The Globe and Mail

On a sunny morning this week, Julie Beddoes stood on the rooftop terrace of her Distillery District condo and marvelled at what might look, to an untrained eye, like nothing more than a vast, sullen construction site and a massive heap of rubble. She knows better. Until recently, Ms. Beddoes says she'd often "come up here and peer" at the fascinating scene unfolding just east of the Gooderham and Worts complex, where she has lived since 2000. After years of planning, the West Don Lands -- a brownfield site that would fit between University and Yonge, and Dundas and Queen -- will begin to take shape this year, the first precinct to be built out as part of the $1.5-billion waterfront revitalization strategy. Construction of a mixed-income housing development with green building design is set to break ground in the fall, followed by a major park next spring. The Toronto City Summit Alliance conference being held this week will include a progress report on a range of waterfront projects in the West Don Lands, the East Bayfront and the Portlands.