Flooding issues at Brendale Square addressed in Ryerson University re-development plan

In the report, the students outline potholes in the parking lot, flooding and soil contamination as some of the biggest problems. One option to counteract those issues is to create a park at John and Main, which the report says will mitigate the flooding impact in severe weather. It would include flood-tolerant plants and flowers, bioswales and catch basins. A permeable surface parking lot would also be included to the east of the park, which is able to absorb storm water. The design is called “blue-green infrastructure”, which uses the water cycle and green infrastructure together to help with flooding and create outdoor public spaces.

Some other ideas outlined in the report include connecting Brendale Square to the Trans-Canada Trail with pedestrian crosswalks across Main Street. It also recommends creating mixed-use development, for retail, office and living space, as well as upgrading the street and bus stops along the square.

The full report will be presented during Tuesday night’s special planning meeting, which gets underway at 7:00 in council chambers.