Table of Contents
03 Executive Summary
04 Context and Background
05 Defining Meanwhile Use
06 Problem statement
07 Report Goals
08 Study Design
09 Findings and Discussion
10 Community Engagement
11 Financial model
12 Case studies and comparisons
16 Governing planning documents
18 Revenue generation & public realm expansion
19 Recommendations
21 Conclusion
22 References
23 Appendix A
24 Appendix B
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This report outlines a strategic framework for International and local case studies—including
implementing “meanwhile use” projects, temporary Toronto’s Stackt Market, Calgary’s High Park,
land activations on pre-developed sites, within and Riga’s Sporta Pils Darzi—demonstrate the
Toronto’s Port Lands. As one of the city’s largest viability and benefits of interim projects,
regeneration areas, the Port Lands presents a emphasizing flexible design, modular
significant opportunity to enhance the public realm, construction, public-private partnerships, and
foster community engagement, and generate community ownership as key factors in the
interim economic value during development success of meanwhile use initiatives. These
timelines.
precedents support the integration of
meanwhile use strategies into Toronto’s
The City of Toronto and CreateTO are positioned to
planning frameworks such as the Port Lands
lead the advancement of meanwhile use initiatives
Planning Framework (PLPF), Central Waterfront
as a way to animate underutilized lands. This report
examines how such uses can generate interim Secondary Plan (CWSP), Port Lands Area
revenue, support placemaking, innovation, and Specific Policy (PLASP), and Ookwemin Minising
community engagement, and ease the transition Precinct Plan (OMPP).
from vacant land to fully developed communities.
Based on the findings of this report,
This report was informed by interviews with recommendations are founded on four pillars:
CreateTO’s Port Lands and Community Engagement economic policy, urban design, planning
teams, local and global case studies, and existing regulations, and community engagement. A
governing documents for the city. meanwhile use framework for CreateTO should
emphasize modular architecture, relaxed
Interviews showed that while CreateTO has growing zoning, public-private funding partnerships, and
interest and some infrastructure for community participatory consultation methods in their
consultation, there remains a need for a more robust procurement criteria. By adopting these
and consistent engagement model. Meanwhile use strategies, CreateTO and the City can unlock
offers a pathway to embed civic participation early in
social, economic, and cultural value while
the planning process and support more inclusive,
preparing the Port Lands for its future as a
responsive development. Given the agency’s current
vibrant, sustainable waterfront district.
financing structure, external funding as well as
development incentives can be explored to
encourage meanwhile use projects. Executive summary 3
ORGANIZATION PROFILE: CREATETO,
TORONTO’S REAL ESTATE
MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
CreateTO serves as the City of Toronto’s real
estate portfolio manager, overseeing planning
and financial analyses, tenant applications,
environmental assessments, development
concepts and design, zoning, and strategic
policy (CreateTO, n.d.). The organization strives to
“[unlock] the potential of City-owned lands to
be activated for the public good” through
public realm and affordable housing
provisions (CreateTO, n.d.). CreateTO aims to
unlock $2.5 billion in land value through
partnerships with nonprofits, municipal entities,
and the private sector.
THE PORT LANDS
Toronto’s Port Lands is an area planned for
immense development in the next decade.
South of Lake Shore Boulevard East and
extending to Leslie Street, this area is currently
undergoing large-scale transformation from an
industrial district to one that will support high-
density affordable housing, parks, mixed-use
neighbourhoods, and serve as a new hub for the
film industry (CreateTo, n.d.). The Port Lands will
additionally be the grounds for the two new
waterfront communities: Ookwemin Minising
and the McCleary District, which will both be
champions of sustainability and urban design
excellence (CreateTO, n.d.).
Context and Background 4
CreateTO. (n.d.-b). Port Lands | CreateTO. [Link]
MEANWHILE USE
Toronto has experienced exponential growth in the past few decades.
