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Coordinates: 43°38′46″N 79°21′06″W / 43.6462°N 79.3516°W / 43.6462; -79.3516
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{{short description|Island in Toronto, Ontario, Canada}}
{{userspace notes}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=May 2020}}
[[File:Filling in part of the mouth of the Keating Channel, 2018-07-04 -a.jpg|450px|thumb|Filling in part of the mouth of the Keating Channel, to construct Villiers Island.]]
[[File:Filling in part of the mouth of the Keating Channel, 2018-07-04 -a.jpg|450px|thumb|Filling in part of the mouth of the Keating Channel, to construct Villiers Island.]]
'''Villiers Island''' is a {{convert|54|acre|hectare|adj=on|order=flip}} area in Toronto's [[Port Lands]] being converted to an island. The project is a part of Port Lands Flood Protection Project by [[Waterfront Toronto]].<ref name=Trca2014-10-31/><ref name=Urbantoronto2018-08-09/><ref name=Cbc2017-07-02/><ref name=BlogTO2018-03/> To prevent flooding from the [[Don River (Ontario)|Don River]], a channel is being created to extend the river south and then west into [[Toronto Harbour]] providing another outlet and a more natural mouth for the Don River. The new channel effectively creates the island, which is also bounded by the [[Keating Channel]] and Toronto Harbour. Mixed-use residential development is planned for Villiers Island.<ref name="WFT-Map"/><ref name=TorStar2014-07-08/><ref name=WaterfronTorontoVilliers2017/>
'''Villiers Island''' is an island being built in [[Toronto]]'s [[Portlands]].<ref name=Trca2014-10-31/> It is a {{convert|44|hectare|acre}} parcel, bounded by what is now the [[Keating Channel]], and a new channel.


==Villiers Sankey==
The Island is located on a portion of the marsh once known as "[[Ashbridge's Bay]]", which had been the original natural mouth of the [[Don River (Ontario)|Don River]]. The entire Portlands had been a marsh, enclosed by the same large sandbar that formed the [[Toronto Islands]].
The new island and Villiers Street are named for [[Major (rank)|Major]] [[Villiers Sankey]] (1854–1905), a [[British Army]] officer and the city's early surveyor (1888-1905).<ref name="QOR"/><ref name="krcmar"/> Sankey was born in Ireland and came to Canada sometime after he passed his India Civil Service exams in 1872.


==Project==
By the turn of the twentieth century the marsh had become polluted, and the city filled it with landfill, and devoted it to industrial purposes.<ref name=TrcaDonNaturalization2008/> Some of the early 20th century landfill was also polluted, contaminated with heavy metals or toxic chemicals. The industrial enterprises were also polluting, including acres of petroleum tank farms and berms of road salt.
A full build-out of Villiers Island will feature:<ref name="WFT-Map"/>
* a re-routed Cherry Street connected to Lake Shore Boulevard by a pair of new bridges
* a naturalized river valley as a new route for the Don River flowing south then west along the southern side of the island
* a river park on south side of the new island
* a promontory park on the west side of the island, with the Western Dock retaining wall conserved
* Villiers Park on the east of the island, along the new route of the Don River
* a promenade on the north side along Keating Channel


Plans for the new island show a greenbelt, and parkland, surrounding a developed central area.<ref name=WaterfronTorontoVilliers2017/> The developed central area will be primarily residential. A new "naturalized" channel for the Don River will be created, while the existing Keating Channel will be preserved.
The city had also canalized and straightened the lower reach of the Don River, so it flowed straight for 5 kilometres from [[Bloor Street, Toronto|Bloor]]/[[Danforth Avenue|Danforth]] to what is now [[Lake Shore Boulevard]], where it made a right hand turn and ran a kilometre west in what was called the Keating Channel.<ref name=TrcaDonNaturalization2008/>


Early in the 21st Century suggestions were made that attempts should be made to ''"naturalize"'' the mouth of the Don.<ref name=TrcaDonNaturalization2008/> A second channel will be excavated. The second channel will have natural curves, and will have more natural banks, with natural plants that could provide habitat for migrating birds and wildlife. The second channel will empty into [[Toronto Harbour]] at what is now the [[Polson slip]].
The new channel will have natural curves, and will have more natural banks, with natural plants that could provide habitat for migrating birds and wildlife. The channel will empty into [[Toronto Harbour]] at what is now the Polson slip. The Keating Channel had mooring for multiple [[cargo ship|freighters]]. Plans for Villiers Island included adding more natural looking curves on the Keating Channel's southern bank.


The island lies on former industrial land, first created through landfill. The area will be cleared but buildings considered to have heritage value will be preserved.<ref name=BackgroundVilliers2017/> These will either be moved to higher ground, or left in declivities, when additional landfill will be used to raise the ground level two metres in the event of rare extraordinary flooding.<ref name=thestar2020-01-04/> More recent structures will be demolished.<ref name=blogto2020-06-06/> Some existing industrial uses have been moved to the main shipping channel to the south.
The Keating Channel had mooring for multiple freighters. Plans for Villiers Island included added more natural looking curves on the Keating Channel's southern bank.


Just south of Lake Shore Boulevard, [[Cherry Street (Toronto)|Cherry Street]] will be relocated slightly to the west with new bridges crossing the Keating Channel. The Don Greenway, a new river valley, is being constructed south from the Don River, crossing Commissioners Street under a new bridge, before turning west into Toronto Harbour. This new channel will allow high water from the Don River to flow move easily south by avoiding the 90-degree turn into the Keating Channel.<ref name=urbantoronto2020-02-28/><ref name=journalpioneer2020-10-01/><ref name=thepeterboroughexaminer2020-10-24/>
Plans show a greenbelt, and parkland, surrounding the developed center of the Island.

