G
ganjavih
Guest
I've never seen an octagonal dildo...
Toronto Auberge On The Park | 148.9m | 45s | Tridel | Graziani + Corazza
E
elook
Guest
It's hexagonal, by the way – six sides. Either shape would work equally poorly as a dildo. Sharp edges are not desirable in dildo design.
I don't count that ugly thing as the Inn on the Park despite the red sign on the roof. Yuck.
I don't count that ugly thing as the Inn on the Park despite the red sign on the roof. Yuck.
B
billonlogan
Guest
Makeover of Inn finally underway
November 21, 2006)
By Lorianna De Giorgio
Town Crier Online
Link to Article
KEEPING FIRST IMPRESSIONS: The old hotel's distinctive entrance is being kept in the facilities new design.
Inn on the Park’s transformation from a rundown hotel into a multi-use facility is underway. That’s great news for Bryan Rowntree, president of Rowbry Holding Ltd. and owner of the landmark site.
While Rowntree purchased the site about two years ago, a series of delays had halted redevelopment. A positive public consultation meeting in September, in which the community gave its ap-proval of the site, finally gave him the green light.
"We don’t just sit on a property," Rowntree said during a recent tour of the complex on the northeast corner of Eglinton Ave. East and Leslie St. "We should be open by now."
A major delay in the site’s makeover came earlier this year, when the property’s oldest structure was torn down to make way for the first phase of the project: two car dealerships on the southwest corner of the site.
The Toronto Preservation Board objected to the demolition of the 1960s-era building, arguing it should be saved and designated a historical structure. The city ultimately sided with Rowntree and the building, which used to operate as the Four Seasons Hotel, was torn down in the spring.
"The historical group held us up for a long time," said Rowntree. "People who say (the building shouldn’t have been torn down) never really looked at the building.
"One third of the (hotel’s) rooms were uninhabitable."
Rowntree’s plan does, however, retain some original elements from Inn on the Park’s glory days.
The ballroom, restaurant and several boardrooms are being restored, allowing Rowntree’s car dealership company to get into the boardroom and restaurant business.
On top of that, the 22-storey tower will be renovated and turned into a seniors residence, and high-end retail stores will eventually be built on the property.
Although there is some concern from the residents in neighbouring condominiums about the increase in traffic the new development might create, overall the community is supportive of the devel-opment, says Rowntree. He added that traffic won’t increase as much as it would have, had a new hotel been built there.
The plans are all part of an effort to bring life to the landmark site and introduce 300-plus jobs to the area, he explained during the tour.
"This is a site that sat empty for two years," Rowntree said. "Nobody could make it work as a hotel."
He predicts the first phase of the project will be up and running within a year. Once it gets final city approvals for minor plan amendments and rezoning changes, the entire redevelopment should be completed by 2009.
------------------------------------------
Does anyone have the new rendering for this site?
November 21, 2006)
By Lorianna De Giorgio
Town Crier Online
Link to Article
KEEPING FIRST IMPRESSIONS: The old hotel's distinctive entrance is being kept in the facilities new design.
Inn on the Park’s transformation from a rundown hotel into a multi-use facility is underway. That’s great news for Bryan Rowntree, president of Rowbry Holding Ltd. and owner of the landmark site.
While Rowntree purchased the site about two years ago, a series of delays had halted redevelopment. A positive public consultation meeting in September, in which the community gave its ap-proval of the site, finally gave him the green light.
"We don’t just sit on a property," Rowntree said during a recent tour of the complex on the northeast corner of Eglinton Ave. East and Leslie St. "We should be open by now."
A major delay in the site’s makeover came earlier this year, when the property’s oldest structure was torn down to make way for the first phase of the project: two car dealerships on the southwest corner of the site.
The Toronto Preservation Board objected to the demolition of the 1960s-era building, arguing it should be saved and designated a historical structure. The city ultimately sided with Rowntree and the building, which used to operate as the Four Seasons Hotel, was torn down in the spring.
"The historical group held us up for a long time," said Rowntree. "People who say (the building shouldn’t have been torn down) never really looked at the building.
