dt_toronto_geek
Superstar
Back again for 2010
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Back again for 2010
spider
Senior Member
Adma,
This one;
This one;
SP!RE
°°°°°°
I think it's absolutely magical out there tonight... misty, very comfortable temperature if you're dressed properly, and the beautiful lighting. Feels like more people than usual are out walking about, and I've seen more families than on a normal Friday night exploring Downtown Yonge with the kids, etc. It's quite nice 
adma
Superstar
Aw, jeez, thanx--I misread "SW" as "SE".
In which case...
http://www.tobuilt.ca/php/tobuildings_more.php?search_fd3=2498
Maybe the most sublime John Lyle branch bank in Toronto.
junctionist
Senior Member
It's a great piece in the rich treasure trove of stone-clad corner banks all around Toronto, many of which are Beaux Arts in style. John Lyle was a great architect.
buildup
Senior Member
Its a scandal how long it is taking to address the collapsed building on Gould. If the owner doesn't take some action the city shold expropriate the property. To have a lane of Yonge blocked off like this is a disgrace.
dt_toronto_geek
Superstar
Here-here! It's time to put a spark under the the City's Lawyers and get aggressive against absent slumlords like this.
DSC
Superstar
Member Bio
- Joined
- Jan 13, 2008
- Messages
- 18,972
- Reaction score
- 26,323
- Location
- St Lawrence Market Area
When a street or sidewalk is blocked off like this (for construction, danger or whatever) does the City charge "rent" to the person causing the blockage? If so can they collect it by putting a lien on the property?
adma
Superstar
Though Mayor Ford might opt to empower the slumlord by greenlighting the demolition...
renvel
Active Member
I hope ,that R. Ford will prove himself , at the very least ,as a man of ACTION, unlike the current City Hall people...
TonyV
Senior Member
http://www.thestar.com/business/article/1019454--bold-vision-sought-for-yonge-street?bn=1
Vanessa Lu
Business Reporter
A bold new plan is calling for a long overdue facelift for Yonge St.
The report, to be released Wednesday, proposes dramatic changes in the section between Dundas and Gerrard Sts., including widening sidewalks, reducing car traffic to two lanes, and making it pedestrian only for special festivals.
The Yonge Street Planning Framework, written by Ken Greenberg of Greenberg Consultants and Marianne McKenna of KPMB Architects, is a blueprint for turning around this tired area that includes historic buildings, a new 75-storey condo tower and Ryerson University.
It’s designed to improve the public space, make the area more welcoming for retailers and encourage small businesses, including high-tech ventures, to set up shop.
Owners have been reluctant to invest in building improvements, in part because they were unsure of the area’s future, said Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam. She pulled local residents, businesses and city officials to work together after January’s fire destroyed the Empress Hotel, saying Canada’s historic street needed a new vision.
Some ideas are obvious, such as encouraging cafes and restaurants at the ground level so patrons spill out to outdoor patios, creating a friendly neighbourhood. It also calls for more street vendors to draw people in. Small details such as garage-like doors or French doors can link the stores to the street in good weather.
But other suggestions break new ground, such as sending large-scale retail stores from ground-floor locations to upstairs or below-ground spots.
“Big box is welcome to Yonge but not at the street level,” said Wong-Tam. “The planning rationale we want to have as many doors at grade at possible. There is an appropriate place for large-format retail.”
The proposal calls for a better balance of retail including higher quality stores, though not necessarily high-end businesses. Wong-Tam argues there’s a place for dollar stores and strip clubs, but they can’t be the only businesses on Yonge St.
The report showcases innovative ideas like Montreal’s Rue Sainte Catherine, where pedestrians are ushered to events and venues through lighting on the pavement. New York City closed part of famed Broadway to cars, transforming the area for cyclists and pedestrians, with rocks, planters and some paint. The bistro tables and chairs are drawing locals and tourists alike.
Greenberg, co-author of the report, said this framework strikes a balance between preserving heritage buildings and balancing new development, including offices and condos such as the planned 75-storey Aura tower at the corner of Gerrard St. It calls for certain setbacks to ensure large towers don’t engulf Yonge St. and protects sunlight access to the low-rise heritage buildings.