===Bridges<!--The section name is referenced from other articles.-->===
[[File:TTC bridge over the Keating Channel, 2021 01 23 -c (50868044106).jpg|thumb|The first of the bridges to be placed, the transit and pedestrian span over the Keating channel]]
[[File:Cherry Street bridge over the Polson Slip, 2022-07-22.jpg|thumb|The Cherry Street south bridge over the Polson Slip, the future mouth of the Don River]]
There will be four new bridges providing three access points to the future Villiers Island. All bridges are being built by Cherubini Bridges and Structures in [[Dartmouth, Nova Scotia]], at a total cost of {{CAD|100 million|link=yes}}. All three locations will have provision for future [[Toronto streetcar system|streetcar]] service, which may be a future expansion of the proposed [[East Bayfront LRT]]. All four bridges will have the same esthetic design and each span will have a curved steel dome (designed by CIG Architecture of the Netherlands) rising over the road surface. The builder expects the last of the four bridges to be shipped in 2022. All bridge spans are pre-assembled in Dartmouth and shipped on a barge via the [[Saint Lawrence Seaway]].<ref name=thepeterboroughexaminer2020-10-24/>

The four bridges are as follows:<ref name=BigSteel/><ref name=thepeterboroughexaminer2020-10-24/>
* The '''Cherry Street North''' bridges are two single-span, side-by-side bridges that will replace the [[Cherry Street lift bridge]]. One bridge will be for road traffic while the other will be used by pedestrians and public transit vehicles. The transit bridge could initially carry buses but was designed for streetcars. In early November 2020, the transit bridge was constructed and was brought to Toronto by barge.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.blogto.com/city/2020/11/toronto-famous-new-bridge-finally-home/| title = Toronto's famous new bridge has finally made it home| date = November 9, 2020| access-date = November 9, 2020| language = en}}</ref>
* The '''Cherry Street South''' bridge will have three spans crossing a newly created channel to run south of and roughly parallel to Commissioners Street. The [[Cherry Street Strauss Trunnion Bascule Bridge]] lies further south on Cherry Street off the island.<ref name="WFT-Plan-2017"/>{{rp|25}}
* The '''Commissioners Street''' bridge will have four spans and will be placed over a man-made channel being built as a southward extension of the Don River. Because of Seaway limitations, the bridge will be shipped in two sections to be joined on site.

{| class="wikitable"
|+Bridge dimensions and weight<ref name=BigSteel/>
! Bridge !! Length !! Width !! Height !! Weight
|-
| Cherry Street North (transit)
| {{convert|57|m}}
| {{convert|21|m}}
| {{convert|10.21|m}}
| 340 tonnes
|-
| Cherry Street North (road)
| {{convert|57|m}}
|
| {{convert|10.21|m}}
| 450 tonnes
|-
| Cherry Street South
| {{convert|111|m}}
| {{convert|21|m}}
| {{convert|11.15|m}}
| 790 tonnes
|-
| Commissioners Street
| {{convert|153|m}}
| {{convert|53|m}}
| {{convert|10.16|m}}
| 1,210 tonnes
|}

There will be a provision for three additional bridges in the future:<ref name=BigSteel/>
* a second Commissioners Street bridge,
* a second Cherry Street South bridge, and
* a four span bridge at Lake Shore Boulevard.
On May 6, 2024, it was announced that another bridge called the Equinox Bridge will be constructed to connected the island to mainland Toronto. It will be in the shape of an "S" and have an array of fanning cables.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Toronto is getting a new bridge. Here's what it will look like |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/equinox-bridge-toronto-waterfront-1.7195397 |access-date=May 7, 2024 |website=CBC News}}</ref>

===Flood control===
Villiers Island is a product of Waterfront Toronto's Port Lands Flood Protection Project. {{as of|2020}}, water from the Don River make a 90-degree turn into the Keating Channel, creating a bottleneck for water and a risk of flooding.<ref name=TorStar2014-07-08/> To eliminate this bottleneck, a new channel will be dug to extend the Don River south from the east end of the Keating Channel, and then west between Commissioners Street and the Ship Channel. The new channel will be in a man-made naturalized river valley that will end at the north side of Polson Slip, the location of the new mouth of the Don River. The new Don River channel will effectively create Villiers Island.<ref name="WFT-Map"/>{{rp|B,C}}

Just north of the Keating Channel, the existing Don River channel will be widened to eliminate a bottleneck causing flooding; this requires the lengthening of the bridge carrying Lake Shore Boulevard over the Don river. [[Weir]]s will be built south of the bridge to direct the waters of the Don River away from the Keating Channel and into the new southbound channel. After the weirs are installed, lake water would normally fill the Keating Channel. However, if the new channel cannot handle the water flow, Don River water could be diverted into the Keating Channel. The walls of the Keating Channel will be reinforced, and a wildlife habitat will be provided.<ref name="WFT-Map"/>{{rp|N,T}}

The new channel will be the primary outlet for the Don River; the Keating Channel will be a secondary outlet if the need arises. There will also be a third outlet to be called the Don Greenway, to be located south-east of Villiers Island. This will be a spillway and wetland situated between where the new Don River channel bends from south to west and the Ship Channel. Normally, water in the Don Greenway will only come from the Ship Channel. However, if the new Don River channel cannot handle high water volumes, then that water would be allowed to flood the Don Greenway and flow into the Ship Channel.<ref name="WFT-Map"/>{{rp|D}}

==History==
[[File:Dredging Toronto's Portlands, circa 1900.png | thumb|300px | The site of Villiers Island and the rest of the Port Lands were originally a marsh which was dredged and filled with landfill around the turn of the 20th Century.]]
The island was first part of the "[[Ashbridge's Bay]]" wetlands around the original mouth of the [[Don River (Ontario)|Don River]], connected to a sandbar that is now the [[Toronto Islands]]. By the turn of the 20th century, the marsh had become polluted, and the city filled it with landfill, and devoted it to industrial purposes.<ref name=TrcaDonNaturalization2008/> Some of the early twentieth century landfill was polluted, contaminated with heavy metals or toxic chemicals. The industrial enterprises were also polluting, including acres of petroleum tank farms and berms of road salt.

