Coun. Doug Ford's vision for Toronto's waterfront was formally revealed at a City Hall meeting on Tuesday.
The city's executive committee met at 11 a.m. to discuss, among other topics, Ford's plan to build a monorail, ferris wheel and mega-mall on Toronto's front porch. Much of his proposal involves the city's sprawling industrial Port Lands.
Ford raised eyebrows last week when he announced that the city hopes to seize control of the Port Lands from Waterfront Toronto, the tripartite agency that is currently developing the 988-acre area.
Pundits skewered the Etobicoke-North councillor for suggesting that the city build a waterfront monorail to ferry tourists to the world's largest ferris wheel, another proposal for the Port Lands.
But at Tuesday's meeting, Mayor Rob Ford asked citizens to keep an open mind about a potential city takeover in the Port Lands.
"I encourage all members of this committee to consider and debate the opportunities in this report," Mayor Ford said. "It is the first step in opening up a world of possibilities in the Port Lands."
Approximately 30 representatives from architecture and urban design firms attended the City Hall meeting to voice their opinions on Coun. Ford's plan.
Many aren't pleased with the city's desire to derail Waterfront Toronto's plans for the area.
John Campbell, the CEO of Waterfront Toronto, said a city takeover would unravel years of progress in the area.
"The environmental assessment has been going on for six years. This is a lengthy process," he said. "We've invested about $19-million in all the planning and approvals."
The Port Lands is bounded by the Don River to the north, Lake Ontario to the south, Toronto Inner Harbour to the west and Ashbridges Bay to the east.
With a report from CTV Toronto's Natalie Johnson
