Chief Planner Jennifer Keesmaat has broken rank from Mayor John Tory on the issue of whether to replace or remove an elevated highway along the city's waterfront. The cost to replace the expressway, $919 million, is more than removing it.
"Toronto chief planner Jen Keesmaat is calling for the removal of the eastern Gardiner, putting her at odds with the mayor on one of the most important issues facing the city," reports Oliver Moore.
Keesmaat's prompted the coverage by making the following remarks in support of removing the elevated roadway recently at a conference in Toronto: "This is a decision that needs to be made by looking into the future and thinking about the kind of city we want to be in the future….We have an opportunity to create a grand new landscape in our city." Mayor John Tory supports the more expensive proposal to leave the road in place.
According to Moore, "[t]he decision over the eastern stretch – with a price tag that could range up to close to $1-billion – is set to come to council in early June." The article also includes a discussion about city staff speaking out on this issue and others. Until Keesmaat's recent remarks, a report by Waterfront Toronto had offered the most pointed opposition to the idea of replacing the elevated roadway.
FULL STORY: Toronto chief planner at odds with mayor over eastern Gardiner removal
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