The city had also canalized and straightened the lower reach of the Don River, so it flowed straight for {{convert|5|km|mi}} from [[Bloor Street, Toronto|Bloor]]/[[Danforth Avenue|Danforth]] to what is now [[Lake Shore Boulevard]], where it made a right hand turn and ran {{convert|1|km|mi}} west into the Keating Channel.<ref name=TrcaDonNaturalization2008/> This right-hand turn caused a significant build-up of silt and debris that had to be removed by the port authorities regularly to minimize flooding of the surrounding area after a storm.

By 2000, the area around the mouth of the Don River had declined in usage and significant areas were vacant. These lands were not developable due to the cost of remediating the polluted lands, and the lack of flood protection. To "unlock" the area for development, Waterfront Toronto proposed to ''"naturalize"'' the mouth of the Don River.<ref name=TrcaDonNaturalization2008/> In conjunction with this, berms were built at Corktown Commons. The area between the Keating Channel and the new naturalized mouth would become Villiers Island, to be redeveloped for a mix of residential and open space uses.

In October 2017, the Port Lands Planning Framework and Villiers Island Precinct Plan were adopted by Toronto City Council. The Port Lands Flood Protection project is being funded by all three orders of government.<ref name="WFT-Timeline"/><ref name="WFT-Framework"/> The design for Port Lands Flood Protection was established through an Environmental Assessment, approved in 2015.<ref name="WFT-Env-Review"/> The ''Villiers Island Precinct Plan'' establishes design and development objectives for the area. The plan was developed by Urban Strategies Inc. of Toronto, with support from [[Arup Group Limited|Arup]] and other firms, with the City of Toronto and Waterfront Toronto.<ref name="WFT-Plan-2017"/>

In March 2020, lakefilling work was completed at the north-west tip of the future Villiers Island. The work would strengthen the dock walls at Essroc Quay to prevent their collapse during water surges.<ref name="WFT-Lakefilling"/>

==Preserved buildings==
<gallery>
File:The Quantex Technology building, at the Corner of Cherry and Villiers, built in the 1920s as a bank, will be preserved when Villiers Island is developed....jpg | The Quantex Technology building at 309 Cherry Street (corner of Cherry and Villiers) built in the 1920s as a [[Bank of Montreal]], will be preserved when Villiers Island is developed in a condo project.

Toronto Hydro-electric building, 281 Cherry Street, 2012-03-17 -a.jpg | The Toronto Hydro-electric building, 281 Cherry Street, will be preserved when Villiers Island is developed.

File:Cherry Street Diner (7792449262).jpg | The Cherry Street Diner at 275 Cherry Street (NW corner of Cherry and Commissioner Streets) will be preserved when Villiers Island is developed. Originally built as [[Dominion Bank]] branch in 1907 and used as diner since 1940s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.beachesliving.ca/pages/index.php?act=landmark&id=99|title=Beaches Living Guide}}</ref>

File:Ashbridges Bay Fire Hall -b.png | Completed in 1928 the district's original fire hall at 39 Commissioner Street will be moved, and put on higher land, and will be the sole building on the south side of Commissioner Street
</gallery>


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist|refs=
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name=thepeterboroughexaminer2020-10-24>
{{cite news
| url = https://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/ts/news/canada/2020/10/24/here-comes-the-bridge-a-sneak-peek-at-torontos-new-cherry-st-bridge-set-to-make-the-trip-from-nova-scotia.html
| title = Here comes the bridge: A sneak peek at Toronto's new Cherry St. bridge — set to make the trip from Nova Scotia
| work = [[The Peterborough Examiner]]
| author = Steve McKinley
| date = 2020-10-24
| location = [[Dartmouth, Nova Scotia]]
| access-date = 2020-10-19
| quote = Cherry Street North is the baby of the family. Of the four bridges — two at Cherry Street North, one each at Cherry Street South and Commissioners Street — that will connect the yet-to-be constructed Villiers Island to mainland Toronto, it weighs in at a paltry 375 tonnes over its 57-metre length.
}}
</ref>

<ref name=krcmar>{{cite web |url=https://www.krcmar.ca/resource-articles/1983_Fall_Major%20Villiers%20Sankey_1.pdf |title=Surveyors of the Past: Major Villiers Sankey |first=Charles |last=Fairhall |work=The Ontario Land Surveyor |date=1983 |access-date=October 24, 2022}}</ref>

<ref name=journalpioneer2020-10-01>
{{cite news
| url = https://www.journalpioneer.com/business/regional-business/roger-taylor-cherubini-fills-100m-bridge-contract-for-toronto-port-lands-redevelopment-504121/
| title = Cherubini fills $100m bridge contract for Toronto Port Lands redevelopment
| work = [[Journal Pioneer]]
| author = Roger Taylor
| date = 2020-10-01
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201002115010/https://www.journalpioneer.com/business/regional-business/roger-taylor-cherubini-fills-100m-bridge-contract-for-toronto-port-lands-redevelopment-504121/
| archive-date = 2020-10-02
| access-date = 2020-10-02
| url-status = live
| quote = The three new outflows required the creation of multiple new bridge crossings. More traffic will be brought to the Toronto Port Lands area as it grows into a planned destination attraction.
}}
</ref>

