Queen, west of Spadina

[Archivistower]

Re: re:Buildings west of Spadina

There are different degrees of importance of buildings in an HCD, and some buildings are included just to provide additional leverage for approvals. For instance, the entire north side of Gerrard between Parliament and River, a lamentable and frequently downright vile group of modern buildings, is within an HCD. They're there not because of anything inherent in the building itself but to ensure that development is in scale with the HCD.

cacruden's suggestion results in Houston. Heritage preservation results in Paris. Your choice.

 

[tudararms]

Re: re:Buildings west of Spadina

New building/Architecture in Paris still manages to remain relevant and even cutting edge at times, despite the careful preservation of heritage. Then again, perhaps it's more about how one defines 'heritage'. I suppose today even the once much maligned Centre Pompidou, or the Pyramide of the Louvre, or even Mitterand's Arc de la Defense intruding on Napolean's grand vista up the Champs Elysees might fairly be considered 'heritage'?

 

[TdotTrickyRicky]

"cacruden's suggestion results in Houston. Heritage preservation results in Paris. Your choice."

I don't think anything we do will ever make Toronto streetscapes comparable to Houston or Paris. I must say that there are certainly gems of buildings on Queen street or any other of our low-rise commerical strips but a good bit in my opinion has no redeeming value and is not only in bad shape but was substandard construction at the time it was built. My problem is with block busting lot assembly but I actually have no problem in principle with individual small scale redevelopments. I have in the past been disappointed with such developments for the following reasons: The new space is inflexible or mixed-use was sacrificed for a monolithic function often to meet the specification of a specific corporate tenant or insufficient density was added to the site. These issues are far more relevent in my opinion then aesthetics because there is really only one exposed face on such buildings (two for corner lots) and the possibility of facade improvement is well within the means of future building owners if and when the bar of streetscape maintenance and aesthetics is raised in this city. That said I am of course for preservation and re-use of old buildings and detailing whenever possible but I don't extend this umbrella over all old buildings.

 

[adma]

Re: re:Buildings west of Spadina

I suppose today even the once much maligned Centre Pompidou, or the Pyramide of the Louvre, or even Mitterand's Arc de la Defense intruding on Napolean's grand vista up the Champs Elysees might fairly be considered 'heritage'?

I don't know what the chronological etc. apron for such status currently is in Paris; but if it already extends into the 70s, well, I'd imagine the Pompidou, at least, *would* be deemed "heritage" today--or at least, be certified as such as the first possible opportunity. In fact, it's a no-brainer...

 

[adma]

Re: re:Buildings west of Spadina

Please not. IMHO they should limit what is determined a "Heritage" building/site to a very few historical buildings -- and those the government should be willing to purchase.

Yes, and if you offer that idea to the heritage community in 2006, that would go over like a proposal to limit immigration to those of white Anglo-Saxon stock, or to limit "partnerships" to male-female, etc. etc.

 

[samsonyuen]

Re: re:Buildings west of Spadina

Speaking of Queen Street. What is up with Urban Barn taking up the Caban space? Urban BARN?

 

[jayomatic]

Re: re:Buildings west of Spadina

i know. urban barn? I was just as confused as you were. O well. it shouldnt be there for long. Looks like a crappy version of le chateau. Sure it will close soon enough. Come on Crate and Barrel. Move on in there!

 

[cdl42]

Re: re:Buildings west of Spadina

Is this referring to the Urban Barn west of Bathurst, or is this another location? If it's new, has the Bathurst location closed? I hope not, it was one of the classiest major tenants beyond Bathurst.

Urban Barn is a pretty good oxymoron.

 

[boiler2000]

Re: re:Buildings west of Spadina

It's Urban Planet that moved into that space, not Urban Barn.

 

[scarberiankhatru]

'Urban Barn' just opened in the big box pads at Scarborough Town Centre...honestly, I'd never heard of it. Their website claims they have a store at 610 Queen West along with 4 other big box locales.

 

[tudararms]

Urban Barn seems to be on the move. They're in Mississauga now too, and I saw them in Vancouver and Victoria.

I agree though, please give us Crate & Barrel!! The large version with furniture and all.

 

[bizorky]

Not off topic, but down the street; does anyone know what is happening with the corner of Queen and Portland?

 

[Darkstar416]

An urban Home Depot has been rumoured for a while.

 

[adma]

I guess on the "good news" front is the apparent investment in (slowly) rehabilitating Burroughes Furniture aka King Sol...

 

[adma]

In maybe-related news...

I finally saw that "Building Blocks" exhibition. It's worth seeing just for the image of the c50s Rubinoff's false-front that partly adorned the present Velvet Underground row on Queen opposite Portland as recently as 1972. Your jaw'll be dropping, Tex Avery-style...