Toronto IMMIX | 131.06m | 38s | QuadReal | a—A

[modernizt]

I still question the need to "preserve" bankrupt corporate brands.

The Sam The Record Man case is not about trying to preserve a brand; it's about preserving a piece of the collective memory of Toronto at a certain point in time.

Much better to have that on Dundas Square than the corporate logo of some other brand, no? (Many of which will eventually fade away and have never had the impact on Toronto that a brand like Sam The Record Man had.)

Re: this proposal. We need more weathering steel in Toronto architecture!

 

[Mongo]

... but the St. Charles was indeed famous, and vastly identifiable as a symbol of Toronto to many, gay and straight alike. It was well known even to suburbanites and Canadians further afield who'd never stepped foot in Toronto, much in the same way that 'San Fran' was, as an early symbol of 'gaydom', as little known and misunderstood as it was to mainstream society.

I am sure that the St. Charles Tavern was well-known in Toronto and to a lesser degree in the rest of the GTA, but nationally? Much less so (outside of the LGBT community). Growing up in NW Ontario in the 1970s, I had never heard of the St. Charles Tavern, but every time a CBC news story concerning Toronto came up, they would show file footage of the Sam the Record Man sign. I know that people here dislike using the term "iconic", but Sam the Record Man visually symbolized Toronto in the eyes of many people in the rest of Canada, and therefore its sign was indeed "iconic".

But this is all off-topic for this thread.

 

[NBGtect]

We need more weathering steel in Toronto architecture!

Yes, please! Less glass, more timeless materials.

 

[adma]

at the end of the day however it is still a corporate logo, which invalidates it to a certain extent. I still question the need to "preserve" bankrupt corporate brands.

So you'd wipe this stuff out because the product/company's no longer around?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_sign

 

[Benito]

The clock tower.

 

[dt_toronto_geek]

My friend James, a local activist & author, did an interview on CBC last Friday reflecting on the old St. Charles Tavern, and the clock tower. He noted my suggestion of a plaque! A five minute interview - http://www.cbc.ca/player/Radio/Local+Shows/Ontario/Metro+Morning/ID/2656233752/

 

[interchange42]

Just went through the Design Review Panel for the first time.

Vote was 2 to refine, 4 to redesign… with the stress that the panel really likes the design direction, the materials, etc., but they want more public space and smaller footprints, which they felt was too big a change to fall under "refine".

42

 

[AlbertC]

http://ward27news.ca/events/april-21-480-yonge-street-community-consultation

April 21 – 480 Yonge Street Community Consultation
Community Consultation

An application has been submitted to redevelop the site for a new mixed-use 45-storey (153 metre including mechanical penthouse) residential building including a 3-storey commercial base. The site currently contains a lsited heritage building at 480 Yonge Street and Old Fire Hall No.3, which includes a well-recognized clock tower (494 Yonge Street). There are a total of 423 residential units proposed, including 26 rental replacement units. The applicant is proposing four levels of below grade parking with 131 spaces. Access to the site is proposed from St. Luke Lane. A preliminary report, prepared by planning staff, can be seen here.

Area residents and stakeholders are invited to participate in this consultation to provide feedback on the application submitted.

Date: April 21, 2015

Time: 7:00pm

Location: YMCA – Auditorium, 20 Grosvenor Street

 

[ProjectEnd]

Just a reminder that the above is tonight.

 

[Hamiltonian]

Are there any renderings of the actual building? Or will that be revealed tonight...?

 

[ProjectEnd]

You do know about the dataBase, no?

 

[Hamiltonian]

Sorry, I meant to say the tower portion.

 

[interchange42]

The model:

42

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

I have trouble imagining that this would fit into the already loose 75 degree rule.

AoD

 

[Tulse]

Is the apparent small discontinuity in the vertical middle of the model an actual architectural feature, or is that just an artifact of the model (e.g., is the model in two physical pieces that are slightly misaligned)?

Either way, that seems like one bland building.