<ref name=BigSteel>
{{cite news
| url = https://canada.constructconnect.com/dcn/news/projects/2020/09/big-steel-bridges-now-floating-towards-torontos-waterfront
| title = Big steel bridges now floating towards Toronto's waterfront
| work = [[Daily Commercial News]]
| author = Ian Harvey
| date = 2020-09-25
| access-date = 2020-09-27
| quote = The bridges are the first of up to seven eventually planned for the east Toronto waterfront area around Cherry Street where the Don River mouth diversion is well underway and moving towards the final phases of the $1.25 billion Port Lands Flood Protection Project.
}}
</ref>

<ref name=blogto2020-06-06>
{{cite news
| url = https://www.blogto.com/eat_drink/2020/06/tt-supermarket-toronto-demolished/
| title = The closest T&T Supermarket to Downtown Toronto is now almost completelydemolised
| work = [[Blog TO]]
| author = Tonya Mok
| date = 2020-06-06
| access-date = 2020-06-07
| quote = After 13 years on Cherry, T&T closed this January to make way for the a massive new district in the Port Lands.
}}
</ref>

<ref name=thestar2020-01-04>
{{cite news
| url = https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2020/01/04/how-do-you-build-an-island-in-toronto.html
| title = How do you build an island in Toronto?
| work = [[Toronto Star]]
| author = Kenyon Wallace
| date = January 4, 2020
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200104073626/https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2020/01/04/how-do-you-build-an-island-in-toronto.html
| archive-date = January 4, 2020
| access-date = March 18, 2020
| url-status = live
| quote = A new river valley alone doesn’t take Villiers Island out of the floodplain. The grade of the entire area will have to be raised an average of two metres to ensure storm water doesn’t breach the banks. This means parts of Commissioners Street, for example, will be raised by about six feet and rebuilt.
}}
</ref>

<ref name=urbantoronto2020-02-28>
{{cite news
| url = https://urbantoronto.ca/news/2020/02/catching-work-torontos-port-lands
| title = Catching Up With Work in Toronto's Port Lands
| work = [[Urban Toronto]]
| author = Morgan Bailey
| date = February 28, 2020
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200318133601/https://urbantoronto.ca/news/2020/02/catching-work-torontos-port-lands
| archive-date = March 18, 2020
| access-date = March 18, 2020
| url-status = live
| quote = Cherry Street will be realigned to the west of its current path and connected via a new bridge over the Keating Channel. A minor diversion will be created at the intersection of Cherry and Polson Streets starting in Spring 2020, ending in Winter 2021.
}}
</ref>

<ref name=Urbantoronto2018-08-09>
{{cite news
| url = http://urbantoronto.ca/news/2018/08/eye-catching-port-lands-bridges-works-villiers-island
| title = Eye-Catching Port Lands Bridges in the Works for Villiers Island
| work = [[Urban Toronto]]
| author = Julian Mirabelli
| date = August 9, 2018
| access-date = August 13, 2018
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181023223934/http://urbantoronto.ca/news/2018/08/eye-catching-port-lands-bridges-works-villiers-island
| archive-date = October 23, 2018
| url-status = live
| quote = The three bridges in question are the Cherry Street North Bridge (connecting Lake Shore Boulevard to Villiers Island); the Cherry Street South Bridge (connecting Villiers Island to the southern Port Lands); and the Commissioners Street Bridge (connecting Villiers Island to the eastern Port Lands). All three bridges are being designed by Entuitive, along with London-based Grimshaw Architects and SBP.
}}
</ref>

<ref name=Cbc2017-07-02>
{{cite news
| url = https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/port-lands-development-1.4187182
| title = Toronto's Port Lands plan includes building a new island
| work = [[CBC News]]
| author = John Rieti
| date = July 2, 2017
| access-date = August 13, 2018
| url-status = live
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200318131052/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/port-lands-development-1.4187182
| archive-date = March 18, 2020
| quote = But Waterfront Toronto is confident Villiers Island — the first part of the development coming to the Port Lands — will be able to handle any flooding Lake Ontario and the Don River sends its way.
}}
</ref>

<ref name=BlogTO2018-03>
{{cite news
| url = https://www.blogto.com/city/2018/03/toronto-villiers-island-port-lands/
| title = Toronto is getting a new Island
| work = [[Blog TO]]
| author = Tanya Mok
| date = March 2018
| access-date = August 13, 2018
| url-status = live
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200318131052/https://www.blogto.com/city/2018/03/toronto-villiers-island-port-lands/
| archive-date = March 18, 2020
| quote = By reconstructing the mouth of the Don River, the city will form a new river valley which will direct water into the Keating Channel and the flood harbour, thus creating Villiers Island in the Port Lands.
}}
</ref>

<ref name=BackgroundVilliers2017>
{{cite news
| url = https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2017/pg/bgrd/backgroundfile-107842.pdf
| title = Section three: Strategies and Guidelines
| work = [[City of Toronto government]]
| date = 2017
| access-date = July 5, 2018
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200318131052/https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2017/pg/bgrd/backgroundfile-107842.pdf
| archive-date = March 18, 2020
| url-status = live
| quote = Villiers Island is planned as Toronto’s first climate positive precinct. It will be developed as an innovative ‘climate positive’ community, demonstrating excellence in carbon reduction and sustainable neighbourhood design.
}}
</ref>