“Yonge St. has gone through many changes as the city evolves. The downtown is more inhabited, and there’s so much potential here,” he said, adding residents suggested beautifying area laneways, creating green routes.
Similar changes are happening in cities across Canada including Montreal’s Sainte Catherine, Vancouver’s Granville St. and even Kitchener’s King St., he said.
“This is a great period for cities in which pedestrian life is being celebrated,” Greenberg said, noting that Yonge St. pedestrians outnumber drivers by more than two-to-one, and Yonge-Dundas square draws large crowds.
According to the city’s statistics in November 2006, 53,434 pedestrians were counted at Yonge and Dundas, compared with 22,038 drivers in an eight-hour period, long before the scramble intersection, which at times allows pedestrians to cross in any direction, was introduced.
Fewer drivers use Yonge St. as a main thoroughfare because of no-turning restrictions already in place at some intersections.
However, any move to restrict car traffic is likely to spark fireworks at Toronto city hall especially since Mayor Rob Ford campaigned on building a car-friendly city.
Wong-Tam argues the report is much more than just taking out traffic lanes.
“This began with a conversation on how we can bring economic prosperity to small- and medium-sized business,” she said, adding the pilot project will look for external funding for landscaping and changes. “It is a business-led initiative. It’s not just a conversation about whether to have road closures.”
City staff will bring their own recommendations based on this framework to community council likely in October, and then it would go to city council. Wong-Tam’s goal is to have a pilot project with temporary landscaping in place for next summer.
“It’s a smart idea of seeing at how it works,” said James Robinson, executive director of the Downtown Yonge Business Improvement Area, which helped finance the report.
Unlike an earlier effort for a pedestrian-only mall in the 1970s, this proposal will still allow for vehicle traffic, he said. As well, the plan will focus on how to ensure businesses can get their deliveries.
Sheldon Levy, president of Ryerson University, which is building its own $110 million Student Learning Centre on Yonge St., said he is pleased the busiest corner in Canada is finally being improved.
“The time has come. It’s too important location,” said Levy, adding he is confident the mayor and city council would see the value in these changes. “It does not mean we would take the eclectic or funky nature of the retail.”
Vanessa Lu
Business Reporter
A bold new plan is calling for a long overdue facelift for Yonge St.
The report, to be released Wednesday, proposes dramatic changes in the section between Dundas and Gerrard Sts., including widening sidewalks, reducing car traffic to two lanes, and making it pedestrian only for special festivals.
The Yonge Street Planning Framework, written by Ken Greenberg of Greenberg Consultants and Marianne McKenna of KPMB Architects, is a blueprint for turning around this tired area that includes historic buildings, a new 75-storey condo tower and Ryerson University.
It’s designed to improve the public space, make the area more welcoming for retailers and encourage small businesses, including high-tech ventures, to set up shop.
Owners have been reluctant to invest in building improvements, in part because they were unsure of the area’s future, said Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam. She pulled local residents, businesses and city officials to work together after January’s fire destroyed the Empress Hotel, saying Canada’s historic street needed a new vision.
Some ideas are obvious, such as encouraging cafes and restaurants at the ground level so patrons spill out to outdoor patios, creating a friendly neighbourhood. It also calls for more street vendors to draw people in. Small details such as garage-like doors or French doors can link the stores to the street in good weather.
But other suggestions break new ground, such as sending large-scale retail stores from ground-floor locations to upstairs or below-ground spots.
“Big box is welcome to Yonge but not at the street level,” said Wong-Tam. “The planning rationale we want to have as many doors at grade at possible. There is an appropriate place for large-format retail.”
The proposal calls for a better balance of retail including higher quality stores, though not necessarily high-end businesses. Wong-Tam argues there’s a place for dollar stores and strip clubs, but they can’t be the only businesses on Yonge St.
The report showcases innovative ideas like Montreal’s Rue Sainte Catherine, where pedestrians are ushered to events and venues through lighting on the pavement. New York City closed part of famed Broadway to cars, transforming the area for cyclists and pedestrians, with rocks, planters and some paint. The bistro tables and chairs are drawing locals and tourists alike.
