What the Port Lands used to look like
Even if a Ferris wheel isn't in the cards, the Port Lands is transforming, and will continue to for the years to come. The plans may change around a bit in the coming years, but the remaining industrial character of the area will certainly erode as new developments proceed.
Even as the full-scale revitalization of the Port Lands remains a project in process, the neighbourhood—if it's fair to call it that—is one in transition.
Back in the 1970s, the Port Lands were very much in use as an industrial hub. The Hearn Generating Station was still operational, oil tanks littered the landscape, and the sight of a ship coming and going was a regular occurrence.
As was the case elsewhere, the 1980s witnessed a decline in industrial use—though not to the same degree as places like Liberty Village—and the transition toward a mixed-use identity got underway.
If you're yearning for a glimpse at the Port Lands' industrial past, here's a visual history.
The Toronto Archives. Written by Derek Flack.
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