An article in the December 1 issue of the National Post raised questions about the criteria Waterfront Toronto used to select the Great Gulf Group of Companies to lead the first private sector development in East Bayfront. In response to the questions raised, Waterfront Toronto CEO John Campbell has respectfully sent the following letter to the editor of the National Post:

Waterfront Toronto’s selection of the proposal by Great Gulf Group for the Moshe Safdie designed mixed-use development project on the waterfront was based on a rigorous and conscientious process that fully considered price as well as the city building aspects of the project.

The competitive two-stage process was guided by a Steering Committee composed of senior Waterfront Toronto staff, a Waterfront Toronto board member,  a representative of the City of Toronto, and independent subject matter experts in design, sustainability, and real estate.  The process was overseen by a Fairness Advisor, The Honourable Justice Coulter A. Osbourne.

The evaluation criteria were developed to ensure the selected proposal met the objectives previously approved by City Council for the area.

The quality of the submissions for Parkside was extremely high.  While all submissions offered a very high caliber of design, sustainability and creativity, the deciding factor in this instance was price.

Waterfront Toronto also undertook two independent appraisals to ensure that the price offered by Great Gulf was fair market value for the development site.

This process led to Waterfront Toronto’s recommendation to the City that the Parkside development site be sold to Great Gulf.  Ultimately, it will be Toronto City Council’s decision whether or not to approve the project.