‘Ontario Place is turning into any place’: Advocates outline alternative vision to stop development of spa on historic waterfront site

Proposal by group Ontario Place for All envisions a revitalized public park on the west island that would save 800 trees, avoid lakefilling and cost a fraction of the provincial plan’s estimate

Thestar.com
June 12, 2023
Ben Mussett

A coalition of Ontario Place advocates has drawn up an alternative vision for the historic waterfront land after years of opposing Premier Doug Ford’s plan to bring a private spa and water park to the site.

The proposal doesn’t include the $350-million “wellness centre,” planned to reach nine storeys, that appears destined for the edge of Lake Ontario. Nor does it include the proposed five-storey underground parking garage.

Instead, Ontario Place for All -- a group that includes architecture and urban design professionals -- has proposed a revitalized public park on the west island. The concept would preserve more than 800 trees slated for removal, avoid lakefilling and come in at $70 million, a fraction of the provincial plan’s estimated cost, according to the organization that provided the Star with an exclusive first look.

Ken Greenberg, a development consultant and Toronto’s former director of urban design and architecture, said Ontario Place for All is attempting to extend an olive branch to the province, which has faced extensive criticism over its plans.

“We’re saying, ‘OK, let’s step back from this debacle,’” he told the Star. “Instead of just insisting on what we’re against, let’s put forward a proposal which speaks to what we’re for.”

He added, “There’s still time.”

Although the group doesn’t support the provincial government’s decision to move the Ontario Science Centre from its Don Mills location to Ontario Place, their proposal suggests a “lakeside branch” of the science facility featuring exhibits in Ontario Place’s Cinesphere Theatre and iconic pods, all of which would be refurbished.

The group also proposes building a land bridge over Lake Shore Boulevard that would connect Ontario Place to Exhibition Place.

Last year, the province submitted a development application to the city to establish a “world-class, year-round destination” that includes a glassy, 65,000-square metre spa complex -- featuring cryo-saunas, vitamin and mineral pools, LED therapy, among other attractions -- at the former waterfront amusement park, which was opened in 1971 and shuttered in 2012. The application remains under review.

The province has reportedly signed a 95-year lease agreement with Vienna-based wellness company Therme, which will build the controversial “well-being destination” -- with an expected spa admission fee of $40 -- and invest $500 million into Ontario Place, according to the province. The details of the lease agreement are not public.

The province’s redevelopment plan also includes a revamped Live Nation amphitheatre, as well as publicly-accessible park and waterfront space. The trademark Cinesphere, home of the world’s first IMAX theatre, and pods would be restored.

NDP Leader Marit Stiles has said the provincial government’s current plan would cost taxpayers about $650 million, the bulk of it going toward the subterranean parking garage.

Greenberg said his organization estimates its proposal would cost $70 million “based on an extrapolation with inflation from the costs for Trillium Park,” located on the east island.

The original intent of Ontario Place was to create an accessible space, said Greenberg, where the modernist architecture engaged with the environment but didn’t overwhelm it.

That’s not the case with the current plans for the site, he said.

“Just about everything is wrong with it. It’s monstrously big. It’s extremely expensive. It occupies the entire footprint of the west island, which leads them to do a massive lakefill project,” Greenberg said.

The “hermetically-sealed” spa, filled with exotic plants in sketches of the project, would “dwarf” Ontario Place’s original structures, designed by famed German-Canadian architect Eberhard Zeidler, he added.

Remarking on how renderings of Therme’s spa complex closely resemble the Austrian company’s other locations around the world, Greenberg quipped: “Ontario Place is turning into any place.”

When the Star asked if the province is open to adjusting its plans for the historic site, the government stressed its “strong mandate to build Ontario,” including its designs for Ontario Place.

“As we’ve done from the start, we will work with the City of Toronto and hope that they will continue to collaborate with us to bring this world class destination back to life,” said Andrea Chiappetta, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Infrastructure.

A number of leading mayoral candidates have criticized the province’s plans, including Josh Matlow, Olivia Chow and Ana Bailao. Mark Saunders worked as an adviser on the project.

Nevertheless, government house leader Paul Calandra recently said opposition from Toronto’s new mayor wouldn’t derail the planned revitalization.

Although Toronto owns part of the land that makes up Ontario Place, the province could expropriate the property if city hall doesn’t play ball.