Five Keesmaat projects

Union Station Master Plan An amalgam of various City of Toronto documents, the 2004 master plan by Office for Urbanism set parameters for the ongoing $640-million revitalization of the historic structure that serves Via Rail, GO Transit and the TTC. Keesmaat was project lead for the plan, which calls for the heritage features of the building to be maintained while expanding GO concourses, restoring Via concourses, offering new shopping and restaurants and improving walkability. A new pedestrian-friendly public plaza that runs parallel to Front St. opened last summer.

Halifax Urban Design Study In 2007 Keesmaat was a co-lead consultant for a team tasked with finding a plan to address sprawl, development and design challenges in downtown Halifax and the surrounding region. Among the design team’s goals were the preservation of heritage buildings, more pedestrian-friendly walkways downtown and attracting 5,000 new residents to the core over 10 years. Five years after the team’s work, a business panel concluded there are signs downtown development is on the upswing.

Bloor Corridor Visioning Study Keesmaat, with Office for Urbanism, was lead planner on the 2008 Bloor Corridor Visioning Study (Avenue Rd. to Bathurst St.), which called for protecting stable lowrise residential neighbourhoods while allowing “responsible intensification.” The plan, which has been adopted, encouraged a “pedestrian-first” approach, but allowed for “nodes” at intersections such as Bathurst St. or Spadina Ave. where higher densities are deemed appropriate.

Regina Downtown Master Plan In October 2007, Regina hired Office for Urbanism, and Keesmaat was project lead in developing a plan to help steer Regina’s decision-making around investments, urban design and land use planning. The decades-long master plan for the revitalization of the city core calls for a return to two-way traffic on several streets, bike lanes and wider sidewalks, as well as increased residential accommodation downtown.

Eglinton Connects In 2014 council approved Eglinton Connects. Headed by Keesmaat as chief city planner, the $150-million road makeover project will run along the route for the Eglinton Crosstown LRT. The makeover from Jane St. to Kennedy Rd. is to include wider sidewalks, 11 kilometres of bike lanes, more trees, buried hydro lines and the reduction of through traffic from Avenue to Mount Pleasant Rds., work to be phased in by 2050.