Woodbine Racetrack Redevelopment

684-acre, privately owned site

Transforming to become “a city within a city”

Future urban heart of Northwest Toronto

6 million visitors per year, expected to double when complete

Challenges

Woodbine will continue to be the ultimate destination for horse racing and gaming.
New, expanded entertainment, services, facilities, and cultural offerings will be integrated: food and dining, hotel, shopping, office space, post-secondary education, recreation, health, wellness, and urban residential living.
Strong transit connections between Woodbine, the city of Toronto, and the broader urban region are critical to realizing this vision.

Hatch provided Woodbine Entertainment Group (WEG) with strategic advice to build the initial business case for bringing higher-order transit to its site.
Transit included light-rail extension, alignment analysis and optioning, and early conceptual work related to a regional GO rail station and transit hub.
An evaluation of possible higher-order transit options was needed, including an options analysis for integration with other transit and mobility systems.
Initial work focused on preparing WEG for the anticipated onboarding of a gaming partner in late 2017.
Communication with key government and other local stakeholders was paramount.

An analysis of the value of various transit connections to the site was carried out and discussions with various government agencies and other stakeholders, including Pearson Airport, was supported.
A phasing strategy that aimed at optimizing density, value per square foot, and the number of jobs within site and surrounding area was developed.
A transit integration plan was delivered that sought to maximize the development potential and city-building potential of the Woodbine site.
An initial business case and advice on advancement strategy was created for the light rail extension.
Significant mixed-use development was contemplated at the site; integration with regional transit hub conceptualized.