Concurrently, the city has seen parallel growth in the development of both
residential and non-residential projects. Under the city’s most recent
Development Pipeline Report, there were 2344 total proposed projects in
2023, of which 3449 acres of the gross floor area (GFA) was designated non-
residential (Toronto City Planning, 2023)1. 62% of non-residential GFA projects
were still undergoing development approval processes at the end of 2023
(Toronto City Planning, 2023). Given that the majority of non-residential sites in
Toronto were not yet in the construction phase and, two years later, are likely still
not fully approved, many of these spaces are vacant or under-utilized. There
stands to be a large opportunity to leverage these sites for public realm activation
through meanwhile use (also known as interim use or activation).
Meanwhile uses are temporary projects or initiatives that occupy lands before
development occurs (Toronto City Planning, 2024). In the Port Lands Planning
Framework2, these uses can be short-term installations, structures, or events that
support surrounding uses (Ritz, et al., 2017). Given the availability of undeveloped
land, there is an opening to optimize these sites for meanwhile use and thereby
the expansion of the public realm.
1. Refer to the 2023 Development Pipeline for detailed statistics, area and GFA breakdowns, and maps of development areas
2. Port Lands Planning Framework
Context and Background 5
Problem statement
MEANWHILE USE AS A SOLUTION
FOR LAND VACANCY
The understood benefits of implementing projects as a means to combat
growing land vacancies is many.
Meanwhile use as a placemaking tool
Temporary uses presuppose the character of an area
before development begins. These initiatives can animate
a space and imbue a sense of place for future users.
They heighten the attractiveness of a development while
also preparing the community for what’s to come post
construction.
Interim revenue generation
While development permits are in process, meanwhile use
is an opportunity to generate revenue in the interim to
fund future projects on its lands. They lay the grounds for
business and startup income streams, revenue that can go
towards site maintenance, development, and other
community benefits. Temporary spaces can lower the
barrier for smaller enterprises to establish their
businesses and with more flexible planning allowances,
there is an opportunity to experiment with how space is
designed (Finney, 2021).
Pre-development transition
Undeveloped sites, or ones that are still in the approvals
process, should be approached with a longer term lens;
one that understands development as phased, whereby
even the pre-development stage can offer opportunities
for activation. This would be achieved through the
implementation of meanwhile uses that can transform
land parcels into places of community engagement and
value. Interim projects can transition sites into their
future use more seamlessly, exposing community
members to planned developments early-on in the
process which can lower resistance but also provide an
opportunity for feedback and engagement (Finney, 2021).
Context and Background 6
GOALS OF THIS
REPORT
The extensive development that the Port Lands is undergoing lays the
groundwork for meanwhile uses to be realized. This 880 acres of land that
is to be transformed into a dense, transit-oriented, mixed-use
community has enormous potential to be a site of experimentation and
public realm development. CreateTO and the City of Toronto are currently
interested in unlocking even greater land value from the establishment of
interim activations on the waterfront. With the city’s exponentially growing
population and development, both entities understand that there is an
equal need for the expansion of public spaces that serve communities
and enrich Toronto’s broader urban landscape.
As the city’s real estate portfolio manager, CreateTO develops strategies for
unlocking land value and enhancing public good. Therefore,
understanding how land can be used optimally to serve Torontonians, as
well as diversify the city’s environment is well within the organization’s
interests. This report will establish a strategic framework for CreateTO
to explore meanwhile use approaches and implementation in the Port
Lands and the broader Toronto cityscape. It will encompass aspects of city-
building that will guide procedures for future temporary developments,
including:
1. Planning allowances
2. Design strategies
3. Public engagement and community consultation
4. Economic opportunities
5. Implementation
6. Strategic policy
This report will serve as a guide to developing meanwhile use
initiatives as a way to optimize lands in pre-development and
construction stages while also expanding Toronto’s public realm. Its
contents will be more narrowly applied to the Port Lands, but can be
implicated within the broader planning and urban landscape of Toronto.
Context and Background 7
STUDY DESIGN
To better understand the context and the state of the industry, three main
sources of information were engaged with.
1. Interviews with the CreateTO Port Lands and Community
Engagement Teams to better understand the agency’s needs, goals,
and progress with developing a meanwhile use approach.
