An area along the Eastern side of the Don River in Toronto has been selected as the study site for the Urban Land Institute?s (ULI) 16th annual ULI Hines Student Competition. Though based on a hypothetical situation, the ideas competition provides both full- and part-time graduate-level student teams the opportunity to devise a comprehensive design and development program for parts of a real, large-scale site. The team with the winning proposal will receive $50,000; and the winner will be announced in early April.
Aerial view of the competition site. Image via ULI
The competition, which began January 15, is designed to simulate an actual urban planning and development scenario, and reflects developments being considered as part of the City of Toronto?s vision for reviving the neighborhoods east of its historic downtown. Participants were tasked with creating a master development plan for the redevelopment of parcels of land adjacent to the river into a thriving mixed-use community that would catalyze other development, including additional commercial, retail and residential space, and connect residential neighborhoods in the city?s northeast section to commercial neighborhoods in the southern section. To be competitive, submissions must create a comprehensive environment that is programmed, designed, built, and operated with all the elements necessary to promote the site as an integrated part of the city with high appeal to workers, visitors and residents. Playing the role ...