Here's what Toronto's new artificial island could look like in the future

A new artificial island on Toronto's eastern waterfront is slowly beginning to take shape as planning moves forward for the community's first residential development.

This week, Waterfront Toronto released a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) in an effort to secure a development partner to build the first residential buildings in a mixed-income community on Ookwemin Minising (formerly known as Villiers Island).

The artificial island was born from the Port Lands Flood Protection project and translates to "place of the black cherry trees" in Anishinaabemowin/Ojibwemowin. The island is bordered by wetlands that wrap around the city's new green space, Biidaasige Park, which translates to "sunlight shining towards us" in Anishinaabemowin/Ojibwemowin.

Waterfront Toronto notes that the RFQ marks the beginning of delivering homes on the island, which was made possible with $1.4 billion in tri-government investments in flood protection infrastructure, as well as $975 million towards building streets and public spaces to support up to 14,000 new homes on Ookwemin Minising and close by at Quayside.

The first development block is expected to create approximately 700 units, with a target of 30 per cent designated as affordable housing.

"Ookwemin Minising represents a generational opportunity to build a complete waterfront community. Thanks to strong collaboration between all levels of government and Waterfront Toronto, we are delivering new homes, including affordable housing, on public land," said Mayor Olivia Chow.

"This project will create housing, jobs, parks, and public spaces. The future Waterfront East Rapid Transit Line will help connect residents to downtown and the broader city, making it easier for people to live, work, and get around. Together, these investments are helping build a more affordable, caring, and safe city for current and future generations."

Rendering of the island. Photo: Waterfront Toronto.

At the same time, planning for the waterfront's revitalization is unfolding alongside concerns raised in a city staff report last month about the expansion of Billy Bishop Airport. The report, among other concerns, warned that changes to flight paths or procedures could affect building heights and development potential across parts of the waterfront, including the Port Lands.

It noted that tens of thousands of planned housing units already fall within areas influenced by existing airport airspace rules, and that proposed changes could increase that number, and potentially constrain future housing development in these areas.

Still, the broader waterfront transformation is expected to generate significant economic activity and support large-scale job creation over time, according to Waterfront Toronto. The tri-government-supported revitalization effort is anticipated to generate 100,000 skilled trade jobs and contribute roughly $13.2 billion to the economy over time.

On top of this, the city's planned Waterfront East Rapid Transit Line, which was recently green-lit, is expected to improve connectivity between Ookwemin Minising, the broader waterfront, and downtown Toronto.

With flood protection work largely complete and zoning already in place, early infrastructure construction on the island is expected to begin this year.