2. Global case studies that reflected the scale and requirements for
meanwhile use set out by PLPF.
3. Existing governing planning documentation and permissions
Study Design 8
FINDINGS AND
DISCUSSION
Findings and Discussion 9
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
INTERVIEW3
Scholars and community advocates stress the importance of public participation in city
building. Clark notes that involving community members in decision making
processes is important to designing spaces that are cognizant of the concerns of
those on the ground - the ultimate end-users (2018). Those who live near
developments have the most holistic understanding of how large scale change will
affect their communities. They may raise concerns, nuances, and ideas that planners
and designers may not necessarily consider in their high-level work. Overarching
themes within the CWSP, PLASP, PLPF, and OOMPP stress the importance of the
Port Lands as grounds for a thriving, diverse community. The Kirwan Institute for the
Study of Race and Ethnicity, stresses that successful urban environments must
consider the experiences of those often dispossessed by large scale developments
(Holley et al., 2021). As a “clean-slate” site, the Port Lands is an opportunity for the City to
create a neighbourhood grounded on strong civic engagement and community
involvement.
An interview was conducted with the organization’s Community Engagement Manager
to understand CreateTO’s consultation process.
Interview Findings CreateTO’s community
1. CreateTO has only recently created a
community engagement guideline.
consultation process
To enhance the organization’s reach,
2. Engagement processes happen at two CreateTO facilitates a wide array of
stages: before development applications are consultation meetings with the
submitted and immediately after
community. This comes in the form of:
submission. This is to allow for greater
flexibility in designs since the public’s opinion Kitchen table chats
can be incorporated into the application Coffee shop meetups
beforehand. Once applications are submitted Evening meetings
for feedback, the community is involved once By providing diverse consultation
again for further deliberation and changes.
forums, engagement sessions are
made more accessible to more
3. Once a developer takes over a build,
CreateTO relinquishes responsibility over people. CreateTO works with
community engagement. The agency still consultants like Monumental to
plays an advisory role, encouraging developers design what participatory spaces look
to still hold consultations throughout a like and how they are facilitated.
development, however, they no longer
facilitate them. Findings and Discussion 10
3. Refer to Appendix A for questions and answers
4
FINANCE INTERVIEW
Upon one interview with a member of CreateTO’s Port Lands Asset Management team,
a few key takeaways were understood about the organization’s financing structure:
1. CreateTO as an organization rarely funds development projects. Funding, in the
certain circumstances that it is provided, comes from the Toronto Port Lands
Company (TPLC) and goes towards development incentives such as environmental
assessment reports.
2. Maintenance and upkeep is on the responsibility of developers or other tenants.
From this interview a few other points about the implementation of temporary use
were made:
1. The City has its own objectives of what it wants lands to be. CreateTO gives
incentives based on these needs that typically override funding that might be
available.
2. Because interim use is much more flexible than long-term developments, the
procurement process is similarly flexible. REOIs are issued to allow a wider range
of entities to bid on land. This document is generally broader in its scope and less
strict in its criteria, with the goal of receiving more innovative ideas that come from
more diverse bidders.
4. Refer to Appendix B for questions and answers
Findings and Discussion 11
CASE STUDIES AND
COMPARISONS
Meanwhile use case studies from Toronto and the rest of the world were
explored to investigate how other entities went about project development
and lessons to be learned from their process.
1. Stackt Market, Toronto
2. High Park, Calgary
3. Sporta Pils Darzi, Riga
Findings and Discussion 12
STACKT MARKET
Toronto
Context
Perhaps one of the more well known meanwhile
use cases is Stackt Market at 28 Bathurst Street
in Downtown Toronto (Takagi & Colley, 2024). A
100,000 square foot space, the market was built
using modular shipping containers (Takagi &
Colley, 2024). Initially meant to be a temporary
pop-up market, the success of Stackt as a tourist
attraction frequented by locals and visitors alike
led to the City extending the tenant’s lease for
another 10 years in 2024 (Takagi & Colley, 2024).
Takeaways for CreateTO
Spaces that are designed and serve the
community well, are ones that can
potentially be transformed into long-term
places for gathering, revenue generation,
and innovation.
