adma
Superstar
And the irony is that you can blame the subway ROW for said parks--but if earlier patterns pertained, said subway might have *enabled* air-rights-style high-rise growth...
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And the irony is that you can blame the subway ROW for said parks--but if earlier patterns pertained, said subway might have *enabled* air-rights-style high-rise growth...
Torontovibe
Senior Member
The Rio was a cool place. For 1 price, you could watch 4 movies until 4am. I loved that place when I was a young punk. (lots of kung fu lol) Young St. had lots of fun nightclubs too. Back in the 70's and 80's it was Toronto's Entertainment District.
dt_toronto_geek
Superstar
The Biltmore also played "4 Big Hits" from 10am - 4am and I liked it there a bit more as I remember it being cleaner plus it had a balcony. It was the same kind of programming as the Rio, often a soft core porn, a couple of good action films and a Kung Fu, shockumentary or horror film. A projectionist friend told me way back when to avoid the Rio because mold was growing on the walls inside the auditorium which is why they never turned on the lights! I can't confirm that though!
Yonge Street truly was the Entertainment District back then with all of the bars, cinemas, gridlocked traffic every weekend with people cruising in cars... ah those were the days. But trying to find something to eat on Yonge Street back then after 11pm was nearly impossible. All that comes to mind was Fran's on College at Yonge which was open until later and then Toby's & Big Slice by the mid-80's.
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Torontovibe
Senior Member
I think clubs and bars like The Colonial Tavern and The Brown Derby served food but I just started to go to bars around the time they closed. I remember the Brown Derby was quite a happening and crazy place. (Well, for a young kid, it was quite exciting) Yonge Street had it's fair share of junk food places and Mr. Submarine, as I recall.
Yeah, Yonge Street used to be full of loud people, cruising around in there cars, screaming out to pedestrians who were walking along Yonge Street. Nobody does that now. lol It was kinda crazy but it was fun! It was all about cruising chicks back then and having a laugh.
Yeah, Yonge Street used to be full of loud people, cruising around in there cars, screaming out to pedestrians who were walking along Yonge Street. Nobody does that now. lol It was kinda crazy but it was fun! It was all about cruising chicks back then and having a laugh.
TonyV
Senior Member
Precisely the basis of my viewpoint on Yonge St but let's go further.
Frankly I am very thankful to see this post. In the middle of last week, I took a walk from Bloor, down the east side of Yonge to Carlton. At that time, coincidentally, I was thinking about starting up a post (so thanks, dt_toronto_geek, for starting this post).
I saw lots of great changes in the distance in terms of the variety of new buildings going up between Yonge and Bay, giving a new skyline, looking like a big city, at last. But Yonge now needs some attention as only the city administration can sponsor. There is no reason at all not to close Yonge down to two lanes of traffic (one north, one south, no stopping) and widening the sidewalks. There is no reason at all not to put good-looking planters and amenities along widened sidewalks. We need attractive lighting and a minimum of homely newspaper boxes. In short, something with a designer quality -- not something thrown together by engineers such as the 70's Yonge St. Mall.
But the damage from Eaton Centre sucking up all the people off the street? You will have to wait until E.C. goes out of style before the damage is reversed. There are enormous design flaws in E.C. --- its impact need not have been so drastically bad on the street environment.
It is political doggie-do for any City Hall types to get into this – there is baggage there. They're all chickenshit in City Hall. This is really why you don't see Miller and his bunch championing any fresh approach to Yonge St.
I wonder – would anyone score political points in an election by saying “I’d like to beautify Yonge Street?
scarberiankhatru
Senior Member
I'd hate to see Yonge with wider sidewalks that stymie human interaction - that's what Bay is for. The exception would be if bars and clubs and restaurants (other than take-out falafel places or fast food) returned to Yonge, in which case sidewalks wide enough for patios would be nice (a lane of traffic on each side would do it).