<ref name=TrcaDonNaturalization2008>
<ref name=TrcaDonNaturalization2008>
{{cite news
{{cite news
Line 22: Line 250:
|title=Don Mouth Naturalization and Port Lands Flood Protection Project
|title=Don Mouth Naturalization and Port Lands Flood Protection Project
|year=2008
|year=2008
|author=
|publisher=[[Toronto and Region Conservation Authority]]
|publisher=[[Toronto and Region Conservation Authority]]
|accessdate=2009-04-29
|access-date=April 29, 2009
|deadurl=yes
|url-status=dead
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071211054930/http://www.trca.on.ca/Website/TRCA/Website.nsf/WebPage/trca__water_protection__don_mouth__default_asp_load_flood_protection?OpenDocument
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071211054930/http://www.trca.on.ca/Website/TRCA/Website.nsf/WebPage/trca__water_protection__don_mouth__default_asp_load_flood_protection?OpenDocument
|archivedate=December 11, 2007
|archive-date=December 11, 2007
|df=
}}
}}
</ref>
</ref>
Line 37: Line 263:
| title = INDEX TO AUTHORITY MEETING #8/14 Friday, October 31, 2014
| title = INDEX TO AUTHORITY MEETING #8/14 Friday, October 31, 2014
| work = [[Toronto Region Conservation Authority]]
| work = [[Toronto Region Conservation Authority]]
| author =
| date = October 31, 2014
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180705042448/http://www.trca.on.ca/dotAsset/196973.pdf
| date = 2014-10-31
| archive-date = July 5, 2018
| page =
| location =
| url-status = live
| archiveurl =
| archivedate =
| accessdate = 2018-07-05
| deadurl = No
| quote = On July 8th, thestar.com story, "Big Ideas: A new island to anchor the Port Lands" talks about Villiers Island, a project by TWRC, which aims to turn 54 acres of the Port Lands into a new lakefront area, complete with public art and streets lined with retail and mixed use residential properties. If the plan overcomes a long list of hurdles - including garnering at least $800 million in funding and an environmental assessment - the island will be created when TRCA rebuilds the mouth of the Don River. The move is part of a plan to protect Riverdale and the Port Lands from flooding.
| quote = On July 8th, thestar.com story, "Big Ideas: A new island to anchor the Port Lands" talks about Villiers Island, a project by TWRC, which aims to turn 54 acres of the Port Lands into a new lakefront area, complete with public art and streets lined with retail and mixed use residential properties. If the plan overcomes a long list of hurdles - including garnering at least $800 million in funding and an environmental assessment - the island will be created when TRCA rebuilds the mouth of the Don River. The move is part of a plan to protect Riverdale and the Port Lands from flooding.
}}
}}
</ref>
</ref>


<ref name=TorStar2014-07-08>
{{cite news
| url =
{{cite news
| url = https://www.thestar.com/bigideas/2014/07/08/big_ideas_a_new_island_to_anchor_the_port_lands.html
| title =
| title = Big Ideas: A new island to anchor the Port Lands
| work =
| author =
| work = [[Toronto Star]]
| date =
| author = Tim Alamenciak
| page =
| date = July 8, 2014
| location =
| access-date = July 5, 2018
| archiveurl =
| url-status = live
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200318131052/https://www.thestar.com/bigideas/2014/07/08/big_ideas_a_new_island_to_anchor_the_port_lands.html
| archivedate =
| archive-date = March 18, 2020
| accessdate = 2018-07-05
| quote = Villiers Island, a project by Waterfront Toronto, aims to turn 54 acres of the Port Lands into a new lakefront gem, complete with public art and streets lined with retail and mixed-use residential properties
| deadurl = No
| quote =
}}
}}
</ref>
</ref>


<ref name=WaterfronTorontoVilliers2017>
{{cite news
{{cite news
| url = https://waterfrontoronto.ca/nbe/portal/waterfront/Home/waterfronthome/projects/villiers+island/villiers+island
| url =
| title =
| title = Villiers Island
| work =
| work = [[Waterfront Toronto]]
| author =
| date = 2017
| date =
| access-date = July 5, 2018
| page =
| url-status = live
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200318131052/https://waterfrontoronto.ca/nbe/portal/waterfront/Home/waterfronthome/projects/villiers+island/villiers+island
| location =
| archive-date = March 18, 2020
| archiveurl =
| quote = The Villiers Island precinct (formerly referred to as Cousins Quay) will be a stunning new waterfront community that embraces its distinct industrial functions and the spectacular new parks, public spaces and ecological richness that will result from the naturalization of the mouth of the Don River.
| archivedate =
| accessdate = 2018-07-05
| deadurl = No
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}}
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<ref name="WFT-Map">{{cite web |url=https://portlandsto.ca/project-map/ |title=Breaking Down the Port Lands Flood Protection Project |publisher=Waterfront Toronto |access-date=October 27, 2020 }}</ref>
{{cite news

| url =
<ref name="WFT-Timeline">{{Cite web|url=https://portlandsto.ca/project-timeline/|title=Project Timeline|website=Waterfront Toronto}}</ref>
| title =

| work =
<ref name="WFT-Env-Review">{{cite web |url=https://portlandsto.ca/wp-content/uploads/Executive-Summary.pdf |title=Environmental Assessment{{Snd}}Executive Summary |publisher=Waterfront Toronto |access-date=October 27, 2020 }}</ref>
| author =

| date =
<ref name="WFT-Plan-2017">{{cite web |url=https://portlandsto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017.10.04_Villiers+Island+Precinct+Plan+AODA+Attachment+2.pdf |title=Villiers Island Precinct Plan |publisher=Waterfront Toronto |date=September 2017 |access-date=October 28, 2020 }}</ref>
| page =

| location =
<ref name="QOR">{{cite web|url=http://qormuseum.org/soldiers-of-the-queens-own/sankey-villiers/ |title=Sankey, Villiers &#124; The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada Regimental Museum and Archives |publisher=Qormuseum.org |access-date=July 14, 2016}}</ref>
| archiveurl =

| archivedate =
<ref name="WFT-Lakefilling">{{cite web |url=https://portlandsto.ca/cherry-street-stormwater-lakefilling-project/ |title=Cherry Street Stormwater & Lakefilling Project |publisher=Waterfront Toronto |access-date=October 27, 2020 }}</ref>
| accessdate = 2018-07-05

| deadurl = No
<ref name="WFT-Framework">{{cite web |url=https://portlandsto.ca/wp-content/uploads/Port+Lands+Planning+Framework_AODA+-+reduced.pdf |title=Port Lands Planning Framework |publisher=Waterfront Toronto |date=September 2017 |access-date=October 27, 2020 }}</ref>
| quote =

}}
</ref>
}}
}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* [https://portlandsto.ca/project-map/ Project map for Villiers Island]

{{coord|43.6462|N|79.3516|W|display=title}}

[[Category:Islands of Lake Ontario in Ontario]]
[[Category:Waterfront Toronto]]

Revision as of 00:55, 8 May 2024

Filling in part of the mouth of the Keating Channel, to construct Villiers Island.