Stackt’s unique architecture and format is
one that aligns with the aims of urban design
excellence and enhanced community
benefits as outlined by the governing
documents of the Port Lands.
Relaxation of Zoning By-Laws can allow for
greater innovation on city lands.
Converting Regeneration/Employment areas
to Parks and Open Space Areas generally
creates larger flexibility for land use
(Corporate Officer and Planning, 2017).
Requesting for services from developers in
exchange for land can expedite planning
applications and processes for community
benefit. Licensing for Stackt was granted if
developers agreed to conduct environmental
and geotechnical investigations of the land
parcel (Corporate Officer and Planning, 2017).
Findings and Discussion 13
STACKT Market. (2024, December 10). Toronto - STACKT market. [Link]
HIGH PARK
Calgary
Context
High Park is a 200 metre boardwalk constructed
from the conversion of an underutilized top floor
parkade (Neighbourhoods Beltline Association,
n.d). It features temporary activities and
performances designed to be deconstructed
quickly to allow for parking stalls to be
reinstated (Neighbourhoods Beltline Association,
n.d.). High Park is a collaboration between Public
City Architecture, Beltline Neighbourhoods
Association, Beltline Urban Murals Project, and
the Calgary Parking Authority (Neighbourhoods
Beltline Association, n.d.). The project was
funded by the City of Calgary’s Beltline
Community Investment Fund with an additional
$200,000 from the federal government
(Neighbourhoods Beltline Association, n.d.).
Takeaways for CreateTO
Partnerships with neighbourhood
associations and various city-based
committees can bolster community
support and provide funding where
needed.
Applications for federal funding can be
accomplished by collaboration with
different groups - federal funding can be
used for upgrades and general
maintenance.
Designing temporary uses for expedited
installation and take-down allows for
greater flexibility and an expansion and
quicker transition of use cases on lands.
Neighbourhoods Beltline Association. (n.d.). The High Park success story. Findings and Discussion 14
[Link]
SPORTA PILS DARZI
Riga
Context
Sporta Pils Darzi is a 4.9 acre community garden on a former brownfield site
(Gardens of Sporta Pils, 2021). A three year lease was granted to the community to
use the space for recreational activities, communal gardening, and cultural events
(Gardens of Sporta Pils, 2021). The project was conceptualized from a community
member approach a developer to use the site for the betterment of the
neighbourhood (Gardens of Sporta Pils, 2021). An investment of €1500 was obtained
through crowdfunding (Gardens of Sporta Pils, 2021). During its lease the site
brought liveliness to the neighbourhood, which saw disjointedness throughout its
community (Gardens of Sporta Pils, 2021). After the brownfield site was converted
to gardens, community members cited greater participation from residents of the
nearby neighbourhood, as well as an overall feeling of cohesiveness between those
who lived in the surrounding area (Gardens of Sporta Pils, 2021).
Takeaways for CreateTO
The community can be a valuable resource. Using the knowledge and filling
the needs of neighbourhoods can unlock the social value of a land parcel.
Adequate and comprehensive community consultation yields projects that
actually serve the area.
Creating spaces that are valuable to a community and ones that are informed
from beginning to end by their knowledge can improve the cohesion of a
neighbourhood. This can aid with transition periods during development.
Involvement of community members in the conceptualization of space from
planning to design to even physical implementation can engender a greater
sense of place for those involved. By engaging with stakeholders throughout the
project, there is a greater sense of ownership for the neighbourhood. Private and
public entities are also able to develop connections with those they intend to
serve. Doing so meaningful can foster greater trust between the two.
