mike gohl
For Project team - Kensington Market does this exceptionally well. It is on the top 5 destinations in Toronto because it has such an indie and non-commercial feel - There are record stores, vintage stores, unique arts spaces and venues, cafes, a variety of multicultural restaurants and street art. East Harbour needs to keep this similar funky and indie spirit and be a bit non-traditional. There would be a unique mix of arty-ness with these unique retail spaces as well as the contrasting entrepreneurial/suits and ties district with the large towers. This creates a district for all and would largely feel a mix of being commercial and unique.

Think about Identity — In 21st century cities, neighbourhoods say a lot about a city and what kind of city we live in. You have a chance to be funky, be arty, give young people a reason to want to create here and be part of this edginess. Your chain stores and cookie-cutter Zara’s and H&M, bix box retailers are repetitive and do not install uniqueness or a way of standing out and attracting people.

Momola issa
I'd like to see more 'offbeat' shops and eccentricity in East Harbour too.
I'm genuinely so tired and fed up with the cookie-cutter Rexall pharmacies, weed stores and overall dreariness all over Downtown Toronto! Liberty village, City place, Yonge Street...it's all too generic with the same boring chain restaurants and the same soul sucking architecture.
I don't want to see steakhouses and boston pizza's in East Harbour, a truly 'world-class' neighbourhood has a wow-factor where retail and vibes are hip and different.

Florence Dandry
coming from London, Uk and echoing the comments below I would care to see more support for arts. I feel like there aren't enough quirky districts in this city that celebrate and promote the creative community. Everything is too bland and polished. A few art exhibits or murals in a neighbourhood doesn't make a district arty. We need communes and retail spaces carved out for these artists, a place post-pandemic that culturally thrives and is in line with Toronto's nightlife action plan as well as other local cultural initiatives. In my hometown a neighbourhood called Shoreditch and spitalfields does this mix of art/cultural district and business/finance very well. Shoreditch has studio spaces and quirky art spaces but has nearby city of London workers (Our version of financial district) coming to these spaces as well as tourists and locals too. Please tell the project team to also take inspiration from Soho in London. It truly is a fun and dynamic place.

Momola issa
This is going to be a major district where people will live work and travel through. Think of how you can think of East Harbour as a destination worth visiting rather than just an interchange or junction. I can tell you right now that people in my age group (late teens - early 20s) will be bored out of our minds if this is a district that shuts down past midnight. People my age want to take cool photos for instagram at cool art exhibits and cool buildings. Yonge-Dundas square is okay but you guys can do better, aim to make a 'cooler times square' if that is even possible. If East Harbour isn't a cultural destination and is appealing enough, there isn't another site in Toronto that has a chance to really showcase what Toronto's true identity is. I mean for example is incorporating unique restaurants in spaces like buildings with downtown views, or on rooftops even. After this covid bullshit ends (pardon my French) I want a place where I can let myself go, walking around Yonge Street or Bloor west and sitting on a patio can get repetitive...We have so many talented artists, musicians, designers etc. who have left Toronto because they are young artist who cannot afford rents. All of these shiny new condos are replacing all of the amazing arts collectives. Be the district that proves me wrong about staying here.

Cole J
Disagree with this, I actually would like to see more density and taller heights considering we are the fastest growing city in North America.

Lisa T.
An aesthetic charm that feels less "metropolitan" and more European. Pedestrian friendly and focus on trees, and green spaces.