One of the pioneers in the world of gaming and entertainment, Woodbine Entertainment Group (WEG) has unveiled the completed master plan for their much ambitious Woodbine Racetrack lands. This is Woodbine’s privately owned 684-acre site, which will be transformed in to “a city within a city” master plan, which will ultimately become the future urban heart of northwest Toronto.
The “city within a city” concept is strategicdesign that is targeted to unlock the value of the undeveloped land. This will generate a long-term revenue to support WEG’s horse racing operationssustainably along with creating thousands of farming jobs in rural communities.
Jim Lawson, CEO of Woodbine Entertainment Group said, “At the core of the project is the beauty of the horse.With over 2,000 thoroughbred horses stabled on site, approximately 200 acres will continue be devoted to horse racing operations at the centre of this unique development. The master plan sets out a detailed roadmap that will create thousands of new local jobs in the community, introduce new fans to the sport of horse racing and be a transformative project for the City of Toronto in the years to come.”
The master plan and development strategy of the “city within the city” concept has been developed with LiveWorkLearnPlay (LWLP), which is the lead real estate development advisor of WEG. LWLP have beautifully crafted the development of towns, cities and large-scale mixed-use projects. Others who are associated with the plan include a dynamic group of industry-leading professionals, led by SWA Group, an international master planning, landscape architecture, and urban design firm, in collaboration with BCV Architects and Nelson Nygaard. Richard Martz, Partner & Principal of LWLP has to say, “The Woodbine Racetrack site represents a unique legacy opportunity to develop a place that can offer enduring social and economic value to the city and region, while ensuring the sustainability of the horse racing industry. WEG’s ambitious planning and development strategy has been designed to effectively respond to that context and opportunity.”
The Plan: High Points
- WEG unveiled the master planfor development of the Woodbine Racetrack lands in Rexdale.
- WEGvows that the privately-owned, 684-acre site will be transformed in to “a city within a city” that will symbolize the “urban heart” of northwest Toronto.
- WEG’s master plan is planned to be larger than Toronto’s downtown business district.
- Plans included creation of restaurants, a hotel, retail and office space, residential development, post-secondary classrooms, horse racing and gaming.
- It will become the ultimate destination for horse racing and gaming and will integrate and expanded entertainment and cultural offerings.
- The value of the undeveloped land will be enhanced and target long-term revenues.
- By sustaining its horse racing operations, Woodbine willadd thousands of horse industry jobs in rural Ontario.
- After the completion of the first phase of the project, it will attract up to 15 million people annually to the facility.