Laird in Focus — THE PLANNING PARTNERSHIP

LAIRD IN FOCUS
Toronto, ON

The Planning Partnership was retained by the City of Toronto to lead a multi-disciplinary team in creating a vision for the Laird study area in east Leaside, which is transforming due to the introduction of the Eglinton Crosstown LRT and resultant development pressures. As part of this study, TPP and its team provided a series of recommendations to establish a framework for change that recognizes the area’s existing character, including:

a land use framework;
a public realm structure consisting of a fine-grained street network, mid-block connections, streetscape amenities, and new open spaces;
an approach to built form that established the density, placement, and organization of new buildings, while also providing detailed design recommendations; and,
a strategy for the preservation and enhancement of identified heritage structures, while also acknowledging the area’s historical significance.

Embedded within the larger study was a transportation component that examined a larger contextual area to understand current conditions and future demands, and provide strategic direction on improvements for all travel modes, with a particular emphasis on leveraging and supporting the Eglinton Crosstown LRT. Similarly, a servicing analysis was performed to understand current capacity and the impact of potential future demands, and recommended steps to accommodate anticipated development.

Our work was undertaken though a multi-stage and broad-based stakeholder consultation process with input from residents, community groups, land and business owners, external agencies, and City of Toronto staff. The resulting vision aligned with provincial objectives concerning station-area development while also addressing community contextual concerns. Following the completion of this work, City staff began work to incorporate the report’s recommendations in the development of Site & Area Specific Policies, which will guide development and the delivery of streets, parks, open spaces, and other community benefits in the area.