This submission for the Toronto Urban Design Awards, Vision and Master Plan category, represents a transformation of Bay Street into pedestrian south of the Old City Hall. The portion between Queen Street and Front Street is considered phase one of this transformation in the heart of Toronto, and at a later phase the pedestrian street to extend to the waterfront.
There are a few major factors supporting such an idea:
- the Old City Hall acting as a vista to the north and the waterfront and Lake Ontario to the south;
- the need to enhance the pedestrian access to the most important public space in Toronto - Nathan Phillips Square;
- the opportunity to link existing plazas and public courtyards alongside Bay Street, and to connect them to the Square;
- the need to improve the commute to Union Station, in particular during rush hours.
This project is a continuation of the improvements to the public spaces in Toronto's downtown that started with the Nathan Phillips Square revitalization. It will radically improve the pedestrian comfort and will contribute to a more vibrant downtown core.
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