Second lawsuit over Toronto Modernist landscape spa development dismissed
Toronto’s Ontario Place, a 1971 Modernist landscape designed by Canadian landscape architect Michael Hough, is at the center of a contentious battle over the construction of a mega-spa. Despite legal challenges and grassroots opposition, the project moves forward after a court dismissed a lawsuit seeking to block it.
The Rebuilding Ontario Place Act, passed in December 2023, has been the source of controversy as it overrides Ontario Place’s protections as a heritage site and exempts it from environmental assessment. The latest court decision has raised concerns about the precedent it sets for future government projects in the province.
The debate over Ontario Place’s future began in 2018 when proposals for redevelopment were collected without public input or consideration for preservation. Plans for a mega-spa and a new underground parking garage, funded by taxpayers, have fueled opposition and political uproar in Toronto.
The closure of the Ontario Science Centre and the decision to move it to Ontario Place have also sparked controversy. The sudden closure of the Science Centre’s Brutalist building, citing structural issues, has been met with skepticism and calls for transparency.
Recent developments, including a skyrocketing cost for the parking garage and opposition to the Science Centre’s relocation, highlight the ongoing challenges facing Ontario Place. Despite pledges from individuals like Geoffrey Hinton to save the Science Centre, the future of the site remains uncertain amidst ongoing disputes and concerns over government transparency and accountability.
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Elara Voss, graduated from the Royal College of Art in London with a Master’s in Fine Art. She specializes in contemporary sculpture and installation art, exploring themes of nature and human interaction. Elara’s works have been featured in several group exhibitions across Europe, and she is currently working on her first solo show.