greening toronto

Lots of interesting green roof coverage for Toronto lately.

First - a proposal to turn the Gardiner Expressway into an overhead park.

[The proposed "Green Ribbon"] calls for the addition of a new level about 8 metres above the highway's elevated section from Dufferin St. to the Don Valley Parkway. Columns would be added to the side to anchor a new level, which would become a linear park stretching for 7 kilometres. The estimated costs range from $500 million to $600 million.

It's bold and visionary and I'd love to see this idea explored in more detail and connected to the Don River and waterfront rejuvenation.

Next, the Toronto Green Roof Bylaw

New Green Roof Bylaw Passed By Council

On May 26, 2009 Toronto became the first City in North America to adopt a bylaw to require and govern the construction of green roofs on new development.

The bylaw will apply to all new building permit applications made after January 31, 2010 (residential, commercial and institutional) and January 31, 2011 for all new industrial development.

The new bylaw will be required on all new development above 2,000m² of Gross Floor Area and have a graduated coverage requirement ranging from 20-60%.

There's also the EcoRoof Incentive Program

Toronto’s Eco-Roof Incentive Program is now available for green and cool roofs on Toronto’s commercial, industrial and institutional buildings. There will be funding rounds in the spring and fall 2009. The application deadline is May 1, 2009 for spring funding and the decision is to be made on May 15. Visit the LiveGreen Toronto website for more program details.

I'm ready! Let's do this thing.