Villiers Island is a 22-hectare (54-acre) area in Toronto's Port Lands being converted to an island. The project is a part of Port Lands Flood Protection Project by Waterfront Toronto.[1][2][3][4] To prevent flooding from the Don River, a channel is being created to extend the river south and then west into Toronto Harbour providing another outlet and a more natural mouth for the Don River. The new channel effectively creates the island, which is also bounded by the Keating Channel and Toronto Harbour. Mixed-use residential development is planned for Villiers Island.[5][6][7]

Villiers Sankey

The new island and Villiers Street are named for Major Villiers Sankey (1854–1905), a British Army officer and the city's early surveyor (1888-1905).[8][9] Sankey was born in Ireland and came to Canada sometime after he passed his India Civil Service exams in 1872.

Project

A full build-out of Villiers Island will feature:[5]

  • a re-routed Cherry Street connected to Lake Shore Boulevard by a pair of new bridges
  • a naturalized river valley as a new route for the Don River flowing south then west along the southern side of the island
  • a river park on south side of the new island
  • a promontory park on the west side of the island, with the Western Dock retaining wall conserved
  • Villiers Park on the east of the island, along the new route of the Don River
  • a promenade on the north side along Keating Channel

Plans for the new island show a greenbelt, and parkland, surrounding a developed central area.[7] The developed central area will be primarily residential. A new "naturalized" channel for the Don River will be created, while the existing Keating Channel will be preserved.

The new channel will have natural curves, and will have more natural banks, with natural plants that could provide habitat for migrating birds and wildlife. The channel will empty into Toronto Harbour at what is now the Polson slip. The Keating Channel had mooring for multiple freighters. Plans for Villiers Island included adding more natural looking curves on the Keating Channel's southern bank.

The island lies on former industrial land, first created through landfill. The area will be cleared but buildings considered to have heritage value will be preserved.[10] These will either be moved to higher ground, or left in declivities, when additional landfill will be used to raise the ground level two metres in the event of rare extraordinary flooding.[11] More recent structures will be demolished.[12] Some existing industrial uses have been moved to the main shipping channel to the south.

Just south of Lake Shore Boulevard, Cherry Street will be relocated slightly to the west with new bridges crossing the Keating Channel. The Don Greenway, a new river valley, is being constructed south from the Don River, crossing Commissioners Street under a new bridge, before turning west into Toronto Harbour. This new channel will allow high water from the Don River to flow move easily south by avoiding the 90-degree turn into the Keating Channel.[13][14][15]

Bridges

The first of the bridges to be placed, the transit and pedestrian span over the Keating channel
The Cherry Street south bridge over the Polson Slip, the future mouth of the Don River

There will be four new bridges providing three access points to the future Villiers Island. All bridges are being built by Cherubini Bridges and Structures in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, at a total cost of CA$100 million. All three locations will have provision for future streetcar service, which may be a future expansion of the proposed East Bayfront LRT. All four bridges will have the same esthetic design and each span will have a curved steel dome (designed by CIG Architecture of the Netherlands) rising over the road surface. The builder expects the last of the four bridges to be shipped in 2022. All bridge spans are pre-assembled in Dartmouth and shipped on a barge via the Saint Lawrence Seaway.[15]

The four bridges are as follows:[16][15]

  • The Cherry Street North bridges are two single-span, side-by-side bridges that will replace the Cherry Street lift bridge. One bridge will be for road traffic while the other will be used by pedestrians and public transit vehicles. The transit bridge could initially carry buses but was designed for streetcars. In early November 2020, the transit bridge was constructed and was brought to Toronto by barge.[17]
  • The Cherry Street South bridge will have three spans crossing a newly created channel to run south of and roughly parallel to Commissioners Street. The Cherry Street Strauss Trunnion Bascule Bridge lies further south on Cherry Street off the island.[18]: 25 
  • The Commissioners Street bridge will have four spans and will be placed over a man-made channel being built as a southward extension of the Don River. Because of Seaway limitations, the bridge will be shipped in two sections to be joined on site.
Bridge dimensions and weight[16]
Bridge Length Width Height Weight
Cherry Street North (transit) 57 metres (187 ft) 21 metres (69 ft) 10.21 metres (33.5 ft) 340 tonnes
Cherry Street North (road) 57 metres (187 ft) 10.21 metres (33.5 ft) 450 tonnes
Cherry Street South 111 metres (364 ft) 21 metres (69 ft) 11.15 metres (36.6 ft) 790 tonnes
Commissioners Street 153 metres (502 ft) 53 metres (174 ft) 10.16 metres (33.3 ft) 1,210 tonnes

There will be a provision for three additional bridges in the future:[16]

  • a second Commissioners Street bridge,
  • a second Cherry Street South bridge, and
  • a four span bridge at Lake Shore Boulevard.

