Midtown Urbanist
Superstar
This should be tweeted at the TorStar.
Toronto Ontario Place | ?m | ?s | Infrastructure ON
- Thread starter vistaway
- Start date
Torontovibe
Senior Member
If Ford valued the spectacular architecture of Ontario Place, he would have clearly stated that the pods and Cinesphere were being protected so people would have one less thing to worry about but he intentionally made it clear, that they could go! That speaks quite clearly to me, Doug is saying I'm boss and I will do as I please!
Screw the people!
I do not trust this guy at all and I'm very worried!
He has no ethics or scruples, only self-interest, just like his role model down south!
adma
Superstar
It's not that it was removed from any list; it's just that the site in question was removed, so that Nosy Nellies can't find it and invoke "heritage". But of course, those bozos don't know that such things are archived...
MetroMan
Senior Member
Over my dead body. You can write this in stone: I will absolutely chain myself to the Cinesphere before I let Doug Ford demolish such an iconic piece of Toronto. Not happening!
adma
Superstar
I can sort of understand DoFo's logic here, though. Remember: he's a sports dude. And in the sports and entertainment world, as we all know, venues have "life spans". After a generation or so, they become "dated". That's why Skydome is a dinosaur at 30. That's why we see so many stadiums and arenas imploded once their two or three or four decades are up. To cling to them for nostalgia's sake is, to the mentalities in charge, unthinkable (other than a few Wrigley Field-type cases).
He's viewing Ontario Place through such sports-and-entertainment utilitarian eyes. And to him, it's a pushing-50 dysfunctional old crock. Sports venues renew themselves. Malls renew themselves, sometimes through big box rebuilds. Why not Ontario Place? Why must we cling to the pods just because of a few hysterical preservationists? It's had its day; time to move on. For The People!
The *big* key to that being the operating mindset: that the element many consider to be the beginning of the ruination of Ontario Place (the Forum-replacing Bud Stage) is being left alone. To them, *that* is the extant element that is most successful and, I guess, "world class"--heck, I know it's a licensing/lease thing, but they're even prioritizing it over Trillium Park...
He's viewing Ontario Place through such sports-and-entertainment utilitarian eyes. And to him, it's a pushing-50 dysfunctional old crock. Sports venues renew themselves. Malls renew themselves, sometimes through big box rebuilds. Why not Ontario Place? Why must we cling to the pods just because of a few hysterical preservationists? It's had its day; time to move on. For The People!
The *big* key to that being the operating mindset: that the element many consider to be the beginning of the ruination of Ontario Place (the Forum-replacing Bud Stage) is being left alone. To them, *that* is the extant element that is most successful and, I guess, "world class"--heck, I know it's a licensing/lease thing, but they're even prioritizing it over Trillium Park...
christiesplits
Senior Member
Below are the email addresses for the Ontario Place redevelopment, the Infrastructure Ontario CEO, and most of Ford’s caucus.
Demand they save the Cinesphere and pods!
Demand they save the Cinesphere and pods!
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MetroMan
Senior Member
We have to go to where the money is. We have to make it absolutely clear to developers who are bidding that if they propose tearing down the Cinesphere and the pods, they will be picking a fight with Toronto that they’re not going to win. They’re going to come out of this with the public relations equivalent of a broken nose.
adma
Superstar
*And*, remind them of what's being hidden from them (i.e. the removed heritage statement page).
Remember: it's like hiding an environmental report so as to expedite the "efficient" redevelopment of unremediated brownfields: hello, Love Canal, etc...
adma
Superstar
Or, like withholding/hiding building inspection reports prior to selling a property. So--surprise! Structurally unsound, etc. You just got scammed into buying a lemon (even if heritage reports are the ironic inverse of "lemon" judgment)
Hey, they probably knew that contesting a heritage report for Ontario Place wouldn't stand up in, shall we say, "heritage court". So...hide it under the table. La la la, if you don't see it, it doesn't exist--right?
(And I guess ultimately, if you're cornered, just admit up front that it was a "political decision". And invoke the notwithstanding clause in order to override heritage status. You know how it all goes.)
Hey, they probably knew that contesting a heritage report for Ontario Place wouldn't stand up in, shall we say, "heritage court". So...hide it under the table. La la la, if you don't see it, it doesn't exist--right?
(And I guess ultimately, if you're cornered, just admit up front that it was a "political decision". And invoke the notwithstanding clause in order to override heritage status. You know how it all goes.)
W. K. Lis
Superstar
The City of Toronto should delegate and reveal a historical plaque commemorating Ontario Place,
Similar to the Sunnyside Amusement Park plaque. See link.
We'll know the current Ontario government wouldn't. (sad)
From link.
Similar to the Sunnyside Amusement Park plaque. See link.
We'll know the current Ontario government wouldn't. (sad)
From link.
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LostAlbertan
New Member
According to the posting on proposal requirements, the Bud Stage is being left off as it is already subject to a long-term lease.
https://www.ontario.ca/page/ontario-place: "Proposals for development of the land where the Budweiser Stage is situated will not be considered as it is subject to an existing lease."
LostAlbertan
New Member
Also, is anyone writing IO in advance to express their views?:
"In the lead up to the release of the Expression of Interest, there is an opportunity to submit ideas that will help government realize their vision for Ontario Place. If you are interested in sharing your idea in advance of the release of the Expression of Interest, please contact Infrastructure Ontario by e-mail at OntarioPlaceDevelopment@infrastructureontario.ca for information on the rules and process for submission of your idea."
"In the lead up to the release of the Expression of Interest, there is an opportunity to submit ideas that will help government realize their vision for Ontario Place. If you are interested in sharing your idea in advance of the release of the Expression of Interest, please contact Infrastructure Ontario by e-mail at OntarioPlaceDevelopment@infrastructureontario.ca for information on the rules and process for submission of your idea."
Irishmonk
Senior Member
The city could really use a Jane Jacobs figure right now.
ADRM
Senior Member
IO operates entirely at the behest of the government of the day -- it's PC MPPs who need to feel public pressure here (and even at that, because they don't have a single downtown Toronto member, I'm skeptical any of them will give even half a shit).
Towered
Superstar
Are you kidding? If Doug Ford had been premier back then he'd have ignored her and we would have a ghastly trench disfiguring the Annex, Kensington and Chinatown today.
Also, Streetcars For Toronto would also have been a failure.