Toronto Maple Leaf Square | 185.92m | 54s | Lanterra | KPMB

[Translude15]

PE, I fully agree with you on the premise that the newly developed Bremner WILL be inherently bad and deserted during its early stages. Probably should have made that clear before. And yes, the dullness of the area will be directly related to the lack of a commercialistic atmosphere.

However, your claims that people simply flock to an area such as Yorkville to be regarded as "hip" and "cool", for say, is debatable. Your first posting seemed to give the notion that people hang around the area as if to yearn for some sort of elevated social status, when fact of the matter is, they are merely there because the overly commercialized area offers a multitude of things to do; primarily within the capitalist 'art' of spending money. Just like the couple in Oakville will go to the big box movie theatre on a weeknight, the couple at Yonge and Bloor will hit up Yorkville. There's no subconscious desire for high profile social interaction, but rather a need for entertainment/satiety options. Evidently, such an expansive commercial strip like Yorkville offers such options to a wide range of people from different ends of the financial spectrum.

 

[Tewder]

... and isn't it possible that Bremner will just make for an agreable downtown nabe? I mean, not a lot of people trudge out to Roncesvalles or many other city neighbourhoods either but it doesn't mean they aren't 'successful' in their own ways. Yorkville is a bit of an exception, surely.

The Bremner area will have dense residential, office commercial, tourist attractions (in ACC/Rogers etc), shops (again, of the neighbourhood-type ones and not necessarily fancy Queen West/Yorkville ones), restaurants and services eventually. With public transit this new central downtown area will probably be just fine. I'd just like to see some better and more diverse architecture happening.

 

[Solaris]

September 30 2009 update

If everyone doesn't mind ... I would like to interrupt the discussions on the RE value potential of MLS + FDS with a photo update of this project (btw, pls take that to the real estate forum)

Looks like glass/spandrel installation is close to topping out in the north tower ... and balcony glass installation is roughly half way for both towers ~

 

[Torontovibe]

I was just reading that there is a tail gate party tonight (Thursday, Oct. 1st) from 4 to 7 pm, at Maple Leaf Square, for the Leaf's season opener. It could be interesting. They say there will be lots of stuff going on and even a few celebs. I guess that jumbotron screen will be put to good use.

 

[SP!RE]

I am leaving now to go down to that. The game is being broadcast on the big screen. It's gonna be sickkk. I finally have a reason to hang out in the Bremner "canyon".

 

[urbandreamer]

30 September 2009 photo update

^Personally, I think my view is "sickest" of all.

 

[TOareaFan]

Oct 7 the developers are taking us for an evelator ride to the top to check out the spectacular views. I will try and post a few pics

I was up there last week and posted a couple of pics from there (always have to be careful not to abuse the access by posting anything "privilaged").....the views are absolutely spectacular!

 

[grey]

Don't worry about it. Less "privileged" people have snuck up those towers and provided the views already

 

[Homer]

However, your claims that people simply flock to an area such as Yorkville to be regarded as "hip" and "cool", for say, is debatable. Your first posting seemed to give the notion that people hang around the area as if to yearn for some sort of elevated social status, when fact of the matter is, they are merely there because the overly commercialized area offers a multitude of things to do; primarily within the capitalist 'art' of spending money. Just like the couple in Oakville will go to the big box movie theatre on a weeknight, the couple at Yonge and Bloor will hit up Yorkville. There's no subconscious desire for high profile social interaction, but rather a need for entertainment/satiety options. Evidently, such an expansive commercial strip like Yorkville offers such options to a wide range of people from different ends of the financial spectrum.

You're kidding right!! So the groups of teens at mall in groups of 10 or so are there for a specific purpose? I would be surprised if even one of them bought anything. Of course people go to a place to be seen or in the case of older folk just to walk around but not actually do anything.

 

[Tuscani01]

However, your claims that people simply flock to an area such as Yorkville to be regarded as "hip" and "cool", for say, is debatable. Your first posting seemed to give the notion that people hang around the area as if to yearn for some sort of elevated social status, when fact of the matter is, they are merely there because the overly commercialized area offers a multitude of things to do; primarily within the capitalist 'art' of spending money. Just like the couple in Oakville will go to the big box movie theatre on a weeknight, the couple at Yonge and Bloor will hit up Yorkville. There's no subconscious desire for high profile social interaction, but rather a need for entertainment/satiety options. Evidently, such an expansive commercial strip like Yorkville offers such options to a wide range of people from different ends of the financial spectrum.

You're kidding right!! So the groups of teens at mall in groups of 10 or so are there for a specific purpose? I would be surprised if even one of them bought anything. Of course people go to a place to be seen or in the case of older folk just to walk around but not actually do anything.

You can't compare the actions of teens to the actions of grown adults. Teens see the mall as a place to get away from the parents. Its often the only place they can go to do this. Adults do not go to the mall to do the same thing teens do. They go there for a reason, and that reason is to shop. How often do you see a group of adults running around the mall, being loud and just trying to have fun? People are going to flock to MLS for shopping. People will flock to MLS for work. People will flock to MLS for entertainment. Over time, it will most likely turn into something more to people and we will see people going there just to be there.

 

[Homer]

You can't compare the actions of teens to the actions of grown adults. Teens see the mall as a place to get away from the parents. Its often the only place they can go to do this. Adults do not go to the mall to do the same thing teens do. They go there for a reason, and that reason is to shop. How often do you see a group of adults running around the mall, being loud and just trying to have fun? People are going to flock to MLS for shopping. People will flock to MLS for work. People will flock to MLS for entertainment. Over time, it will most likely turn into something more to people and we will see people going there just to be there.

Who's comparing adults and teens? I was using teens at a mall as an example of the point that people do go places just to be seen which you don't seem to think happens. You don't think adults do this???? You have never seen the ego driven males with the big SUV and the trophy wife (real or paid for) walking around Yorkville or sitting on the edge of a patio. They want to be seen period. The point is people of all kinds go places just because, you would need to talk to a sociologist to understand why but it definitely happens.

 

[TOareaFan]

Don't worry about it. Less "privileged" people have snuck up those towers and provided the views already

Just to be clear....I was not suggesting I was "privilaged" or that the views can't be shared (I already posted my weak attempts at photography).....I was just noting that not everything I took pictures of do I feel free posting as they belong to the people who took me up there (IMO) and if they want to share them with the world they can do so...but it is not my call (using that definition of privilage(d) )

 

[Torontovibe]

 

[Northern Magus]

This space is just awesome. I can't wait until the public square is completely finished and open. It'll be spectacular during Raptors and Leafs playoff games!

 

[yyzer]

Great pics, Torontovibe! turning into an interesting space....