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It's still a very boring design. I don't think stations have to be grandiose, but they should at least be pleasing to the eye. Good design doesn't have to be a luxury.

Let's not post personal insults towards someone who's dead.

So is the King High Line actually happening? Or was it just a marketing stunt?

Thanks for the explanation! I was wondering why CN and CP doesn't like wires above their tracks. Is it really a safety issue or was it just a random decision?

Why won't the Milton & Richmond Hill Lines be fully electrified? And why are the Lakeshore West & Kitchener Lines partially electrified? Why would they cut costs if this is a >$10 billion project?

Sure, it will provide jobs. I guess I don't like it due to aesthetics and reduced development potential. How will the city encourage more development next to industry, in a neighbourhood with a terrible reputation?

Wow, that's a really shocking story. Also, Union Station is a big priority because the platforms are dangerously narrow. I'm glad that MX is moving forward with the enhancement project.

Wow, this MSF is going to be a big stain on this neighbourhood and its future development.

What do you mean? How is not their fault for not standing behind the yellow line? Are they supposed to stand on the tracks? 😂😂😂

The Provincial Policy Statement and the Planning Act require "the promotion of built form that is well-designed; and promotes a sense of place." The "promotion" part is kind of murky, because it means "encouraging" and not requiring. However, some in-force plans already have mandatory design...

Well that's why you could specify what good design is with character areas or urban design guidelines. Some official plans already mandate good design, like the new Golden Mile Secondary Plan. We'll just have to see how it works out. Also, you could definitely ban monotone colours, spandrel...

In the original Downtown Plan, these were some of the policies for design excellence... 9.1 Development will: 9.1.3. demonstrate design excellence of the building and surrounding public realm; 9.1.4. demonstrate a high standard of heritage conservation; and 9.1.5. include high-quality, durable...

The problem is that good design is not a planning policy (it was in the new Downtown Plan/TOCore but it was thrown out by the provincial government). While architectural style is subjective, no one would call this building "beautiful" or a good addition to the neighbourhood. There needs to be a...

There is a lot of value-engineering in Toronto, and designers that have a good vision but don't focus on the small details that can make or break that vision. Unfortunately, there aren't that many designers that pay attention to materials, lighting, and other miscellaneous details.

I hope your advocacy works for the neighbourhood and for our city's public realm. Our public realm isn't very good and is very poorly managed by Transportation Services and Toronto Hydro, so hopefully they can introduce a motion that would fix this.

That's just terrible. I'll have to find a councillor who cares. I'll call one of the downtown/progressive ones.

Doesn't Toronto have a Streetscape Manual that explains which lights (furniture, pavers, etc.) to use on each street? Why don't they ever follow them? They constantly replace decorative lights (in other areas) with utilitarian ones! What's the point of public realm improvements if they're just...

PUBLIC WORK did do the Parks and Public Realm Plan, and they've done a very good job. We definitely need bold leadership, especially for the planning department. Wasn't she a very ambitious chief planner? Councillors didn't like her because she pushed hard to get bike lanes, walkable streets...

That's exactly why we need a progressive mayor, like Jennifer Keesmaat. She has many ideas on how to physically improve the city, and the University Avenue redesign was one of many from her flagship project, TOCore.

An updated design was just released!