Greenberg, co-author of the report, said this framework strikes a balance between preserving heritage buildings and balancing new development, including offices and condos such as the planned 75-storey Aura tower at the corner of Gerrard St. It calls for certain setbacks to ensure large towers don’t engulf Yonge St. and protects sunlight access to the low-rise heritage buildings.
“Yonge St. has gone through many changes as the city evolves. The downtown is more inhabited, and there’s so much potential here,” he said, adding residents suggested beautifying area laneways, creating green routes.
Similar changes are happening in cities across Canada including Montreal’s Sainte Catherine, Vancouver’s Granville St. and even Kitchener’s King St., he said.
“This is a great period for cities in which pedestrian life is being celebrated,” Greenberg said, noting that Yonge St. pedestrians outnumber drivers by more than two-to-one, and Yonge-Dundas square draws large crowds.
According to the city’s statistics in November 2006, 53,434 pedestrians were counted at Yonge and Dundas, compared with 22,038 drivers in an eight-hour period, long before the scramble intersection, which at times allows pedestrians to cross in any direction, was introduced.
Fewer drivers use Yonge St. as a main thoroughfare because of no-turning restrictions already in place at some intersections.
However, any move to restrict car traffic is likely to spark fireworks at Toronto city hall especially since Mayor Rob Ford campaigned on building a car-friendly city.
Wong-Tam argues the report is much more than just taking out traffic lanes.
“This began with a conversation on how we can bring economic prosperity to small- and medium-sized business,” she said, adding the pilot project will look for external funding for landscaping and changes. “It is a business-led initiative. It’s not just a conversation about whether to have road closures.”
City staff will bring their own recommendations based on this framework to community council likely in October, and then it would go to city council. Wong-Tam’s goal is to have a pilot project with temporary landscaping in place for next summer.
“It’s a smart idea of seeing at how it works,” said James Robinson, executive director of the Downtown Yonge Business Improvement Area, which helped finance the report.
Unlike an earlier effort for a pedestrian-only mall in the 1970s, this proposal will still allow for vehicle traffic, he said. As well, the plan will focus on how to ensure businesses can get their deliveries.
Sheldon Levy, president of Ryerson University, which is building its own $110 million Student Learning Centre on Yonge St., said he is pleased the busiest corner in Canada is finally being improved.
“The time has come. It’s too important location,” said Levy, adding he is confident the mayor and city council would see the value in these changes. “It does not mean we would take the eclectic or funky nature of the retail.”
taal
Senior Member
argg this things make me mad, though they're great. We typically see 10+ articles along these lines until anything get's built, so that probably puts this at least 5->10 years out. Maybe John street is at the 3-7 range now ...
snyberTO
New Member
I agree, Yonge needs some major urban design help, but it also needs a mix of new, old, seedy and clean. And I like the idea of a mix of big and small retailers - I would love to see a downtown Target above/below grade somewhere along this stretch...
taal
Senior Member
You know, I used to be in this camp, but I changed my mind recently ... this is the *core* of Toronto and is our face to the outside world. I love the grittiness of Yonge but the average tourist doesn't. Yonge should cater to tourists as silly as that sounds. I say blast away all those little slumy store (which I like and have character) from Bloor to Dundas and go high end ... not bloor but higher end. Maybe more of a Queen W, yes a little bit outdoor mallish ... that's fine ... hopefully it'll have some nice bits. If you check out the stores north of Bloor (a.k.a Bloor -> Lawerence ... very long stretch) it's for the most part very high end all the way (again not bloor) but there's a lot of character - tourists would love this.
I always thought it would be great to transplant some of the retail in the Bloor -> Lawrence to Bloor -> Dundas
snyberTO
New Member
I think the influence of more affluent people living in the neighborhood (particularly those from Aura, Five, etc) will naturally lead to fewer "super-low-end" stores - and hopefully allow for interesting independent shops (rather than a strip of dentists/dry-cleaners or chain mall stores)