Gardens of Sporta Pils. (2021). PublicSpace. [Link]
sporta-pils-darzi-urban-garden-in-riga
Findings and Discussion 15
GOVERNING PLANNING DOCUMENTATION
Given the ambitious development goals for the Port Lands and the large
area of vacant or untenanted land that currently is in the planning process,
developing and implementing meanwhile use frameworks would be greatly
beneficial for CreateTO and the City of Toronto. The Port Lands are
governed by four planning documents: the Port Lands Planning
Framework, the Central Waterfront Plan, the Port Lands Area Specific
Policy, and the Ookwemin Minising Precinct Plan. There is yet to be
solidified or comprehensive interim use policy within these governing
policies, however, the City has laid out some specific guidelines for
implementation, as well as for the general character of the Port Lands. The
following pages outline some of the relevant policy points within each of the
four documents.5
PORT LANDS PLANNING FRAMEWORK (PLPF)
1. Implement new interim uses to create diverse experiences,
innovation, and employment opportunities (Ritz et al., 2017)
2. Parking lots should be multi-functional and allow for temporary uses
including pop-ups, markets, events (Ritz et al., 2017)
CENTRAL WATERFRONT SECONDARY PLAN
(CWSP)
1. The public realm is significant in “transforming the Central
Waterfront into a destination for international tourism, national
celebration, and local enjoyment” (Confidential, 2024-a).
2. The Port Lands should offer year long activations for visitors and
Torontonians alike (Confidential, 2024-a).
3. Active uses at grade include:
a. Retail
b. Restaurants
c. Commercial uses
d. Recreational and art facilities (Confidential, 2024-a)
5. CWSP, PLASP, and OMPP are confidential planning documents. Outlined information is summarized from their original writing and provided for this report
courtesty of CreateTO’s Port Lands Team
Findings and Discussion 16
PORT LANDS AREA SPECIFIC POLICY (PLASP)
1. Parks and Open Spaces are grounds for interim use if future
development plans have not yet be solidifed (Confidential, 2024-c).
2. Interim use must be “a temporary structure, a special short term
installation and/or event; or would temporarily support nearby uses”
(Confidential, 2024-c).
3. Interim use must create diverse land usage and innovatively activate
the public realm (Confidential, 2024-c).
4. Early activation projects should transform the Port Lands into a
destination in preparation for the future community (Confidential, 2024-
c).
OOKWEMIN MINISING PRECINCT PLAN
(OMPP)
1. A “Meanwhile Use Strategy” and implementation guidelines need to be
developed to support interim site activation before construction begins
(Confidential, 2024-b).
2. Policy changes now permit non-residential uses to occupy sites as-of-
right prior to full development (Confidential, 2024-b).
3. Temporary uses aim to activate an area in advance of mixed-use
residential projects and support new regional parks (Confidential, 2024-b).
4. To lower barriers for implementation, a new policy exempts meanwhile
uses from full Toronto Green Standard compliance, though alignment
with its intent is encouraged (Confidential, 2024-b).
5. Meanwhile uses promote innovation, community engagement, and
experimentation with new space activation methods (Confidential, 2024-
b).
6. In parks and open spaces, interim uses must be compatible with future
design plans (Confidential, 2024-b).
7. Meanwhile uses are not bound by the detailed policies governing final
development, allowing greater flexibility (Confidential, 2024-b).
Findings and Discussion 17
REVENUE GENERATION
Temporary use has been viewed by scholars as an opportunity to occupy
financial gaps in the city. Madanipour sees these types of projects as a
“pragmatic measure” — one that seeks to provide interim economic prospects
for developers and municipalities, while also providing space for more creative
ventures (2018, p. 1105). Meanwhile use spaces can be a solution for financial
loss prevention, allowing owners of land to generate revenue to maintain the
space during vacancies (Madanipour, 2018). The scope of these initiatives also
allows for flexibility in zoning and planning regulations, thus giving smaller
enterprises, creatives, and community members an avenue for
experimentation, placemaking, and land ownership (Madanipour, 2018). For
these groups, the short-term of meanwhile use spaces, as well as the lower
investment cost allows more to participate in city building.
PUBLIC REALM EXPANSION
The temporary nature of meanwhile use allows these spaces to be valuable
contributors to the public realm. Requiring projects to be built for teardown or
deconstruction encourages a degree of experimentation (Vallance et al., 2017).
As such, site owners are more inclined to provide more creative, accessible, and
diverse uses that cater to a broader range of users (Vallance et al., 2017). This
has immense prospects for larger scale community building and placemaking as
audiences for meanwhile use spaces become more expansive.
