February 13, 2006

Private park shoulders condo

PATRICIA WILLIAMS

staff writer

The team responsible for the design of a privately funded park in downtown Toronto hopes to finalize conceptual plans by June.

Vancouver landscape architect Greg Smallenberg, who is collaborating on the project with author and artist Douglas Coupland, said the design process has just begun.

“This month, we are planning a number of workshops that should yield some ideas.”

The duo were awarded the commission to design the eight-acre park by Concord Adex Developments Corp.

The park will be the focal point of the western portion of Concord CityPlace, located west of Spadina Avenue and south of Front Street.

Upon completion in 2008, the park will be gifted to the city of Toronto.

Smallenberg, a partner in the firm of Phillips Farevaag Smallenberg, said there is a “real and unusual opportunity” to create a beautifully sculpted park space as a result of the amount of available on-site fill.

“We are interested in creating a relevant, exciting and usable urban park that sets in motion a new way of thinking about landscape and its relationship with a city,” said Smallenberg whose firm has worked in conjunction with artists in the past.

Construction is expected to get under way in mid 2007.

When completed, Concord CityPlace will be comprised of a 44-acre neighbourhood which will contain 20 highrise towers, half a dozen lowrise structures and 100 townhouses.

Development on the eastern side of Spadina is virtually completed. Building now is under way on the west side.

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