sum1
New Member
A real tragedy is about to befall the historic Gibson House (also known as Gibson House Museum) on the west side of Yonge Street, just north of Park Home Avenue (between Sheppard Avenue and Finch Avenue). The house was built in 1851 and is in beautiful condition, inside and out. I had a great visit there years ago.
There is currently a large parking lot between the front of the house and Yonge Street, with a small side passage to the house from a park just to the south (the park extends from the house to Park Home Avenue). I've been hoping that, one day, the city politicians or, perhaps, some benefactor, might purchase this parking lot and convert it into parkland so that Gibson House would be reconnected to Yonge Street and "Uptown Toronto" could have a great, green, urban space - similar to Grange Park with "The Grange" as a backdrop. Maybe there could then be some cultural activities in the parkland, tying into the cultural/educational events at Gibson House.
Unfortunately, the politicians and planners, apparently lacking sense, sensibility and vision, allowed the land between Gibson House and the adjacent streets to be bought up by a developer. The developer was then given a massive increase in what he could build on the property, ensuring that the land would be too valuable ever to be purchased by the city. This, I understand, was all done a number of years ago - at a time when there might have been some small retail stores fronting Yonge Street instead of a parking lot.
Now, the developer (Menkes) is ready to proceed with "GIBSON SQUARE". There have been some recent public meetings and the latest proposal was given out at the last meeting. TWO 45 STOREY CONDOMINIUM TOWERS HAVE BEEN PROPOSED - ONE ON THE PARKING LOT BETWEEN THE FRONT OF GIBSON HOUSE AND YONGE STREET AND THE OTHER ON THE PARK TO THE SOUTH (the developer owns most of the park). UNBELIEVABLE!
I'm all for development, but not absolutely everywhere! Eventually all of Yonge Street in that area will be teeming with 30, 40 and even 50 storey buildings - which is fine by me. However, that one relatively small spot - Gibson House and its environs - should never, ever be developed! (Try to imagine Grange Park with a 45 storey tower in front of The Grange!!)
It's not really the developer's fault. One cannot really blame him for nabbing a great piece of property which the city politicians and planners didn't seem to want. Now all we can do is make the best of a very bad situation. I guess we will soon add Gibson House to the growing list of Toronto mistakes - headed by the placement of the rail lines and Gardiner Expressway between the city and Lake Ontario. Menkes is now finalizing their proposal before formally submitting it to the city. The only possible hitch is the city's desire for office space on the land instead of more condominiums.
By the way, there is also a tentative plan for a 16 story condo tower directly behind Gibson House. What's next - a condo tower ABOVE Gibson House? I wouldn't be surprised, given what has happened so far!
If you would like more information on Gibson House/Gibson House Museum, please visit the website: www.toronto.ca/culture/gibson_house.htm
There is currently a large parking lot between the front of the house and Yonge Street, with a small side passage to the house from a park just to the south (the park extends from the house to Park Home Avenue). I've been hoping that, one day, the city politicians or, perhaps, some benefactor, might purchase this parking lot and convert it into parkland so that Gibson House would be reconnected to Yonge Street and "Uptown Toronto" could have a great, green, urban space - similar to Grange Park with "The Grange" as a backdrop. Maybe there could then be some cultural activities in the parkland, tying into the cultural/educational events at Gibson House.
Unfortunately, the politicians and planners, apparently lacking sense, sensibility and vision, allowed the land between Gibson House and the adjacent streets to be bought up by a developer. The developer was then given a massive increase in what he could build on the property, ensuring that the land would be too valuable ever to be purchased by the city. This, I understand, was all done a number of years ago - at a time when there might have been some small retail stores fronting Yonge Street instead of a parking lot.
Now, the developer (Menkes) is ready to proceed with "GIBSON SQUARE". There have been some recent public meetings and the latest proposal was given out at the last meeting. TWO 45 STOREY CONDOMINIUM TOWERS HAVE BEEN PROPOSED - ONE ON THE PARKING LOT BETWEEN THE FRONT OF GIBSON HOUSE AND YONGE STREET AND THE OTHER ON THE PARK TO THE SOUTH (the developer owns most of the park). UNBELIEVABLE!
I'm all for development, but not absolutely everywhere! Eventually all of Yonge Street in that area will be teeming with 30, 40 and even 50 storey buildings - which is fine by me. However, that one relatively small spot - Gibson House and its environs - should never, ever be developed! (Try to imagine Grange Park with a 45 storey tower in front of The Grange!!)
It's not really the developer's fault. One cannot really blame him for nabbing a great piece of property which the city politicians and planners didn't seem to want. Now all we can do is make the best of a very bad situation. I guess we will soon add Gibson House to the growing list of Toronto mistakes - headed by the placement of the rail lines and Gardiner Expressway between the city and Lake Ontario. Menkes is now finalizing their proposal before formally submitting it to the city. The only possible hitch is the city's desire for office space on the land instead of more condominiums.
By the way, there is also a tentative plan for a 16 story condo tower directly behind Gibson House. What's next - a condo tower ABOVE Gibson House? I wouldn't be surprised, given what has happened so far!
If you would like more information on Gibson House/Gibson House Museum, please visit the website: www.toronto.ca/culture/gibson_house.htm