Findings and Discussion 18
RECOMMENDATIONS
Based on the findings from interviews, governing planning documents, and
academic literature, recommendations for CreateTO’s meanwhile use
framework on economic and strategic policy, urban design and
architecture, planning and zoning, and community consultation are
provided.
Recommendations 19
ECONOMICS AND URBAN DESIGN +
STRATEGIC POLICY ARCHITECTURE
Revenue to invest in meanwhile use Designs and architecture should be built
projects should come from multiple with modularity and disassembly in
sources — federal, provincial, private, and mind.
community investment funds. The character of meanwhile use should
Grants for public realm animation can assist align closely with larger scale urban
with startup activation. design guidelines of the area.
Enterprises can provide community The design of meanwhile use spaces
benefits and planning analyses in exchange should be flexible; elements should be
for rent-free leases. This will provide an moveable and able to be rearranged in
opportunity for ventures to explore more lieu of other incoming uses. This can
innovative opportunities at a lower cost, while create more flexibility in land use but also
also providing services to the city at no cost. give space for other enterprises to
Recruitment of operators and participants implement their projects.
in meanwhile use processes should
undergo a more open-ended procurement
process. A four month REOI administered in
two, two month phases, is recommended to
provide enough time for bidders to develop
an application while being mindful of the
shorter timeline of meanwhile use. Allowing COMMUNITY CONSULTATION
entities to express interest and share ideas
Community consultation should occur
rather than explicitly contracting more
on a monthly basis, with weekly
specific groups (eg. architects), opens the
involvement from members who show
space for greater innovation, experimentation,
greater interest.
and participation from diverse sources.
Two design charrettes should be offered
at opposing times before building to allow
for community members to offer their
input on designs and feel more engaged in
development processes.
PLANNING & ZONING CreateTO should establish a long-term
Ownership models governing meanwhile community consultation process that
use is a public-private partnership. begins at pre-application and ends after
Planning and permit allowances are construction has been completed.
granted for the construction of temporary Community members should be treated
structures for community benefits. as practitioners and be permitted to
Revenue from interim use is profit-shared contribute to the physicality of space by
to maintain spaces and continue to their direct involvement with construction
enhance the public realm. (eg. painting walls, planting foliage, etc.)
A collaborative ownership model allows for a
more seamless transition of building
governance once construction begins.
Vacant sites or ones that are in the pre-
development/approvals phase should be
zoned as Parks and Open Space to allow
for flexible use and incorporation into the
public realm. Recommendations 20
CONCLUSION
Knowing the benefits that meanwhile use can
As the development of a new in the Port Lands bring to a space should motivate CreateTO as well
continues, meanwhile use can serve as a as the City to develop new planning policies that
valuable transitory measure between land relax regulations on spaces that are in transition.
vacancy and construction. There are many This may include allowing areas to be zoned as
benefits to these types of projects. Meanwhile Parks and Open spaces or removing certain
use presents an interim revenue stream for permit requirements once a site becomes vacant.
developers and the city before building begins. Once sites are planned for meanwhile use,
This income can be used for site maintenance community consultation can begin. CreateTO
and upkeep, as well as contribute to future should develop a long term engagement
land usage cost. As such, in many cases procedure that ends after development ends.
landowners are incentivised to put interim Collaborating with neighbourhood groups,
initiatives onto transitional land for enhanced grassroots organizations, and placemaking firms
income flows. Concurrently, because of the can allow communities to get involved with
temporary nature of meanwhile use, there is establishing place. Viewing members as
more room for experimentation and practitioners by giving them the ability to
innovation on the behalf of site occupants. The contribute to the physicality of a space can foster
informality of these spaces imbues greater connection, community, and trust, allowing for
placemaking potential and therefore more seamless transfers of ownership. It also
heightens the prospects of community provides grounds for developers and the city to
building and accessibility to more diverse understand the needs of land users by facilitating
populations. continuous engagement.
