{"id":18664,"date":"2023-06-26T20:57:57","date_gmt":"2023-06-27T03:57:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/willowdale-bia-seeking-submissions-for-transformative-public-realm-master-plan\/"},"modified":"2023-06-26T20:57:59","modified_gmt":"2023-06-27T03:57:59","slug":"willowdale-bia-seeking-submissions-for-transformative-public-realm-master-plan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/willowdale-bia-seeking-submissions-for-transformative-public-realm-master-plan\/","title":{"rendered":"Willowdale BIA Seeking Submissions for Transformative Public Realm Master Plan"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Since the conception of the REimagining Yonge proposal by the City of Toronto for the Willowdale area in 2017, the future of the stretch of Yonge through North York City Centre has been trending towards a more pedestrian-oriented approach. While City Council has approved the concept plan to beautify the streetscape and improve the walkability of what is currently a 6-lane major arterial road, a detailed, comprehensive design has yet to materialize.\u00a0 The Willowdale Business Improvement Area<\/a> (WBIA) hopes to change that.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Significant upgrades are coming to the Yonge Streetscape in North York, image by UrbanToronto Forum contributor AlbertC<\/span><\/p>\n

Formed in 2021, the WBIA\u2019s mandate is to improve the economy within their local area, which encompasses a lengthy corridor of Yonge Street, spanning from Highway 401 to Bishop Avenue, just north of Finch. As part of that mandate, the WBIA is making an effort to ensure that REimagining Yonge<\/a> is activated based on a vetted and strategic framework, and is calling on qualified teams of urban designers to help put that framework together.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Until July 14th, the WBIA will be accepting submissions<\/a> in response to an RFP, with the goal of creating a Placemaking and Public Realm Master Plan that will guide the impending improvements to the Willowdale BIA area.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Map view of the borders of the Willowdale BIA, image courtesy of WBIA<\/span><\/p>\n

Speaking with UrbanToronto about the forces behind this RFP, WBIA Executive Director Laura Burnham told us that \u201coverall, the aim is to create a distinct downtown type of neighbourhood. A Master Plan will allow us to better communicate a cohesive vision for the public realm in our district and work together with the City to implement it during upcoming public works projects.\u201d<\/p>\n

For Burnham and the rest of the WBIA, there\u2019s no question that the public realm is where this effort begins. \u201cPublic Realm is one of the BIA\u2019s key strategic pillars. It has a significant impact on the flow of people within our district, and the experience they have while living, working or playing in Yonge North York (Willowdale) BIA,\u201d she said. \u201cIf your public realm and main street is vibrant, clean, green and safe,\u201d she continued, \u201cit is natural that you are more likely to attract workers, residents, and visitors to your district.\u201d<\/p>\n

The RFP is seeking submissions that will ensure a vibrant future for the pedestrian realm, image courtesy of WBIA<\/span><\/p>\n

What the WBIA hopes to see from the responding submissions is a master plan that not only creates a vibrant and rejuvenated streetscape, but also one that can guide the community into the future. \u201cWe are looking to select a winning firm that can work with us to develop a plan that is thoughtful and integrated with future usage by our audiences,\u201d Burnham said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

This is arguably one of the most important factors, because projects of this nature are the kind that happen only twice in a century – at best. Of course, that\u2019s also an exciting notion for Burnham, who noted that the coming improvements \u201cprovide an opportunity to create an even more cohesive public realm, initiate modern features and seek hyper-local offerings that are aligned with the specific needs of the district.\u201d<\/p>\n

As the area continues to modernize, the WBIA hopes that the streetscape will as well, image by UrbanToronto Forum contributor someMidTowner<\/span><\/p>\n

With the window for submissions open until mid-July, our first look at the future of Willowdale\u2019s public realm could be just around the corner.\u00a0<\/p>\n

UrbanToronto will continue to follow progress on this development, but in the meantime, you can learn more about it from our Database file, linked below. If you’d like, you can join in on the conversation in the associated Project Forum thread or leave a comment in the space provided on this page.<\/p>\n

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UrbanToronto has a research service,\u00a0UrbanToronto Pro<\/a>, that provides comprehensive data on construction projects in the Greater Toronto Area\u2014from proposal through to completion. We also offer\u00a0Instant\u00a0Reports<\/a>, downloadable snapshots based on location, and a daily subscription newsletter,\u00a0New Development Insider<\/a>, that tracks projects from initial application.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n