Lost Toronto

[adma]

Spadina Avenue and (former) Knox College Not posted.
(Bank or post office is still around.)

No it isn't. It's where the c1960-looking CIBC is today.

Yonge Street Dock. No date.
(Gone. The Toronto Board of Trade Building, the red building near the centre of the image; the unknown beige-coloured building to its right; and those amazing warf-side warehouses are very sorely missed. What a shame.)

The "unknown beige-coloured building" is still around: it's the Traders Bank Building of 1905-6, by some subjective definitions the "first skyscraper" in Toronto, it was certainly the first true high-rise Beaux-Arts elevator-driven office building. (Within a decade, it was overshadowed by its King/Yonge neighbours; this rare early shot shows it as dominatingly "modern" as the TD tower was in 1967, in a manner of speaking.)

 

[condovo]

The "unknown beige-coloured building" is still around: it's the Traders Bank Building of 1905-6, by some subjective definitions the "first skyscraper" in Toronto, it was certainly the first true high-rise Beaux-Arts elevator-driven office building. (Within a decade, it was overshadowed by its King/Yonge neighbours; this rare early shot shows it as dominatingly "modern" as the TD tower was in 1967, in a manner of speaking.)

No, I'm talking about the building just to the right of the Traders Bank Building, where the Gooderham flat-iron and adjacent buildings (now destroyed) ought to be. Perhaps that's what it is but coloured incorrectly for the postcard. Oh, and thanks for the correction about the bank.

 

[Urban Shocker]

That's the King Eddy, surely?

 

[condovo]

Very interesting collection, condovo. I'm not sure what the biggest tragedy was for Toronto but for me the loss of King West as Toronto's grand street is up there.

...along with most of Toronto St, the Eighth Post Office at its terminus on Adelaide, and the Toronto Board of Trade Building at Yonge and Front. But I do think the losses in the King and Bay area represent this city's greatest heritage tragedy. Afterall, to take Paris as an example, I.M. Pei's pyramid was built next to the Louvre, not in place of it. Perhaps, one day, we'll be able to pull a 'Dresden' and re-construct some of these gems. But first we'll have to wait until 'de-construct' falls out of vogue with the chattering classes.

 

[ganjavih]

Here are some more of my favourite "Lost Toronto" images:

Toronto Street

Board of Trade Building

Toronto Star Building

Queen and Bay

Old Union Station

Trinity College

Jarvis St

Yonge and King

Bay St

Bay St again...

Yonge St

Yonge St again...

Aerial views

Toronto Police

 

[condovo]

If the Dresden Frauenkirche can be rebuilt, so can the Toronto Board of Trade Building.

 

[Jayomatic]

Its a shame that building between the Hockey Hall of Fame and BCE Place is no longer there. It really was quite a beauty. Shame its been replaced by a walkway and parking garage entrance.

What always amazes me is how busy the streets are in every photograph.

 

[adma]

But always, remember the qualifier, the same one that goes for the Board of Trade: it was replaced by a parking lot, which was in its turn replaced some time later by said walkway and garage entrance. BCE's no villain in this; circa 1960 attitudes t/w "Victorian" buildings were. Next to spanking new O'Keefe, they really *did* seem like cruddy and useless old hulks--at least to the pompous grandaddies of vultur/investor...

 

[urbandreamer]

Toronto is a funny city: it tries to be like NYC yet as these photos demonstrate: Toronto looked more like NYC in 1925 than it does in 2007!

Yes, as an Urbandreamer, I too fantasize about pulling a Dresden. If we can't rebuild these Victorian fantasies within Toronto, how about a cheaper but still retain the facade version in a newurbanistic town yet to be built---north of Georgetown in 2050-2080?

It's shocking that within my parents lifetime Toronto destroyed so much of its heritage. My father hates Toronto now--the destruction of buildings he remembers as late as 1970 sickens him. Even today, buildings are coming down for crappy replacements.

Victorians may be dissed for being uptight WASPS but they sure knew how to build a city!

 

[egotrippin]

Only if you're nostalgic for The Ward, a slum that was replaced by New City Hall, or believe that we'd be better off without one of the best group of buildings ( the TD Centre ) by one of the great architects, I suppose.

With the exception of the Registry Building, sure New City Hall didn't replace anything noteworthy. However, I'd much rather have a Montreal-esque preserved financial district, particularly the buildings along King by Yonge to Bay. Some of Toronto's finest blocks were razed, and I'm sure at the very least they could've incorporated more elements of the original buildings during the construction/destruction of the 60s/70s. Especially the TD Bank building at the corner of King/Bay, or the Old Star Building.

And yes, say what you might, I've never been amazed by the TD Centre. It's too cold and sterile, and while I don't mind it overall, it doesn't impress me as much as "it should". I'd much rather have the block of buildings it destroyed still intact.

 

[Towered]

I'm surprised that nobody has mentioned the grand Government House of Ontario, which was located in Chorley Park in Rosedale:

More info here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_House_(Ontario)
http://www.archives.gov.on.ca/english/exhibits/architecture/record_chorley.htm

 

[junctionist]

With the exception of the Registry Building, sure New City Hall didn't replace anything noteworthy. However, I'd much rather have a Montreal-esque preserved financial district, particularly the buildings along King by Yonge to Bay. Some of Toronto's finest blocks were razed, and I'm sure at the very least they could've incorporated more elements of the original buildings during the construction/destruction of the 60s/70s. Especially the TD Bank building at the corner of King/Bay, or the Old Star Building.

And yes, say what you might, I've never been amazed by the TD Centre. It's too cold and sterile, and while I don't mind it overall, it doesn't impress me as much as "it should". I'd much rather have the block of buildings it destroyed still intact.

Especially at night, I think it looks terrific:


It is a shame that the towers couldn't have been built elsewhere, but the TD Centre is an excellent architectural centre. Look at the warmth in the orange/brown materials. The provincial flags are there for the national significance, visible not only to those inside. There a nice human touch.

A good first rebuild would be Walnut Hall, because no building has replaced it yet to the best of my knowledge.

I suppose people like One King West because it didn't involve demolishing the wonderfully opulent Dominion Bank Building. At least the Trinity College's new building topped their old one.

 

[TKTKTK]

Victorians may be dissed for being uptight WASPS but they sure knew how to build a city!

Perhaps, but then the Victorians wouldn't have thought twice about tearing down much of what we consider irreplaceable heritage.

 

[TKTKTK]

With suits to match every shade of yellow-belly? (North-West corner of Yonge & Dundas, 1950)

 

[adma]

At least the Trinity College's new building topped their old one.

Not necessarily--though it's not necessarily worse, either. And being at a whole new location means it doesn't quite count...