Punch Drunk On Maple Syrup
Thoughts on Toronto's waterfront

People left the city for the suburbs years ago. Industries the city relied on since its founding like oil, coal, steel, and shipping were gone too. Luckily the nation's economy was in turmoil. It allowed businesses in finance, tourism, media, telecommunication, and new technology to relocate cheaply to the city.

But there were problems. In order to keep those new businesses, the city needed to lure residents back. Abandoned lands and out of use factories throughout the city weren't exactly welcoming.

Neither was the heavily polluted lake on the edge of the emerging metropolis. So something was done.

I know what you're thinking. But you are dead wrong. This story isn't about Cleveland. It's about Toronto, Canada in the early 90's.

Not too long ago one of the cleanest, richest, and most populated cities in the world was in the same position Cleveland is now. Knee deep in the delicate process of converting from a manufacturing city to a global city. So how did Toronto pull off the switch?

Well, like every good story there is a catalyst. One thing when illuminated erases all suspicion to other possible theories. So I'm turning the light on Cleveland because Toronto's catalyst could easily be ours. What Toronto created, what we need, is a Waterfront.

I'll get into the specifics in a second. First I'm going to toss some numbers out. Before you read on, please make sure you are not eating or handling sharp objects. It's a liability issue my lawyer said I had to address when I showed him these figures.

The price tag on Waterfront Toronto was dirt cheap; only $642 million. No, I'm not insane; $642 million is cheap. Because I'm putting that dollar amount next to 8,400 new fulltime jobs created and a gross return of $1.6 billion. That isn't a typo. $1.6 billion with a “B” as in Begin this project now.

I swear my intention isn't to give the Cleveland Clinic new business but here's the scary part. Toronto's Waterfront project didn't break ground until 2001. That's over 1,000 jobs new jobs and a gross profit of $200 million per year.

Want to know the best part? Thanks to Toronto in the 90's being a Canadian Cleveland. A Cleveland Waterfront project is so easy a caveman could do it. All the hard work of coming up with a plan specific to fit our needs is already done. Seriously, it was like Toronto designed the Waterfront project for Cleveland but forgot to tell us about it. So here's my gift to you Cleveland; a $1.6 billion dollar blueprint at no cost.

Policy #1 - Turning Water into Water

Think Lake Erie is bad? Picture this, in the early 80's there was so much algae in Lake Ontario waves couldn't break. So before Toronto started a Waterfront project, the main attraction had to be worth visiting.

Toronto began by banning phosphates from laundry detergent; a heavy polluter in waste water. Turns out the stuff that makes clothes whiter kills everything good in a lake and turns everything bad into the Incredible Hulk.

Next up was re-naturalizing industrial lands close to the shores. The old factories were demolished and the debris was hauled out. This included the asphalt and gravel surrounding the factories. Now they could address the contaminated soil problem.

First they fortified the land. This way when it rained, pollution didn't flood into the lake. After that Toronto cleaned the soil by planting grass and trees. Curbing soil pollution runoff allowed Toronto to focus on creating better water treatment plants. Now the lake water could actually be cleaned permanently instead of constantly being re-cleaned after it rained.

Then in 1999 the Toronto Port Authority was established. The TPA was given the right to regulate the private shipping lanes and docks. Ships were required to be environmentally friendly to access the harbors. Also the TPA reduced heavily concentrated areas of pollution by controlling which harbors ships could access.

Today, Lake Ontario is back on track to being eco-friendly. Walleye have returned to the shores and the water is clear. That's the funny thing about nature. It doesn't hold grudges. Even if you beat the crap out of it for hundreds of years, it'll come back and work just as hard to restore its glory. The key is letting it.

Policy #2 - Warehouses: Communities in Disguise

This policy is straightforward. People will move to the city when there are communities worth living in. So Toronto converted most old warehouses into apartment complexes.

Cleveland has already done this with the Warehouse District. What we haven't done is strategically place “green” areas.

Having places for people to live is one thing. Creating communities where people want to live is another. That's why Toronto replaced some warehouses with “green spaces”. Basically these are areas between apartment complexes that are just grass and trees. “Green spaces” aren't as big as parks. But “green spaces” changed Toronto's look from a concrete jungle to a college campus.

Policy #3 - Parks Place

If you haven't caught onto the theme yet, I'll explain it in the simplest terms. A Waterfront can not work when the surrounding areas are parking lots. A Waterfront needs nature. It has to be inviting and aesthetically pleasing.

Which is more romantic after a date: taking a stroll on a boardwalk overlooking a lake and forestry or on one overlooking old shipyards?

Would you rather jog through a park alongside a lake or on street sidewalks? How about looking out your apartment window and seeing trees versus asphalt?

There's a reason why Toronto's population grew by over 500,000 people between 2001 and 2008. Sure job creation and affordable living helped. But I'll bet being able to take a postcard picture from anywhere in the city didn't hurt.

Policy #4 - Trams, Trains, and Pedestrians

The preceding policies were all about the look of a Waterfront. In part two next week, the policies will center around the money makers of a Waterfront. But a Waterfront can't attract any businesses unless people can access it.

Much of Waterfront Toronto's success was emphasizing public transportation and pedestrian routes. Toronto designed the Waterfront so everything it had to offer would be nearly impossible for people to drive to.

It sounds idiotic but really makes a ton of sense. Openness is inviting. Parking lots and traffic are not. It's important that people feel like they can spend however much time they want, at anytime they want. What people shouldn't be thinking is:

Okay we got to get to the restaurant by 5:45 because after that traffic will be a mess and there won't be any parking. And we got to leave by 7:10 in order to miss the second rush. Any later than that means an hour in bumper to bumper traffic.

Also the main goal of creating a Waterfront is to bring residents back into the city. It makes sense to design a Waterfront so the best way to enjoy a Waterfront is by living in the city.

View more photos of WaterfronToronto here

by Cool Cleveland correspondent Jeff Biasella, a 24 year old creative writing/popular culture graduate of Bowling Green State University living the post-grad dream in the Warehouse District.

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