A
AlvinofDiaspar
Guest
No more rooms at this inn
May 9, 2006. 05:50 AM
CHRISTOPHER HUME
In many cities, the destruction of a landmark would be seen as an act of vandalism. In Toronto, it's business as usual.
As anyone who has gone past the corner of Eglinton Ave. and Leslie St. in the last day or two knows, the old Inn on the Park is now nothing more than a pile of rubble. The 1963 building, designed by pioneering modernist architect Peter Dickinson as he lay dying of cancer, has been demolished to make way for a car dealership.
Some might think that is progress, but it's another sign of a city that lacks even the most basic modicum of self-respect. The fact the building was torn down to make way for an auto showroom only adds insult to injury.
"If I had realized demolition was to occur before (today), my advice would have been to wait."
So says Don Valley West councillor and mayoral hopeful Jane Pitfield, who has been involved in this ill-fated scheme from the beginning.
She was referring to the deputation that was to have been presented today at North York Community Council to designate the Inn on the Park. That's not something the council need worry about now.
What a coincidence!
Though the complex was listed as a historical property, that didn't give it any legal protection. Designation, on the other hand, would have allowed the city to stop demolition. Of course, council could have designated the inn anyway — changes to the Ontario Heritage Act empowered the city last year — but that would have entailed standing up to business interests.
"Demolition permits should not be given by the city until the designation process has been completed," says Pitfield, a member of the Toronto Preservation Board, somewhat after the fact. "But it's difficult to keep up with everything."
Oh dear.
Councillor Cliff Jenkins, Don Valley West, sees things differently. According to him, the fact the dealership will bring "300 much-needed jobs" to the site justifies tearing down "a badly deteriorated partially wooden structure." Besides, he adds, the owner of the dealership, Brian Rowntree, "has an agreement with the city heritage department" to rebuild parts of the original structure, specifically the "triangular projections on the front, the courtyard and the ballroom."
Any heritage architect will tell you that's not preservation, no matter how well intentioned.
For North York, which has precious little architecture worth worrying about, this is yet another self-inflicted wound. Next will be the old Bata Headquarters on Wynford Dr., to be demolished by early summer to make room for — of all things — a cultural centre. Bata was designed in the 1960s by Toronto architectural icon, John Parkin.
"In North York, this was prime time for buildings," comments heritage architect Michael McClelland. "The Inn on the Park was one of those big optimistic buildings that summed up the times. It was a fantastic site, part of our cultural history.... It boils down to lack of political leadership."
Rollo Myers, manager of the Ontario Architectural Conservancy, also laments the destruction of a '60s monument.
"What an appalling way to start off Architecture Week in Toronto," he says. "It was a landmark. And from an environmental point of view, tearing down a perfectly adaptable, well-constructed, building represents a staggering waste. Thirty-five percent of all garbage in landfill sites comes from demolished buildings. The destruction of a single building negates the effort of recycling literally tens of millions of pop cans."
To be fair, the inn had suffered numerous indignities over the decades, most notably the undistinguished tower built beside it. Ironically, the new plan retains that tower. But the features that made Dickinson's design compelling — the carport, courtyard, entrance — are gone.
"We could have saved it," insists architectural activist Catherine Nasmith. "We had the power and we didn't use it. The local councillors — Jane Pitfield and Cliff Jenkins — just didn't care. It's an act of vandalism."
Nasmith may be prone to the naivety of the idealist, but she's right. Though no one would dismiss 300 jobs, this is a big city with many other sites.
But what business wants business gets.
_________________________________________________
Just what she is saying, then? Tautology at best, tact admission of her role in the act, at worst. And that's from a Mayor-in-running.
AoD
May 9, 2006. 05:50 AM
CHRISTOPHER HUME
In many cities, the destruction of a landmark would be seen as an act of vandalism. In Toronto, it's business as usual.
As anyone who has gone past the corner of Eglinton Ave. and Leslie St. in the last day or two knows, the old Inn on the Park is now nothing more than a pile of rubble. The 1963 building, designed by pioneering modernist architect Peter Dickinson as he lay dying of cancer, has been demolished to make way for a car dealership.
Some might think that is progress, but it's another sign of a city that lacks even the most basic modicum of self-respect. The fact the building was torn down to make way for an auto showroom only adds insult to injury.
"If I had realized demolition was to occur before (today), my advice would have been to wait."
So says Don Valley West councillor and mayoral hopeful Jane Pitfield, who has been involved in this ill-fated scheme from the beginning.
She was referring to the deputation that was to have been presented today at North York Community Council to designate the Inn on the Park. That's not something the council need worry about now.
What a coincidence!
Though the complex was listed as a historical property, that didn't give it any legal protection. Designation, on the other hand, would have allowed the city to stop demolition. Of course, council could have designated the inn anyway — changes to the Ontario Heritage Act empowered the city last year — but that would have entailed standing up to business interests.
"Demolition permits should not be given by the city until the designation process has been completed," says Pitfield, a member of the Toronto Preservation Board, somewhat after the fact. "But it's difficult to keep up with everything."
Oh dear.
Councillor Cliff Jenkins, Don Valley West, sees things differently. According to him, the fact the dealership will bring "300 much-needed jobs" to the site justifies tearing down "a badly deteriorated partially wooden structure." Besides, he adds, the owner of the dealership, Brian Rowntree, "has an agreement with the city heritage department" to rebuild parts of the original structure, specifically the "triangular projections on the front, the courtyard and the ballroom."
Any heritage architect will tell you that's not preservation, no matter how well intentioned.
For North York, which has precious little architecture worth worrying about, this is yet another self-inflicted wound. Next will be the old Bata Headquarters on Wynford Dr., to be demolished by early summer to make room for — of all things — a cultural centre. Bata was designed in the 1960s by Toronto architectural icon, John Parkin.
"In North York, this was prime time for buildings," comments heritage architect Michael McClelland. "The Inn on the Park was one of those big optimistic buildings that summed up the times. It was a fantastic site, part of our cultural history.... It boils down to lack of political leadership."
Rollo Myers, manager of the Ontario Architectural Conservancy, also laments the destruction of a '60s monument.
"What an appalling way to start off Architecture Week in Toronto," he says. "It was a landmark. And from an environmental point of view, tearing down a perfectly adaptable, well-constructed, building represents a staggering waste. Thirty-five percent of all garbage in landfill sites comes from demolished buildings. The destruction of a single building negates the effort of recycling literally tens of millions of pop cans."
To be fair, the inn had suffered numerous indignities over the decades, most notably the undistinguished tower built beside it. Ironically, the new plan retains that tower. But the features that made Dickinson's design compelling — the carport, courtyard, entrance — are gone.
"We could have saved it," insists architectural activist Catherine Nasmith. "We had the power and we didn't use it. The local councillors — Jane Pitfield and Cliff Jenkins — just didn't care. It's an act of vandalism."
Nasmith may be prone to the naivety of the idealist, but she's right. Though no one would dismiss 300 jobs, this is a big city with many other sites.
But what business wants business gets.
_________________________________________________
Just what she is saying, then? Tautology at best, tact admission of her role in the act, at worst. And that's from a Mayor-in-running.
AoD