Given the multilayered benefits of meanwhile Meanwhile use has the potential to bring
use sites as grounds for economic economic and community benefit gains to the
development and placemaking, several Port Lands and Toronto at large. CreateTO should
recommendations were suggested within this leverage the opportunities that pre-development
report. Procurement of meanwhile use has to offer by implementing a meanwhile use
projects and tenants can be achieved with strategy that establishes economic, design,
releasing a shorter term REOI to allow for more planning, and community engagement
flexibility in applicants and thereby expanding guidelines. Given the goals of PLPF, CWSP, PLASP,
innovative prospects. Incentives like rent-free and OMPP, the Port Lands stands to fulfill its
leases or environment assessment provisions landscape vision of innovation, experimentation,
can be provided by CreateTO and the City of culture, and community by implementing interim
Toronto to lower the barrier of access to these activations. The recommendations from this
spaces. Architecturally, projects should be report will allow this new neighbourhood to
designed for deconstruction to increase develop into a thriving hub of culture, not only
flexibility, shorten timelines, and expedite tear- after development, but in the interim as well.
down before development begins.
/3997
Conclusion 21
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[Confidential] (2024-a) [Confidential] Central Waterfront Secondary Plan. Toronto: [Confidential].
Unpublished
[Confidential] (2024-b) [Confidential] Ookwemin Minising Precinct Plan. Toronto: [Confidential].
Unpublished
[Confidential] (2024-c) [Confidential] Port Lands Area Specific Policy. Toronto: [Confidential].
Unpublished
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[Link]
Gardens of Sporta Pils. (2021). PublicSpace. [Link]
sporta-pils-darzi-urban-garden-in-riga
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References 22
APPENDIX A
Community Engagement Interview:
Questions
What does CreateTO's current community engagement process look like? How involved are people
throughout development processes?
Do you ever encounter any barriers to community engagement?
Do you ever work with community organizations to develop engagement plans?
How can we measure the success of community engagement in the meantime, and what kind of
feedback mechanisms can we create for ongoing input?
How does CreateTO bring new developments, especially ones that are not housing, to the public?
How do we make items that are not housing more compelling (eg. how do you convince people
that building a film studio is more worthy than an apartment complex?).
Does the city even see any value in community engagement?
We talk a lot about equity in theory, but how does this play out in reality?
Notes on interviewee answers
CreateTO only recently developed a community engagement guideline
There is a strong focus on “pre-engagement” - getting people’s ideas about a potential
application and then once again once the application is submitted
Once the developer takes over, the consultation is out of CreateTO’s hand - although they still
play an advisory role throughout a development
CreateTO tries to reach as many people as possible through different engagement strategies (eg.
kitchen table chats, coffee shop meetups, night time meetings)
Consultants are mainly in charge of designing what these spaces look like
Appendix A 23
APPENDIX B
Finances and Funding Interview
Questions
How do you plan the financing structure of a development? How does this change for interim uses?
How reliant is CreateTO on grants/municipal funding/private investment? - Where does funding
come from?
How do you make temporary uses appealing to funders? I know that interim spaces are ultimately
temporary so what makes them compelling? (eg. a really good park is something that I think is a
good use but it doesn't necessarily bring much financial capacity to a space).
What planning considerations are there when it comes to interim spaces?
How can we design the space to allow for a smooth transition to its permanent use when the time
comes?
What is the actual process of deciding what will be placed at the site? Eg. 6 Leslie slated for a
Montessori, why?
How do you decide what land use is a priority?
What are the short-term operational costs (e.g., maintenance, security, insurance), and how can we
manage these effectively? - how is maintenance ensured
Notes on interviewee answers
CreateTO rarely funds projects, but it does fund certain development incentives with TPLC
funding (eg. Environment Impact assessments).
Private developers, even community ones, are required to fund their own projects +
maintenance and upkeep
Council has its own goals that incentivise funding (eg. if it wants a park it’s getting a park and it
will be funded)
Interim spaces are more flexible because they’re temporary
Process for planning application:
REOI
Bids
A set of criteria is sent out for people to respond to
Council decides/the city has certain things it looks for
Maintenance paid for by tenant
Appendix B 24