Hume's view `bang on'
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Trio of ugly ducklings settled at water's edge. Feb. 21
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Christopher Hume's assessment of the three ugly sisters Queens Quay was bang on! We have a great city but the architecture that is present on Queens Quay, especially these condos. really detracts from what the waterfront could be.
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Matthew Patterson, Toronto
Embarassment
Whenever I drive by and see Harbourpoint I feel sad. It has such a commanding/visible location and is an embarrassment to this city. Hume's mention of dynamite is exciting.
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Lynda Kelly, Toronto
Dymanite site
Hume is brilliant in his analysis of the dismal state of Toronto's waterfront, thanks largely to the greed of developers and the clear lack of a unified vision of the waterfront from the city's planners.
I grew up in Regent Park and can assure you that some of the condominium buildings on the waterfront are much poorer in architectural interest.
In my opinion, Hume is too generous in his expression when he states "Harbourpoint should be dynamited."
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Roy Comrie, Toronto
Bad taste
Hume's assessment of the trio of ugly ducklings was right on the money.
This is a classic example of greed, bad taste and poor planning on the part of the people who had a hand in making this monstrosity happen.
If we want to become a world city and live up to our own ambitions we should do as Hume suggested and dynamite these three buildings. Toronto cannot afford these mistakes.
I would like to think that this type of development was in the past.
Love reading Hume's column — keep up the good work.
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Steve Hulford, Toronto
Accurate call
As usual, Hume has accurately criticized another architectural blunder and urban-planning fiasco in Toronto. I recall the outrage when Harbourpoint was first opened. The architects were practically run out of town.
The only saving grace to this sorry mess is that the buildings are on the north side of Queens Quay, where all Harbourfront condos should have gone.
The lake front at Queens Quay should never have been designated as private property. Look west of Spadina for inspiration. The short stretch of Queens Quay from Spadina almost to Bathurst is what Harbourfront could have been.
Let's pray that the same urban planners who delivered Harbourpoint don't get their hands on Queens Quay east of Yonge.
Sadly, the keynote central stretch Spadina to Yonge has been lost — unless we can heed Hume's advice to dynamite these projects. Be sure to include the towers walling off the island ferry terminal.
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Paul Green, Toronto