Public invited to have their say on LRV landscape design

Public invited to have their say on LRV landscape design. Brown + Storey are proposing an evolving design that includes a variety of patterns, surfaces, figures, vegetation, and habitation modelled after the Leslie Street Spit. Courtesy/BROWN + STOREY

The competition, which aims to generate an exciting landscaping vision for the new streetcar storage and maintenance facility, was launched on Wednesday, May 19.

Three urban design landscape firms - Brown + Storey Architects Inc., Fleisher Ridout, and gh3 - were selected to prepare landscaping design concepts that encourage greening in the area as well as provide a beautiful entranceway to the Leslie Street Spit. Additionally, the design must be both innovative and environmentally conscious.

Brown + Storey are proposing an evolving design that includes a variety of patterns, surfaces, figures, vegetation, and habitation modelled after the Leslie Street Spit, a 'terra incognita' (landscape in process.)

Their goal is for the community and the city to successfully 'own' the multipurpose site, which they view as a bridge between motion and rest serving as an intersection between the Eastern Beaches, the Spit and the community.

Brown + Storey intend to introduce a formative layer of irregular topography of crests and valleys juxtaposed and superimposed on differently scaled patches. They're also proposing a series of circulatory paths called 'hot spots' of animation that pull energy from the Martin Goodman Trail.

The design includes varying scales of patches and pathways that explore available space and flip from side to side of the Martin Goodman Trail creating sub routes and passageways where intensities and interactions can occur.

The Brown + Storey team also plans on incorporating 'horizon (mushroom-looking) figures' used as landmarks to create complementary vertical accompaniment. The size and frequency of these mushroom-looking structures, which will be constructed of loosely connected concrete, stone, aggregate, steel and mesh with vegetation becoming more and more pronounced over time, will match the intensity of their location.

Planting of diverse indigenous materials, able to sustain the four seasons, will also be done throughout the 17,060-square-metre site.

The Lakeshore edge, the longest and narrowest leg of the site, would become a linear park with a path that rhythmically moves from side to side of the Martin Goodman Trail.

Fleisher Ridout's concept for the site is to make it a metaphor for the myriad of creeks, streams and springs that once traversed this landscape and flowed and filtered into Ashbridges Marsh, which is built on that 'bay mouth' sandbar that existed 10 million years ago as part of the pre-glacial Lake Iroquois.

To do so, the design team envisions a serpentine geometry, which includes the realignment of the Martin Goodman Trail and newly introduced pathways, to define the boundaries of the creeks, sand dunes, meadows and ponds that once defined this landscape. Fleisher Ridout believes this composition of dunes, marshes and pathways will serve as a gateway to the industrial port and a linear park connection to the Outer Harbour promontory.

They're envisioning a park landscape that has a mutually dependent relationship with the TTC yard, which harvests rainwater runoff through a system of surface and sub-surface drainage. The design includes a new creek through retention, settling and polishing ponds that contrast with the new sand dunes built against the masonry walls of the TTC complex.

The end result would be a mixed landscape of deciduous and coniferous uplands, wet meadows, grassy sand dunes and serpentine trails providing habitat for the waterfowl and amphibious wildlife that once filled the marsh.

Some of the features include a new bridge over the marsh pond at the corner of Lake Shore Boulevard East and Leslie Street, a retaining wall integrated into the sand dune geometry of the landscape design to reduce the overall visual impact of the grade change. On top of the retaining walls there will be a metal fence with graphic panels depicting the history of the streetcar in Toronto.

Fleisher Ridout is also planning on installing "living wall" panels at key points where the overall height of the retaining wall and fence dominate the views as well as creating a formal urbanized intersection at Commissioners Street that includes a pedestrian plaza and realigned driveway.

Lastly, the team envisions an outdoor living museum for streetcars as educational and art pieces in the landscape.

The third concept, put forth by gh3, is a protected green path through the city.

Taking cues from the history of the site and drawing on methods from the horticultural landscape of Toronto, gh3's design is articulated as a 21st century version of the Walks and Gardens project designed in the mid 19th century by John Howard.

This first professional architect to settle in Toronto, Howard proposed an integrated park system along the waterfront that offered city dwellers meandering paths, spaces for outdoors recreation in a natural setting that included trees and low-lying vegetation as an adequate buffer from pollution and creating healthful atmosphere.

The design team is proposing enhanced linear green space, which offers respite from the rigours of urban life. A lush green environment carved out of commercial and industrial surroundings, which mitigates pollutants from traffic and local industry. To do so, gh3 aims to plant vegetation and erect a five-metre high stone hedgerow, a constructed stone filled structure using granite beach pebbles planted under wire mesh with vegetation lining.

Their goal is to make the juncture of Leslie Street and Lake Shore Boulevard East a beacon, a revitalizing "green lung" for recreation and leisure that fits with city mandates of healthier greener city and waterfront.

Area residents and stakeholders are invited to learn more about these proposed landscape designs at two upcoming open houses.

The first gathering is set for Sunday, Aug. 8 at the southeast corner of Leslie Street and Lake Shore Boulevard East from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., while the second will take place Tuesday, Aug. 10 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the south east corner of Coxwell Avenue and Lake Shore Boulevard East.

The designers will also be on hand to answer any questions.

Members of the public can also visit www.toronto.ca/involved/projects/lrv/ to learn more about the designs and the LRV facility.

People have until Monday, Aug. 23 to comment on the concepts. All feedback will be reviewed by an independent panel of jurors led by the city's Urban design team.

Email lito.romano@ttc.ca to have your say.