On May 6, 2024, it was announced that another bridge called the Equinox Bridge will be constructed to connected the island to mainland Toronto. It will be in the shape of an "S" and have an array of fanning cables.[19]

Flood control

Villiers Island is a product of Waterfront Toronto's Port Lands Flood Protection Project. As of 2020, water from the Don River make a 90-degree turn into the Keating Channel, creating a bottleneck for water and a risk of flooding.[6] To eliminate this bottleneck, a new channel will be dug to extend the Don River south from the east end of the Keating Channel, and then west between Commissioners Street and the Ship Channel. The new channel will be in a man-made naturalized river valley that will end at the north side of Polson Slip, the location of the new mouth of the Don River. The new Don River channel will effectively create Villiers Island.[5]: B, C 

Just north of the Keating Channel, the existing Don River channel will be widened to eliminate a bottleneck causing flooding; this requires the lengthening of the bridge carrying Lake Shore Boulevard over the Don river. Weirs will be built south of the bridge to direct the waters of the Don River away from the Keating Channel and into the new southbound channel. After the weirs are installed, lake water would normally fill the Keating Channel. However, if the new channel cannot handle the water flow, Don River water could be diverted into the Keating Channel. The walls of the Keating Channel will be reinforced, and a wildlife habitat will be provided.[5]: N, T 

The new channel will be the primary outlet for the Don River; the Keating Channel will be a secondary outlet if the need arises. There will also be a third outlet to be called the Don Greenway, to be located south-east of Villiers Island. This will be a spillway and wetland situated between where the new Don River channel bends from south to west and the Ship Channel. Normally, water in the Don Greenway will only come from the Ship Channel. However, if the new Don River channel cannot handle high water volumes, then that water would be allowed to flood the Don Greenway and flow into the Ship Channel.[5]: D 

History

The site of Villiers Island and the rest of the Port Lands were originally a marsh which was dredged and filled with landfill around the turn of the 20th Century.

The island was first part of the "Ashbridge's Bay" wetlands around the original mouth of the Don River, connected to a sandbar that is now the Toronto Islands. By the turn of the 20th century, the marsh had become polluted, and the city filled it with landfill, and devoted it to industrial purposes.[20] Some of the early twentieth century landfill was polluted, contaminated with heavy metals or toxic chemicals. The industrial enterprises were also polluting, including acres of petroleum tank farms and berms of road salt.

The city had also canalized and straightened the lower reach of the Don River, so it flowed straight for 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) from Bloor/Danforth to what is now Lake Shore Boulevard, where it made a right hand turn and ran 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) west into the Keating Channel.[20] This right-hand turn caused a significant build-up of silt and debris that had to be removed by the port authorities regularly to minimize flooding of the surrounding area after a storm.

By 2000, the area around the mouth of the Don River had declined in usage and significant areas were vacant. These lands were not developable due to the cost of remediating the polluted lands, and the lack of flood protection. To "unlock" the area for development, Waterfront Toronto proposed to "naturalize" the mouth of the Don River.[20] In conjunction with this, berms were built at Corktown Commons. The area between the Keating Channel and the new naturalized mouth would become Villiers Island, to be redeveloped for a mix of residential and open space uses.

In October 2017, the Port Lands Planning Framework and Villiers Island Precinct Plan were adopted by Toronto City Council. The Port Lands Flood Protection project is being funded by all three orders of government.[21][22] The design for Port Lands Flood Protection was established through an Environmental Assessment, approved in 2015.[23] The Villiers Island Precinct Plan establishes design and development objectives for the area. The plan was developed by Urban Strategies Inc. of Toronto, with support from Arup and other firms, with the City of Toronto and Waterfront Toronto.[18]

In March 2020, lakefilling work was completed at the north-west tip of the future Villiers Island. The work would strengthen the dock walls at Essroc Quay to prevent their collapse during water surges.[24]

Preserved buildings

  • The Quantex Technology building at 309 Cherry Street (corner of Cherry and Villiers) built in the 1920s as a Bank of Montreal, will be preserved when Villiers Island is developed in a condo project.
    The Quantex Technology building at 309 Cherry Street (corner of Cherry and Villiers) built in the 1920s as a Bank of Montreal, will be preserved when Villiers Island is developed in a condo project.
  • The Toronto Hydro-electric building, 281 Cherry Street, will be preserved when Villiers Island is developed.
    The Toronto Hydro-electric building, 281 Cherry Street, will be preserved when Villiers Island is developed.
  • The Cherry Street Diner at 275 Cherry Street (NW corner of Cherry and Commissioner Streets) will be preserved when Villiers Island is developed. Originally built as Dominion Bank branch in 1907 and used as diner since 1940s.[25]
    The Cherry Street Diner at 275 Cherry Street (NW corner of Cherry and Commissioner Streets) will be preserved when Villiers Island is developed. Originally built as Dominion Bank branch in 1907 and used as diner since 1940s.[25]
  • Completed in 1928 the district's original fire hall at 39 Commissioner Street will be moved, and put on higher land, and will be the sole building on the south side of Commissioner Street
    Completed in 1928 the district's original fire hall at 39 Commissioner Street will be moved, and put on higher land, and will be the sole building on the south side of Commissioner Street

