Queens Quay Obstacle Course

By Douglas Robb

View of north facing main entrance.

With construction expected to wrap up later this summer, I recently visited the Corus Quay building at Queens Quay and Lower Jarvis to take a look at the progress myself. Since 2007 the project has been plagued with problems, from a dysfunctional design review panel to questionable land development practises. My original plan was to have a quick walk around the building and maybe shoot some pictures, but I quickly realized my trip would be be much more complicated than I had expected.

My route from Union Station to Corus Quay lead through an underpass and below the Gardiner Expressway. As I walked east along the Queens Quay, the sidewalk began to crack and crumble until it disappeared altogether, only to be replaced by loose gravel and rusty railroad tracks. Along the way I encountered four busy lanes of traffic, three desolate parking lots, and one sugar refinery (probably the source of that strange burning smell). Once I arrived at Corus, chain link fences made it impossible to navigate the site and “No Entry” signs silenced any thoughts of exploration. Accessibility - or the lack thereof - seems to be a serious issue that extends beyond the building site and into the surrounding urban landscape.

The most noticeable obstacle to public accessibility was the poor condition of the Queens Quay. As the main road along Torontoʼs waterfront, Queens Quay falls short of the high-profile projects which are being built by the lake. Redeveloping the road as a primary link to the downtown core is essential for the success of these waterfront projects. The current plans call for the removal of two lanes of traffic, a new streetcar line between Union Station and Parliament Street, and the extension of the Martin Goodman Trail for cyclists and pedestrians. However, the majority of the $192-million project still hasn’t secured funding. (Waterfront Toronto says the outstanding costs will be covered through private land development and government funds.)

There’s a lot riding on the future of Queens Quay Boulevard, and new lakeside projects like Corus Quay have the most to lose. Of course, the beautification of the lakeshore is essential if Toronto wants to attract residents and investors to the area. But this redevelopment will be more than just a makeover. The current plans for Queen Quay will transform it into an important transportation route for a relatively isolated corner of the city. It will also create a continuous walkable path, connecting the patchwork of buildings and parks scattered along the lake. The revitalization of Queens Quay has the potential to finally bring a sense of accessibility and cohesiveness to Torontoʼs neglected waterfront.