Toronto Paintbox | ?m | 26s | Daniels | Diamond Schmitt

[ChesterCopperpot]

Also bear in mind we’re only halfway through Phase 2 of the redevelopment – there’s 5 phases in total.

As has been mentioned – the new community centre is underway, the aquatic centre has been open over a year and there’s the large park which is undergoing completion. MLSE are putting sports facilities in place as part of Phase 3 IIRC as well.


There’s something called the “Toronto Birth Centre” going in to the ground floor of the TCHC building at 230 Sackville. It looks to be a private birth clinic.

I think it’s something to do with this - http://www.thestar.com/news/world/2...th_centre_to_open_in_toronto_next_summer.html

 

[ChesterCopperpot]

Speaking of the park - I was in One Park Place this week and took this

 

[junctionist]

The new buildings and the old standing side by side in the upper left hand corner of that photo look fantastic--like that's the way they're supposed to be in the new community. Are any of them supposed to be preserved and renovated?

 

[RiverCity1]

Great vantage point over the park. It's looking sharp!

The new buildings and the old standing side by side in the upper left hand corner of that photo look fantastic--like that's the way they're supposed to be in the new community. Are any of them supposed to be preserved and renovated?

I don't believe so. That area in the upper left (north west part of the redevelopment plan area) will be the last phase as they circle around; this part will then marry up with phase 1.

 

[rdaner]

Some pix of the this truly urban new park. Will be sensational when done.

Outlets for splash pad feature.

The surface of the terrace is moulded for water drainage.

And a pic of the newest building to go up on the reborn intersection of St. David Street and Sackville Street. Looking east.

 

[junctionist]

There's too much poured concrete in the park for the paving and planters. It already looks bad with stains all over the pavement, and it hasn't even lost that clean and attractive white look yet--it takes about 2 years for it to fade to that generic look it retains over its lifespan.

 

[CanadianNational]

From Dec 27th
Mere cellphone pics.

I wish the Dickinson buildings were up for a complete renovation. You gotta admit, they form a great entryway to the street here.

 

[ChesterCopperpot]

Update on 180 Sackville - you can see the shape of the building coming together nicely

 

[interchange42]

Thanks for those shots Chester.

180 Sackville will be an 11-storey building with 2 rows of 3-storey townhouses running to the west of it. There will be 78 rent geared to income units and 40 affordable rental units. The 78 RGI units are rental replacement units, while the 40 affordable units represent increased density.

Giannone Petricone are the designers.

 

[CanadianNational]

I think that one of each type of building from the 1950's should be retained.

There's the doubleplus (!) lowrises, the double 'Y' midrises that were slightly taller, the long strips of ground-level attached homes, and the Dickinson apartment buildings.
There are plenty of them being removed - so I can't imagine that to keep at least one of each would be some kind of terrible imposition. It would add texture and contrast to the buildings around them...and irreplaceable markers of valuable history. It's hard to imagine now in their decrepit state that they should be kept, but surely we've become sensitive enough to our own desire for a history and to the urban environment to know we shouldn't just be doing another tabula rasa.

I can't imagine that a gutting and refitting of each one would be a staggering cost, either. They could be used for multiple things - local businesses such as daycare, dentistry or law offices spring to mind. It would put some historical difference into what is shaping up to be a pristine zone of spotless engineering, and keep memory alive in it as well - and in an affectionate way.

First section plan drawing inserted into photo: Look! All that old stuff - gone! Icy, aloof, geometric precision! Now that's progress!

"It'll be a garden city!".
Original plan, designed for maximal monotony at the acme of alienation, via masterplan.
To spice things up, they added a 'several six storey buildings'. Oh, stop, it's too wild!

"You won't believe the deal we got by ordering dull russet brick by the megaton"
"I don't see many gardens, Frank".

 

[Lenser]

I think that one of each type of building from the 1950's should be retained.

There's the doubleplus (!) lowrises, the double 'Y' midrises that were slightly taller, the long strips of ground-level attached homes, and the Dickinson apartment buildings.
There are plenty of them being removed - so I can't imagine that to keep at least one of each would be some kind of terrible imposition. It would add texture and contrast to the buildings around them...and irreplaceable markers of valuable history. It's hard to imagine now in their decrepit state that they should be kept, but surely we've become sensitive enough to our own desire for a history and to the urban environment to know we shouldn't just be doing another tabula rasa.

I can't imagine that a gutting and refitting of each one would be a staggering cost, either. They could be used for multiple things - local businesses such as daycare, dentistry or law offices spring to mind. It would put some historical difference into what is shaping up to be a pristine zone of spotless engineering, and keep memory alive in it as well - and not in a depressing way.

I think that is a fine idea. Especially gutting, retrofitting and repurposing them for the community; leaves a bit of history in the area.

 

[interchange42]

14 Blevins will be the last of the Dickinson towers standing. Demolition has been proposed, and below, in a nutshell, is why. The first slide comes from a TCHC report from early 2013, while the second one comes from a late 2013 report.

42

 

[greenleaf]

City Council approved that 14 Blevins NOT be designated heritage at their Dec 16 mtg. I presume demolition will follow.

 

[junctionist]

They should save it and renovate it. The architecture is great. TCH probably didn't maintain it well like many of their buildings, so people don't like living there. But I think people did enjoy it originally for its unique two-floor apartments. They could make some of it into condos.

 

[ProjectEnd]

Floor heights are too short - I believe they no longer meet code.