Sidewalk Labs and Waterfront Toronto development agreement unveiled

Waterfront Toronto and Sidewalk Labs have signed a Plan Development Agreement (PDA), taking the next step in a project that will transform and revitalize Toronto’s eastern waterfront.

Sidewalk Toronto is a joint effort by Waterfront Toronto and Alphabet’s Sidewalk Labs to create a new type of mixed-use community, starting with the creation of Quayside, located at Lake Shore Boulevard East and Parliament Street.

The PDA defines and governs the relationship between Waterfront Toronto and Sidewalk Labs.

“The PDA is the legal agreement between Waterfront Toronto and Sidewalk Labs that establishes the scope, budget, principles and governing structures for creating the Master Innovation and Development Plan (MIDP) focused on Quayside,” said a spokesperson for Waterfront Toronto in an email to the Daily Commercial News.

“It envisions a new kind of mixed-use, complete community by combining forward thinking urban design, new digital technology and other innovative solutions to create a neighbourhood that sets new standards for urban living while supporting Canada’s growing cleantech, construction and technology sectors.”

The agreement replaces the October 2017 Framework Agreement between Waterfront Toronto and Sidewalk Labs, which was created as a preliminary document.

“The PDA sets out the planning and funding relationship between Waterfront Toronto and Sidewalk Labs, including a budget and joint oversight measures for spending the up to US$50-million commitment by Sidewalk Labs, outlines shared objectives and principles, and makes clear that there is no transfer of ownership or sale of land as a result of the agreement,” stated the email.

According to a release issued by Waterfront Toronto, key elements of the agreement include:

clear roles and responsibilities, with Waterfront Toronto in its traditional role as revitalization lead and Sidewalk Labs providing urban innovation and digital technology expertise;
shared objectives, including creating a destination for people, companies, startups and local organizations to advance solutions to challenges, such as sustainable energy use, housing affordability and access to transportation;
fostering economic development and job creation by “catalyzing a world leading cluster focused on urban innovation on the waterfront”;
establishing digital governance framework principles to ensure important issues, such as privacy, data sovereignty and data security and usage, are addressed and informed by experts;
including a comprehensive MIDP for Quayside that will also bring forward proposals for consideration of scale. The context area for scale explorations during the planning process is defined by the Designated Waterfront Area, as set out in the Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Corporation Act;
setting a Sept. 30, 2019 timeline within which the completed MIDP must be approved by the board of directors of both Waterfront Toronto and Sidewalk Labs;
developing a budget and process for spending the $50 million funding commitment by Sidewalk Labs to support the MIDP;
establishing termination rights;
allowing the ability for Canadian companies to compete for procurement opportunities; and
committing to ongoing public consultation and engagement led by Waterfront Toronto.

The negotiation process to create the PDA was long and complex, the Waterfront Toronto spokesperson stated.

“The PDA was crafted to reflect the aspirational goals and ambitions we set out for Quayside when Waterfront Toronto issued its Request for Proposals last year”, the email noted. “A central goal was to serve the public interest and to lay the groundwork to achieve these goals in the MIDP. Our board and management team took the time necessary to ensure that the agreement reflects both Waterfront Toronto’s enduring vision and mandate, and the aspirations we share with Sidewalk Labs for the transformational nature of the project.”

The next step is to move forward with public and stakeholder consultation getting input and feedback which will help shape the MIDP. It also includes working closely with the city and other agencies.

The next public roundtable will be held in mid-August to discuss ideas for public realm, streets and buildings, followed by another roundtable in November with more detail leading up to a consultation in early 2019 on the draft MIDP.