Whoaccio
Senior Member
I hear LRT will make Yonge street beautiful. 
androiduk
Senior Member
I have noticed a few positive changes happening on Yonge lately. Yonge between Bloor & Isabella (noodle alley) is a very lively stretch, day and night, thanks to the many cheap Asian restaurants. I see a lot of 2nd floor renos taking place to update the apartments. The building at Yonge & Irwin converted all the 2nd floor commercial to residential and is currently building a sizeable addition on to the back of the building. One block south is the decent looking proposed development at 606 Yonge which will include restoring the Yonge facades. I think I saw a for sale sign on the old Gasworks building at Dundonald. Be nice to see that building cleaned up. Down at Yonge & Gerrard we're waiting of course for Aura, which will have a positive effect on that intersection. A few blocks south of that is the new Ryerson complex. And a few blocks more south is the recent restoration next to the Hard Rock. This will be a microbrewery. Hoarding just went up a few doors down from that, so hopefully another restoration. At Yonge and Temperance, the Arcade Mall was recently gutted and renovated and across the street future development is in the works to add to BAC. And finally, at Yonge and Front is the reno of the Sony Centre and the I condo. There is actually quite a lot of activity, especially considering we are in a recession. If you looking at all the developments and think of what type of people it will attract, things are definitely looking up. Lots of new residents and some decent independent retail. I feel more optimistic about the future of Yonge St. now than I've felt in a long time.
deerparker
Active Member
I noticed scaffolding on the noodle restaurant at the corner of Yonge and Wellesley -- perhaps a much-needed restoration is about to begin? Would be a nice compliment to some of the other restored/renovated storefronts nearby like Cat's Cradle, Eliot's Books and Northbound Leather.
egotrippin
Senior Member
I can't remember the name, but I noticed some renovations taking place on the building beside Popeyes, just south of Dundas. The sign said a micro brewery/brewpub type place will be going in. Does anyone have any more information about it? I'm really excited, it's just the sort of place this area could use (something unique and non-homogeneous).
renvel
Active Member
Subsidy
Some sort of subsidy from City Hall or BIA in order to retain the worthwhile establishments , that would not afford to stay on the street after gentrification can help too...
Some sort of subsidy from City Hall or BIA in order to retain the worthwhile establishments , that would not afford to stay on the street after gentrification can help too...
jaycola
Active Member
Commercial rents along Yonge Street are very high. Those little storefronts (13-15 feet wide) rent for about $4000-$5000 per month or around $40-$50 per square foot per year.
It is tough for the little guy to start a new business along Yonge with rents so high. I don't know what can be done about that. If the demand is there, the landlords can command whatever rent the market can tolerate, but it does limit the variety of business we see along the Yonge Strip.
I think maintaining the little storefront shop is essential to keeping Yonge Street interesting but adding density above the shops would be disirable as well. Adding third and fourth floor units above the two story shops could be encouraged and whole blocks could be developed with shared ownership of the project by individual landowners.
It is tough for the little guy to start a new business along Yonge with rents so high. I don't know what can be done about that. If the demand is there, the landlords can command whatever rent the market can tolerate, but it does limit the variety of business we see along the Yonge Strip.
I think maintaining the little storefront shop is essential to keeping Yonge Street interesting but adding density above the shops would be disirable as well. Adding third and fourth floor units above the two story shops could be encouraged and whole blocks could be developed with shared ownership of the project by individual landowners.
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androiduk
Senior Member
dt_toronto_geek
Superstar
Just wanted to add some visuals to my previous post.
Great photos androiduk.
Although it's not seen here, the north-west corner of Yonge & Wellelsey in front of "Not Just Noodles" is the tightest corner on Yonge Street when waiting for a light to change. The angle of the sidewalk needs to be extended out about a foot and/or the light standard & controller moved a few feet further west.
This building is in pretty good shape, I'm betting the signs are being changed or replaced, they're badly faded and barely readable.
Mustapha
Senior Member
But the wood bits look like they are ready to crumble at a touch.
Nice thread and comments here in this thread. For me, Yonge is still the place for a stroll to collect my thoughts.