News   Nov 12, 2024
 85     0 
News   Nov 12, 2024
 233     0 
News   Nov 11, 2024
 617     1 

Ryerson: Master Plan

I'm not suggesting that, just that I don't think it is the most ideal move for Ryerson or for the commercial strip on Yonge. I think it would be better for Ryerson to expand east and develop Church as its main city face, leaving Yonge street for some potential big retailers to move in (granted, not necessarily going to happen tomorrow, but hopefully eventually) so that there are increasingly more large retail anchors to build a healthy commercial strip from Dundas up to Bloor.

Doesn't the fact that there will be new retail at the bottom of a new building on Yonge Street pave the way, sooner rather than later, for "potential big retailers to move in' on Yonge? And how does this building prevent "more large retail anchors" from opening on Yonge?
 
I'm not suggesting that, just that I don't think it is the most ideal move for Ryerson or for the commercial strip on Yonge. I think it would be better for Ryerson to expand east and develop Church as its main city face, leaving Yonge street for some potential big retailers to move in (granted, not necessarily going to happen tomorrow, but hopefully eventually) so that there are increasingly more large retail anchors to build a healthy commercial strip from Dundas up to Bloor.


I really believe that you're thinking too rigidly. Great streets always have more than just retail on them. People do more with their lives than just shop. Besides we're talking about one block, not a vast expanse of street.
 
re: Tewder's post (don't want to re-quote something that's been quoted many times already)

I wonder what "big retailer" would fit in that space? Are we talking big as in big in size (Walmart? Home Depot?) or big in terms of quality (Apple Store?). Nobody would support the former, in light of historic preservation and the presence of some healthy businesses on the east side of Yonge. I would support the latter, but I can't see how it can't coexist with a Ryerson presence on Yonge Street.
 
wylie:

I wonder what "big retailer" would fit in that space? Are we talking big as in big in size (Walmart? Home Depot?) or big in terms of quality (Apple Store?). Nobody would support the former, in light of historic preservation and the presence of some healthy businesses on the east side of Yonge. I would support the latter, but I can't see how it can't coexist with a Ryerson presence on Yonge Street.

Pure conjecture on my part, but I don't see how that can be overly difficult. Assuming that ground/second floor of the midblock is devoted mostly to retail space, the main vertical circulation elements for Ryerson can be 1) at the ends of the site (Gerrard/Gould); 2) small mid-block entrance the width of a storefront or two; 3) linkage with the existing podium level and 4) closing the existing laneway. The mentioned 4 as a potential possiblity at the meeting.

AoD
 
I really believe that you're thinking too rigidly. Great streets always have more than just retail on them. People do more with their lives than just shop. Besides we're talking about one block, not a vast expanse of street.

...of course they do, but on Yonge street between Queen and Bloor they largely shop, and eat, and drink, and spend money, and see nudies. What's wrong with that?
 
...of course they do, but on Yonge street between Queen and Bloor they largely shop, and eat, and drink, and spend money, and see nudies. What's wrong with that?


I'm not saying that there's anything wrong with that but what's wrong with mixing it up a bit. I think you're misreading what I said and I also think that your conception of things remains rigid. I hardly think that one block of university construction is going to make a huge difference to all that. However, the street is badly in need of an upgrade and has been for decades. I credit Ryerson with undertaking that task in this spot.

I think this will enrich the street. In Montreal, Concordia built its visual arts building right on Ste. Catherine Street. Now there are art students drinking coffee in the cafes and having dinner in dozens of surrounding restaurants. It's enlivened the scene considerably.

I think the problem is getting used to change. Ironically that's the one constant of cities- they change, and at an increasingly rapid pace. Change can be painful if it feels like a part of your own past is being wiped out. Our assumptions about our environment are constantly being shaken up by changes happening on the streets. I regard cities a bit like the natural environment- they are complex and they evolve. There's a complex ecology even at street level that changes in unforseen ways when new elements are added.
 
Doesn't the fact that there will be new retail at the bottom of a new building on Yonge Street pave the way, sooner rather than later, for "potential big retailers to move in' on Yonge?

Ground level retail would be better than nothing but I don't see that it 'paves the way' for large retailers. Do Crate & Barrel want a big Ryerson sign over their entrance? And just how large a retail space will there be without being able to add floors?

And how does this building prevent "more large retail anchors" from opening on Yonge?

... once the precedence is set what's to stop Ryerson from buying up other lots along Yonge?
 
Do Crate & Barrel want a big Ryerson sign over their entrance?

How is that any different than the business building? I think the fact that they want two floors of retail will make it fairly big.

In terms of the space itself, whatever is built will be more functional than Sam's and FS, which were terribly awkward.
 
Ground level retail would be better than nothing but I don't see that it 'paves the way' for large retailers. Do Crate & Barrel want a big Ryerson sign over their entrance? And just how large a retail space will there be without being able to add floors?

Large retailers are actually more likely to happen with Ryerson around, not less - considering the retail space provided will be modern (given the newness of the structure) without the headaches associated with land assembly. From Ryerson's perspective, it would also be desirable to have a retailer that is likely to stay around for a long time to reduce the risk.

... once the precedence is set what's to stop Ryerson from buying up other lots along Yonge?

Not very likely, considering the expense of land acquisition. Beyond that, Ryerson is not likely to be interested in Yonge street properties significantly north of Gerrard (and the retail for this stretch is already depressed) - and whatever retail south of Gerrard and north of Gould is of very little long-term value. I don't see them getting Zanzibar anytime soon though, considering the grandfathered clause.

AoD
 
Urbanvillage:

Yonge and Bloor Streets are Toronto's prime retail strips, and Yonge/Dundas is a prime nexus of this. Wasn't the whole point of TLS and the development of Yonge/Dundas Square to create an environment that would encourage and hopefully sustain a healthy critical mass of retail that would be able to revitalize a dying retail strip?
 
How is that any different than the business building? I think the fact that they want two floors of retail will make it fairly big.

In terms of the space itself, whatever is built will be more functional than Sam's and FS, which were terribly awkward.

Yikes, I can't type fast enough to respond to all these posts :)

Canarob: The type of international retail chain that would want a flagship presence on a revitalized strip like Yonge, or on Bloor for that matter would definately want multiple stories. If you look at some of the big retailers that have already moved in around the Yonge/Dundas area most of them have several stories in very large spaces. The rents are very expensive for a small boutique-type location, and the whole point after all is about exposure for the brand.
 
Not very likely, considering the expense of land acquisition. Beyond that, Ryerson is not likely to be interested in Yonge street properties significantly north of Gerrard (and the retail for this stretch is already depressed) - and whatever retail south of Gerrard and north of Gould is of very little long-term value. I don't see them getting Zanzibar anytime soon though, considering the grandfathered clause.

AoD

I hope so AoD. I know I'm sounding alarmist about this, but I hope you understand my concern.
 
The type of international retail chain that would want a flagship presence on a revitalized strip like Yonge, or on Bloor for that matter would definately want multiple stories.

The Ryerson plan envisions the first few stories to be housing retail functions - if you look at the current distribution of retail space, it doesn't usually go above 2 or 3 floors up. The basement levels are likely to be retail oriented as well.

AoD
 

Back
Top