Toronto’s First Waterfront Library Approved for Quayside Development
Toronto waterfront library will anchor growing Quayside community
TORONTO — Toronto’s waterfront is set to gain its first-ever public library branch after City Council approved plans for a new Toronto Public Library (TPL) location as part of the Quayside development on the eastern waterfront.
The project, announced jointly by the City of Toronto, Toronto Public Library and Waterfront Toronto, will create a new community hub within one of the city’s fastest-growing neighbourhoods, providing residents with access to library services, programs, learning spaces and community gathering areas.
The new branch will be the first public library located directly on Toronto’s waterfront and forms part of a broader strategy to expand public amenities alongside new housing developments in the area.
Supporting a Growing Waterfront Community
The announcement follows City Council approval during its June meeting and builds on more than a decade of planning between Toronto Public Library and the City of Toronto to expand library services along the eastern waterfront.
Quayside is one of the city’s largest waterfront developments. The first phase is expected to deliver approximately 1,733 rental homes, including 563 affordable rental units and 1,170 market rental units. More than half of the affordable homes will be family-sized units with two, three or four bedrooms.
Officials say securing library space during the early stages of construction is critical because new library branches often require five to ten years to plan and deliver.
As thousands of new residents move into the area, the library is expected to become a key community anchor.
Community Input Will Shape the Design
Toronto Public Library announced it will lead a comprehensive public consultation process to help shape the branch’s design and services.
Residents will have opportunities to provide feedback on programming, collections, services and community needs as planning progresses.
The consultation process is expected to begin after an architectural firm is selected to lead the interior design and fit-out work, which is anticipated to start in 2028.
Mayor Olivia Chow said the project reflects the City’s commitment to building community infrastructure alongside housing development.
“As Toronto’s waterfront evolves and prepares to welcome thousands of new residents to Quayside, we’re making sure that providing much needed community spaces is part of the City’s growth as development happens,” Chow said in a statement.
Part of a Larger Waterfront Library Strategy
The Quayside branch is one component of a broader waterfront library expansion plan.
A second Toronto Public Library branch is also planned for Ookwemin Minising, a new island community currently under development nearby.
Together, the two branches will provide library access across Toronto’s growing eastern waterfront and support population growth expected throughout the area.
Toronto Public Library CEO and City Librarian Moe Hosseini-Ara said libraries play a vital role in building connected communities.
“Library branches are at the heart of community life — places to connect, learn and belong,” Hosseini-Ara said. “This new branch at Quayside will be a welcoming, inclusive space that brings people together and helps transform a growing neighbourhood into a true community.”
Partnership Helps Deliver Project Without New Capital Funding
Officials say the project demonstrates a collaborative approach to city-building involving the City of Toronto, Toronto Public Library, Waterfront Toronto and development partner Dream Unlimited Corp..
The library’s base building will be funded through community benefit contributions associated with the development. Once completed, the developer will transfer the building shell, land and access rights to the City.
Toronto Public Library will be responsible for funding the interior design, construction and furnishings.
Waterfront Toronto President and CEO George Zegarac said integrating the library into the first phase of development will help establish a complete community from the outset.
“A great place to live offers more than housing,” Zegarac said. “It has accessible and inclusive public spaces, services and amenities that enrich daily life, allow residents to foster strong connections and enable a community to take root.”
Building Complete Communities
The new branch reflects a growing focus on integrating public infrastructure into major housing developments across Toronto.
In addition to providing access to books and learning resources, modern library branches increasingly serve as community hubs offering digital access, educational programming, cultural events, study areas, meeting spaces and social services.
With more than 80 per cent of Torontonians using Toronto Public Library services and a network of 100 branches across the city, officials say the waterfront expansion will help ensure residents in one of Toronto’s fastest-growing neighbourhoods have access to those services close to home.
The timing for construction and opening of the new Quayside library branch will be determined as the broader waterfront development progresses.
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