Then and Now: Yonge/Dundas and area

[Urban Shocker]

egotrippin's claim that "nothing worthwhile" existed on the site before Lyle's remaindered-deco Bank of Nova Scotia was built after WW2 clearly isn't born out by the photographic evidence shown above. Joseph Sheard's handsome stone dwelling built in 1852 for William Cawthra, Toronto's richest man, and demolished in 1948 stands at the corner of the intersection. Architect and author Anthony Adamson - descended from the Cawthra family - saved some of the architectural details and installed them in his Rosedale home.

 

[Conrad Black]

Bank of Nova Scotia is still a better addition to the corner.

 

[Tewder]

I agree, post-war deco has a certain appeal of its own.

 

[adma]

Architect and author Anthony Adamson - descended from the Cawthra family - saved some of the architectural details and installed them in his Rosedale home.

...and bequeathed them to none other than Geddy Lee. (If I'm not mistaken.)

 

[egotrippin]

egotrippin's claim that "nothing worthwhile" existed on the site before Lyle's remaindered-deco Bank of Nova Scotia was built after WW2 clearly isn't born out by the photographic evidence shown above. Joseph Sheard's handsome stone dwelling built in 1852 for William Cawthra, Toronto's richest man, and demolished in 1948 stands at the corner of the intersection. Architect and author Anthony Adamson - descended from the Cawthra family - saved some of the architectural details and installed them in his Rosedale home.

No I didn't, in fact if you read my post you'd realize that I said "With the exception of the northeast corner..."

I also understand the defense of Mies' banking pavilion, I just believe that a one-storey building isn't appropriate for a prime corner in what should be Toronto's tallest and densest area. The original TD building left in place as an anchor to the corner, with Mies' modernist towers rising up and contrasting directly behind it would've been a far better way to treat the corner. This is also why I dislike Commerce Court South and East, and the opening of the previously covered wall on CC North. The streetwall to the southeast corner should've been left intact, with the new tower built slightly farther to the south. That's just my opinion though, sadly historical preservation wasn't on the menu during the 1960s and 1970s.

 

[Urban Shocker]

Given the location, and how much King and Bay had already changed with the addition of commercial skyscrapers, it's remarkable that a private residence such as the Cawthra house survived until as recently as 1948. Lyle's Bank of Nova Scotia building isn't considered as significant as the TD banking pavilion.

 

[Mustapha]

Sep 25 addition

Queen and Bay, looking south south east

 

[adma]

Given the location, and how much King and Bay had already changed with the addition of commercial skyscrapers, it's remarkable that a private residence such as the Cawthra house survived until as recently as 1948. Lyle's Bank of Nova Scotia building isn't considered as significant as the TD banking pavilion.

Well, Cawthra would have bit the dust c1930 if not for the depression. And BNS is basically a watered-down version of the original scheme by Lyle's successors--well, insofar that *any* postwar Deco required being watered down...

 

[egotrippin]

Given the location, and how much King and Bay had already changed with the addition of commercial skyscrapers, it's remarkable that a private residence such as the Cawthra house survived until as recently as 1948. Lyle's Bank of Nova Scotia building isn't considered as significant as the TD banking pavilion.

Perhaps not, considering the significance of Mies' TD Centre as a whole. As individual buildings though, banking pavilion vs. Lyle's BNS building, the one story pavilion can't compare; even to the watered down BNS building we eventually got.

One story, nondescript banking hall < 27 story art-deco highrise, with hand-carved panels.

 

[adma]

Perhaps not, considering the significance of Mies' TD Centre as a whole. As individual buildings though, banking pavilion vs. Lyle's BNS building, the one story pavilion can't compare; even to the watered down BNS building we eventually got.

One story, nondescript banking hall < 27 story art-deco highrise, with hand-carved panels.

Actually, the banking pavilion is commonly considered the *most* architecturally significant part of the TD complex; so if you're suggesting it's expendable, you've definitely got your signals reversed...

 

[Urban Shocker]

Also, as adma points out, BNS is a watered-down version of deco that was built out-of-place-and-out-of-time ( "hand-carved panels" ) in a post-WW2 city where contemporary architects were embracing new expressive forms - as a quick glance across the street to the south-west corner of the intersection shows.

 

[adma]

Though I'd qualify things through pointing out that 15-20 years separate the NE and SW corners--and even the "watering-down" process evident in BNS is fascinating. As great as Mies is, I wouldn't sacrifice BNS in the utmost...

 

[Mustapha]

Sep 29 additions

Dundas and Bond. Looking west.

New diversion.

Old 'Imperial Optical' or 'Hermant' building. Don't know what it's called now...

Some glasses I bought in there awhile back.

 

[Mustapha]

a few more... Sep 29

Louisa Street. No more.

Modern view looking north on Bay towards Dundas.

Salvation Army.

Dundas and Chestnut southeast corner.

Edward and Elizabeth southwest corner.

 

[CityPlaceN1]

Where are all the folks that complain about all the great stuff we lost over the years now? We lost more junk like this than anything else.