's sold off at such a low price that it's hardly worth it to the government.

In Dubai, they don't worry so much about these things.... they just want to build to be able to build a cool island.

Yes, anything is possible with enough money.

IMHO this makes more sense than another $325 million stadium in 905 which will be paid by tax payers and then 'sky dome' off for $25 million when done.
so if money is to be spent then let it be spent on the water front which needs it badly. Not to mention talks of a Casino and some sort of park would be pretty cool..Probably increase tourism again in Toronto.

IMHO this makes more sense than another $325 million stadium in 905 which will be paid by tax payers and then 'sky dome' off for $25 million when done.

Oh, I'm with you there. I'll take more islands over a stadium any day.

Oh, I'm with you there. I'll take more islands over a stadium any day.

This would give me another reason not to drive to Niagara Falls with the kids..[ they love the water falls and butterflies ] so if they would be build a nice park and if they have to a Casino, some other nice attractions - I would go there more often and spend money in Toronto than Niagara Falls.. [ not to mention a family weekend and hotel there is not cheap]

Also I hate driving to woodbine/ashbridges in the summer it is so packed..
this will bring up the west side to be as nice as the east side.

Oh, I'm with you there. I'll take more islands over a stadium any day.

Absolutely. Stadium is a complete waste of tax dollars. Islands will be here for generations to come.

Stadium, islands. OK, I pick islands. No question.

The guy proposing seems to have worked out the logistics and economics as the waste has to dealt with and has costs associated with trucking it somewhere else - those costs have to be dealt with anyway .

Island building in the Toronto waterfront is not new as mentioned in the article and would be of benefit to the beaches and even the boaters - that can be a rough stretch of water across that area.

I've had occasion to speak to Lou Di Gironimo in a professional capacity and would classify him as a stand-up example of what a public servant should be. Really well-informed, articulate and hard-working.

The guy proposing seems to have worked out the logistics and economics as the waste has to dealt with and has costs associated with trucking it somewhere else - those costs have to be dealt with anyway.

Just wait until the first serious cost estimates start rolling in. I suspect that will quickly put an end to the discussion.

Just wait until the first serious cost estimates start rolling in. I suspect that will quickly put an end to the discussion.

I'm not certain of that. The cost of dumping construction waste is phenomenal. I suspect it could be almost self-financing if it provided construction companies with a viable alternative to dump their materials close to home.

Just wait until the first serious cost estimates start rolling in. I suspect that will quickly put an end to the discussion.

anything is cheaper than finding a dump site and driving to it, then paying dumping fees.
Or the horrible thought of shipping it to the US again is scary.

If you think about it. Down Town Toronto, anything south of Front St is all landfill - not to mention Centre island and Centennial hill [ but maybe the last two islands are a combo of trash and landfill ].
If you drive around Mississauga and Brampton all you see is humps of massive green hills in neighborhoods[with small telescopes for air vents in the hills too].. that is all trash/landfill... so rather make an few islands instead..

I'm not saying it's a bad idea. Only that by the time the environmental assessments are complete, the disputes with landowners and waterfront users are resolved, the soil is decontaminated and the thousands of other hoops that have to be jumped through, the cost will be in the billions and possibly prohibitive.