Villiers Island

The Villiers Island precinct (formerly referred to as Cousins Quay) will be a stunning new waterfront community that embraces its distinct industrial functions and the spectacular new parks, public spaces and ecological richness that will result from the naturalization of the mouth of the Don River. Surrounded by water on all sides, the Villiers Island precinct will introduce a vitality to the area that honours the distinctive culture associated with waterfront districts and vibrant working ports.
 

Density Study

In 2022, Toronto City Council directed us, along with the City of Toronto and Create TO to revisit the precinct plan that was approved in 2017. The goal was to increase the number of homes that can be built on ‘Villiers Island,’ while respecting the overall vision for this new community. The project team of City of Toronto, CreateTO and Waterfront Toronto conducted a Density Study to determine the appropriate amount of new density, as well as building heights and locations, for the Island.

At a public meeting in June 2023, we shared how the planning context for the waterfront has changed since the precinct plan was approved in 2017 and some different approaches to increasing density on ‘Villiers Island’. Feedback from these meeting, as well as past consultations, informed the proposed updates to the plan.

On June 19, 2023, the City of Toronto, CreateTO and Waterfront Toronto hosted a public meeting as part of this process. Watch this recording or read the summary report to learn more about this public meeting.  

On March 26, 2024, the City of Toronto, CreateTO and Waterfront Toronto will host a public meeting to report back on the results of the Density Study. Register here.

In spring 2024, the project team will recommend to City Council a preferred approach for increasing densities on Villiers Island. The Council-endorsed preferred approach will inform an update to the 2017 Precinct Plan, resulting in more housing and affordable rental homes while respecting the overall vision for this new community.

For more information about the planning and future development of the Port Lands and the Don Mouth Naturalization project, visit PortLandsTO.ca.