"One third of the (hotel’s) rooms were uninhabitable."
Rowntree’s plan does, however, retain some original elements from Inn on the Park’s glory days.
The ballroom, restaurant and several boardrooms are being restored, allowing Rowntree’s car dealership company to get into the boardroom and restaurant business.
On top of that, the 22-storey tower will be renovated and turned into a seniors residence, and high-end retail stores will eventually be built on the property.
Although there is some concern from the residents in neighbouring condominiums about the increase in traffic the new development might create, overall the community is supportive of the devel-opment, says Rowntree. He added that traffic won’t increase as much as it would have, had a new hotel been built there.
The plans are all part of an effort to bring life to the landmark site and introduce 300-plus jobs to the area, he explained during the tour.
"This is a site that sat empty for two years," Rowntree said. "Nobody could make it work as a hotel."
He predicts the first phase of the project will be up and running within a year. Once it gets final city approvals for minor plan amendments and rezoning changes, the entire redevelopment should be completed by 2009.
------------------------------------------
Does anyone have the new rendering for this site?
C
Citywriter
Guest
Doesn't that sound like a recipe for quality?
B
bizorky
Guest
^Just like matches and gasoline are a recipe for warmth.
A
adma
Guest
Under these circumstances, a phrase like "the historical group" betrays minimal-to-patronizing sympathy t/w *anything*, er, "historical" (read "hysterical")--token restaurant/ballroom "restoration" notwithstanding ("geez, I guess we got to appease them hysterical types somehow").
It'd almost be no different if he essentially kept the Inn on the Park, but stucco'd it all up a la French Quarter--same basic mentality. (Consistent with the other new condos on the site, I guess. Makes me wonder what's in store for the existing IOTP tower's senior's makeover...)
S
samsonyuen
Guest
And at the corner, the relocated Yonge-Lawrence Toyota dealership! Ooohh...
yyzer
Senior Member
Inn on the Park's new face
from corrieretandem.com....do we laugh, or cry?
New face of Inn on the Park
Showcase of Toyota, Lexus and seniors residence
By Lorianna De Giorgio
From a rundown hotel complex to a multi-use facility complete with two car dealerships, the site of the former Inn on the Park is in the midst of a complete overhaul.
On May 2, Bryan Rowntree, president and CEO of Rowntree Automotive, joined Yoichi Tomihara, president and CEO of Toyota Canada Inc., in the parking lot of 1100 Eglinton Ave. East to announce the site’s transformation into a multifunctional development, with Toyota on the Park and Lexus on the Park dealerships.
The development also calls for the renovation of the Inn on the Park’s grand ballroom, restaurant and banquet facilities, and the construction of more than 40,000 sq. ft. of high end retail space, including a spa and health club.
On top of that Rowntree, who has owned the Eglinton and Leslie St. site for two years, plans on transforming the existing 24-storey tower into a seniors residence with a new roof, windows and a common room at the top of the tower with 360-degree views of the city.
While a series of permits still need to be approved by the city in order for the entire plan to go through, Rowntree said he expects both the renovations and new construction to be completed by the end of the year.
The remodeling of the tower and the construction of the retail portion of the plan are set to begin next year, he said at the news conference.
“For the hundreds of people who live in the buildings just to the north of us, this is home,†Rowntree said. “And it’s a beautiful home... overlooking the Wilket Creek and Sunnybrook Park system.
“Our goal in designing this site was to evolve the design of the auto dealership into something that not only seamlessly integrates into this urban community ... but actually enhances the community.â€
Since Rowntree’s purchase, a series of delays had halted the redevelopment of the site.
A major delay came in early 2006 when the property’s oldest structure was torn down to make way for the first phase of the project.
The Toronto Preservation Board objected to the demolition of the 1960s-era building, arguing it should be saved and designated a historical structure. The city ultimately sided with Rowntree and the building, which used to operate as the Four Seasons Hotel, was torn down last spring.
Rowntree said at the news conference that in partnership with Toyota his company is building “a new hub for the local communityâ€, not just two dealerships.
