Distillery District

[rdaner]

Stalls north on front?

Anyone have eyes on that proposed 99 year lease for the strip of land the distillery wanted up there? They were mentioning a diner or bike something or other?

Canary might get organized with whomever buys Aviary to do a full fledged market on Front, but I can’t see the Distillery expanding into space they can’t control.

Dream REIT is the developer for almost the whole area so they do have control.

 

[Tuscani01]

Dream REIT is the developer for almost the whole area so they do have control.

They have zero control over the public realm in the Canary District, as its city-owned. The reason why they have full control of the Distillery is because the entire space is privately owned.

 

[Natika33]

Transit is insane too. We were on bus 65 yesterday & it was so packed leaving Castle Frank that no one else could get on until the Distillery where everyone got off except us (we were going skating at Sherbourne Common).

Regardless of who owns the Distillery District, I'm not sure why surrounding areas can't capitalize on the buzz to make their own complementary events that would have the added bonus of spreading out the crowds. For example, it would be lovely if there could be an illuminated walk with some stalls along David Crombie park. In turn, that could meet up with the other smaller market they started at St Lawrence Market this year (which should stay open later than 5pm during the December season).

And I'm sure the Canary District could add stuff too. Multiple connected nodes would be really nice.

 

[rdaner]

They have zero control over the public realm in the Canary District, as its city-owned. The reason why they have full control of the Distillery is because the entire space is privately owned.

Dream actually does have control over about 4m in front of each store as it is part of the building. Designed to be very festival/stall/event friendly.

 

[Tuscani01]

Dream actually does have control over about 4m in front of each store as it is part of the building. Designed to be very festival/stall/event friendly.

I only see a 4m setback at one of the buildings. The one with Canary Market. It’s under 2m for the building with SukhoThai, and even less for the George Brown building.

They did have a market this past summer in the space, but it was temporary and completely in the public ROW.

 

[xmyth_]

I think the one thing everyone keeps forgetting is the fact the Distillery is a picturesque restoration of a 180yo Victorian style factory complex. You really can’t extend that

 

[slicecom]

I think the one thing everyone keeps forgetting is the fact the Distillery is a picturesque restoration of a 180yo Victorian style factory complex. You really can’t extend that

And they sure aren't helped by that ugly pink thing under construction just north of it. That said, there are still the two heritage buildings to the north of Mill St, and the whole parking lot to the south that can be Distillery Districtized.

 

[rdaner]

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[rdaner]

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[xmyth_]

If and when they got rid of of the sculpture/art piece here, I wonder how much they would consider the annual Christmas tree. Would they leave it where it was for the best view on Trinity? Would they back it up further?

 

[Towered]

I like that piece. I wish they would have kept the monster.

 

[Tyrang]

I miss that building too. Would have been awesome if they managed to repurpose it

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I also haaaaaaate how we’ve managed to go 20yrs and go completely backwards with this.

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The deal was that the city did the land swap with the people who built the data centre, and the Green P we’d been operating was to be turned into a parkette. BUT, I remember writing when Pam McConnell was in office- and they explained that they were renting it to the dealership to raise funds for the First Parliament site.

Sooooo, that turned out well didn’t it? They should be taking it back, making it a garden, or a stopping zone, or a dog park- don’t care. Anything would be more useful to the neighbourhood than car storage.

I was wondering about this and thanks for this post from before.

I was actually going to look at some cars, then I got annoyed because of the dealership being there. I wouldn't mind going further to car dealerships, it is not something you visit often even for service. This is prime real estate, especially with those beautiful abandoned buildings and the incoming Line 5.

With the increased density, and the tourist attraction in Distillery district, we really shouldn't have dealerships here. A park would be good, an extended part of Distillery would be even better. The dealerships actually is a walking obstacles mentally.

What would be the mechanism to get the land back? Another land swap so we can give them land just outside of downtown?

 

[Tyrang]

The bigger issue is going to be whether the distillery changes to cater to residents or continues as a full on tourist attraction. Until that subway shows up in 10-20 metrolinx years, every surface lot around us is going to densify with new residents, and it won’t get any easier to drive here. Folks who live here are going to keep the place a float from January-April, so what will happen?

Instead of putting an attraction in Case Goods, they brought in a long term lease for Boreal College. Instead of basic retail, or keeping the rental space for the fermenting cellar, they put in Illuminarium. I’m also a bit fascinated by the Eataly pop-up supplanting GotStyle, cuz it’s as close to grocery as residents have gotten since Fresh ‘n’ Wild. Curious if there’s long term roots being planted there.

Ground level businesses for Cherry House and Goode will be an interesting sign of things to come we getting fancy tapas and coffee or a dry cleaners and pharmacy?

After my recent trips to Altanta's Ponce City and Krog Street Market, I now truly believe you can have a space for both tourists and locals. I encourage you to take a look, these two revived areas were hyped by urbanists even tho Atlanta as a city is not really a urbanist city.

I saw a space where both residents, locals, and tourists spent their time in. Having retails that serve locals do not distract from having retails that serve tourists. More locals traffic actually helps create a sense of authenticity and creates a really good, lively vibe.

 

[xmyth_]

District Pizza getting rid of their dine in seating and going online orders only, aaand Jardin closing down.

Jardin was just a bad concept from day one, But DP being cheap and accessible food with seating seemed like a winner.

I know the Distillery people were trying to get land north of Mill on a 99yr lease with the possibility of a Diner- so like, do it here. Pizza, poutine, sandwiches. Hell, make it cafeteria.

 

[PL1]

District Pizza getting rid of their dine in seating and going online orders only, aaand Jardin closing down.

Jardin was just a bad concept from day one, But DP being cheap and accessible food with seating seemed like a winner.

I know the Distillery people were trying to get land north of Mill on a 99yr lease with the possibility of a Diner- so like, do it here. Pizza, poutine, sandwiches. Hell, make it cafeteria. View attachment 639416View attachment 639417

Jardin tried, but was at best mediocre. I've been a couple of times as my mother lives in the building above.