References

  1. ^ "INDEX TO AUTHORITY MEETING #8/14 Friday, October 31, 2014" (PDF). Toronto Region Conservation Authority. October 31, 2014. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 5, 2018. On July 8th, thestar.com story, "Big Ideas: A new island to anchor the Port Lands" talks about Villiers Island, a project by TWRC, which aims to turn 54 acres of the Port Lands into a new lakefront area, complete with public art and streets lined with retail and mixed use residential properties. If the plan overcomes a long list of hurdles - including garnering at least $800 million in funding and an environmental assessment - the island will be created when TRCA rebuilds the mouth of the Don River. The move is part of a plan to protect Riverdale and the Port Lands from flooding.
  2. ^ Julian Mirabelli (August 9, 2018). "Eye-Catching Port Lands Bridges in the Works for Villiers Island". Urban Toronto. Archived from the original on October 23, 2018. Retrieved August 13, 2018. The three bridges in question are the Cherry Street North Bridge (connecting Lake Shore Boulevard to Villiers Island); the Cherry Street South Bridge (connecting Villiers Island to the southern Port Lands); and the Commissioners Street Bridge (connecting Villiers Island to the eastern Port Lands). All three bridges are being designed by Entuitive, along with London-based Grimshaw Architects and SBP.
  3. ^ John Rieti (July 2, 2017). "Toronto's Port Lands plan includes building a new island". CBC News. Archived from the original on March 18, 2020. Retrieved August 13, 2018. But Waterfront Toronto is confident Villiers Island — the first part of the development coming to the Port Lands — will be able to handle any flooding Lake Ontario and the Don River sends its way.
  4. ^ Tanya Mok (March 2018). "Toronto is getting a new Island". Blog TO. Archived from the original on March 18, 2020. Retrieved August 13, 2018. By reconstructing the mouth of the Don River, the city will form a new river valley which will direct water into the Keating Channel and the flood harbour, thus creating Villiers Island in the Port Lands.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Breaking Down the Port Lands Flood Protection Project". Waterfront Toronto. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  6. ^ a b Tim Alamenciak (July 8, 2014). "Big Ideas: A new island to anchor the Port Lands". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on March 18, 2020. Retrieved July 5, 2018. Villiers Island, a project by Waterfront Toronto, aims to turn 54 acres of the Port Lands into a new lakefront gem, complete with public art and streets lined with retail and mixed-use residential properties
  7. ^ a b "Villiers Island". Waterfront Toronto. 2017. Archived from the original on March 18, 2020. Retrieved July 5, 2018. The Villiers Island precinct (formerly referred to as Cousins Quay) will be a stunning new waterfront community that embraces its distinct industrial functions and the spectacular new parks, public spaces and ecological richness that will result from the naturalization of the mouth of the Don River.
  8. ^ "Sankey, Villiers | The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada Regimental Museum and Archives". Qormuseum.org. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  9. ^ Fairhall, Charles (1983). "Surveyors of the Past: Major Villiers Sankey" (PDF). The Ontario Land Surveyor. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  10. ^ "Section three: Strategies and Guidelines" (PDF). City of Toronto government. 2017. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 18, 2020. Retrieved July 5, 2018. Villiers Island is planned as Toronto's first climate positive precinct. It will be developed as an innovative 'climate positive' community, demonstrating excellence in carbon reduction and sustainable neighbourhood design.
  11. ^ Kenyon Wallace (January 4, 2020). "How do you build an island in Toronto?". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on January 4, 2020. Retrieved March 18, 2020. A new river valley alone doesn't take Villiers Island out of the floodplain. The grade of the entire area will have to be raised an average of two metres to ensure storm water doesn't breach the banks. This means parts of Commissioners Street, for example, will be raised by about six feet and rebuilt.
  12. ^ Tonya Mok (June 6, 2020). "The closest T&T Supermarket to Downtown Toronto is now almost completelydemolised". Blog TO. Retrieved June 7, 2020. After 13 years on Cherry, T&T closed this January to make way for the a massive new district in the Port Lands.
  13. ^ Morgan Bailey (February 28, 2020). "Catching Up With Work in Toronto's Port Lands". Urban Toronto. Archived from the original on March 18, 2020. Retrieved March 18, 2020. Cherry Street will be realigned to the west of its current path and connected via a new bridge over the Keating Channel. A minor diversion will be created at the intersection of Cherry and Polson Streets starting in Spring 2020, ending in Winter 2021.
  14. ^ Roger Taylor (October 1, 2020). "Cherubini fills $100m bridge contract for Toronto Port Lands redevelopment". Journal Pioneer. Archived from the original on October 2, 2020. Retrieved October 2, 2020. The three new outflows required the creation of multiple new bridge crossings. More traffic will be brought to the Toronto Port Lands area as it grows into a planned destination attraction.
  15. ^ a b c Steve McKinley (October 24, 2020). "Here comes the bridge: A sneak peek at Toronto's new Cherry St. bridge — set to make the trip from Nova Scotia". The Peterborough Examiner. Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. Retrieved October 19, 2020. Cherry Street North is the baby of the family. Of the four bridges — two at Cherry Street North, one each at Cherry Street South and Commissioners Street — that will connect the yet-to-be constructed Villiers Island to mainland Toronto, it weighs in at a paltry 375 tonnes over its 57-metre length.
  16. ^ a b c Ian Harvey (September 25, 2020). "Big steel bridges now floating towards Toronto's waterfront". Daily Commercial News. Retrieved September 27, 2020. The bridges are the first of up to seven eventually planned for the east Toronto waterfront area around Cherry Street where the Don River mouth diversion is well underway and moving towards the final phases of the $1.25 billion Port Lands Flood Protection Project.
  17. ^ "Toronto's famous new bridge has finally made it home". November 9, 2020. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  18. ^ a b "Villiers Island Precinct Plan" (PDF). Waterfront Toronto. September 2017. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
  19. ^ "Toronto is getting a new bridge. Here's what it will look like". CBC News. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
  20. ^ a b c "Don Mouth Naturalization and Port Lands Flood Protection Project". Toronto and Region Conservation Authority. 2008. Archived from the original on December 11, 2007. Retrieved April 29, 2009.
  21. ^ "Project Timeline". Waterfront Toronto.
  22. ^ "Port Lands Planning Framework" (PDF). Waterfront Toronto. September 2017. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  23. ^ "Environmental Assessment – Executive Summary" (PDF). Waterfront Toronto. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  24. ^ "Cherry Street Stormwater & Lakefilling Project". Waterfront Toronto. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  25. ^ "Beaches Living Guide".
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Villiers Island.

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