Environmentally-friendly practices will be incorporated into the design of the new structures and the refurbishment of the existing ones, he said.
Existing buildings will be retrofitted to be brought up to environmentally-friendly building codes and standards, and energy efficient lighting and systems that minimize water use will be included on the site.
Additionally, Rowntree plans on incorporating materials from the old hotel, including the fieldstone, into his development plan, and planting a variety of trees and shrubs to maintain the “park-like†setting for which the famous site is remembered.
Publication Date: 2007-05-13
from corrieretandem.com....do we laugh, or cry?
New face of Inn on the Park
Showcase of Toyota, Lexus and seniors residence
By Lorianna De Giorgio
From a rundown hotel complex to a multi-use facility complete with two car dealerships, the site of the former Inn on the Park is in the midst of a complete overhaul.
On May 2, Bryan Rowntree, president and CEO of Rowntree Automotive, joined Yoichi Tomihara, president and CEO of Toyota Canada Inc., in the parking lot of 1100 Eglinton Ave. East to announce the site’s transformation into a multifunctional development, with Toyota on the Park and Lexus on the Park dealerships.
The development also calls for the renovation of the Inn on the Park’s grand ballroom, restaurant and banquet facilities, and the construction of more than 40,000 sq. ft. of high end retail space, including a spa and health club.
On top of that Rowntree, who has owned the Eglinton and Leslie St. site for two years, plans on transforming the existing 24-storey tower into a seniors residence with a new roof, windows and a common room at the top of the tower with 360-degree views of the city.
While a series of permits still need to be approved by the city in order for the entire plan to go through, Rowntree said he expects both the renovations and new construction to be completed by the end of the year.
The remodeling of the tower and the construction of the retail portion of the plan are set to begin next year, he said at the news conference.
“For the hundreds of people who live in the buildings just to the north of us, this is home,†Rowntree said. “And it’s a beautiful home... overlooking the Wilket Creek and Sunnybrook Park system.
“Our goal in designing this site was to evolve the design of the auto dealership into something that not only seamlessly integrates into this urban community ... but actually enhances the community.â€
Since Rowntree’s purchase, a series of delays had halted the redevelopment of the site.
A major delay came in early 2006 when the property’s oldest structure was torn down to make way for the first phase of the project.
The Toronto Preservation Board objected to the demolition of the 1960s-era building, arguing it should be saved and designated a historical structure. The city ultimately sided with Rowntree and the building, which used to operate as the Four Seasons Hotel, was torn down last spring.
Rowntree said at the news conference that in partnership with Toyota his company is building “a new hub for the local communityâ€, not just two dealerships.
Environmentally-friendly practices will be incorporated into the design of the new structures and the refurbishment of the existing ones, he said.
Existing buildings will be retrofitted to be brought up to environmentally-friendly building codes and standards, and energy efficient lighting and systems that minimize water use will be included on the site.
Additionally, Rowntree plans on incorporating materials from the old hotel, including the fieldstone, into his development plan, and planting a variety of trees and shrubs to maintain the “park-like†setting for which the famous site is remembered.
Publication Date: 2007-05-13
mysteryman
Active Member
I just want to throw up
adma
Superstar
What's the remodelled tower gonna look like?
billonlogan
Active Member
This corner is screaming for some kind of landmark building. A dealership and reno'd seniors building just does'nt do it for me.
elook
New Member
I can't wait to see how they accomplish this. Between that and the whole notion of designing and building an environmentally conscious car dealership, of all things...
On the bright side, I can only imagine that the seniors will be clambouring to move into a new apartment that's within walking distance of nothing except a place to buy a new Toyota.
They could take the Toyotas on test drives to Loblaws.
42
42
JasonParis
Moderator
The writer could have provided a year and an architectural style, but that may have involved some research on her part.
samsonyuen
Active Member
The Toyota is a replacement of Yonge-Lawrence Toyota, which is disgustingly old and cramped. They have a picture of it in the dealership. Looks nice, and glassy.