jn_12
Senior Member
As a neighbour of this location, I'd love to see a market (much like is already located on weekends at Harbourfront Centre) or something like 401 Richmond that includes commercial at ground level and a rooftop garden.
Toronto Ripley's Aquarium of Canada | 13.11m | 2s | Ripley Entertainment | B+H
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Torontovibe
Senior Member
I'm not saying it has to be a major museum or huge attraction but Toronto is lacking in those things, considering the size of the city. I want something that everyone can use and enjoy, whether it be a unique shopping experience, a greenhouse, a great swimming pool, amusements or recreation centre. It needs to be a year-round attraction. I just don't want it to be more passive parkland, a dull condo or some lame office tower. I want it too be something all Torontonians and tourists can enjoy. (a destination in itself)
A cities central waterfront should be the centre of its tourist hub. It's the natural focal point a city and why not take advantage of that defining feature. Our waterfront has a few attractions but not nearly enough to create that festive feel. (Harbourfront has that during festivals) We need some year round attractions and pedestrian areas, to make Queen's Quay, east and west, a serious tourist draw. It's just not developed enough now. A few new ideas wouldn't hurt.
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Mongo
Senior Member
I have stated before that I would love to see something like St. Lawrence Market on this site -- an enclosed collection of vendor's booths, either thematic (i.e. food) or more general (flea market?). If I worked in the area, I would certainly consider going there for lunch on a regular basis.
taal
Senior Member
Too close to the St. Lawernce market I think so I'm not a fan of the idea; Unless you mean a small farmers market, which there are many scattered throughout the core.
MetroMan
Senior Member
I've also heard that this lot will become a north extension of HTO. People need a place to lie on the grass and contemplate the CN Tower. This will be a good spot.
jn_12
Senior Member
St Lawrence isn't that close. It's a 25-30 minute walk from Queens Quay and Spadina and that's if you cut through the skywalk (which isn't really open right now). Distance-wise it's the equivalent of walking from Bloor to King St. Public transit is really awkward in this area as well, and often it's quicker to walk, particularly in the summer when harbourfront is flooded with people. Given the number of residents in the area (Harbourfront, City Place and the Fort York area as well as the developing "southcore" which would be half way between St Lawrence and this location)) and the tourist aspect (whether it's our traditional "tourist" or someone visiting the area from another part of town), you could probably attract a good number of people and make it viable at some level. Perhaps were not talking something as big and elaborate as St Lawrence, but I'm sure there's a way that's suitable for the area.
ttk77
Senior Member
I live right next to this lot at Rees st, and it doesn't take me that long to walk to the Market. I'd have to agree with taal in that I don't think that a permanent indoor market would work here. In my fantasy I see low rise retail on west side of the property, containing cafes or restaurants that could make use of the rest of the property which would be turned into a large stone patio/plaza. Spanning the entire north side of the lot would be a very wide pedestrian bridge that would link the aquarium/CN tower/Skydome to the waterfront. The bridge itself would form part of the long linear park covering the Gardiner that's been floated a few times on here.
jn_12
Senior Member
Then we're neighbours because I live beside this lot as well. And I would suggest that 25-30mins is realistic walking time. But unless we want to go for a walk together and time it, we'll agree to disagree. I still think distance wise (my comparison was Bloor to King which according to google maps is accurate) it is far enough to support some sort of market, but the model I'd like to see (which I mentioned before) is something similar to 401 Richmond and perhaps instead of your large plaza we'd see a rooftop garden. Personally, I think a rooftop garden would be a hell of an attraction for the waterfront given the proximity to the lake and the skyline.
I'd want to see something roughly a storey taller than the Gardiner, with commercial at the bottom consisting of cafes, restaurants, shops, market-esque shops etc. then a few storeys of office space (attracting similar types of tenants as 401 Richmond) then the rooftop garden which would be open to the public. If they were able to do something as elaborate as the Kensington Rooftop Garden in London it'd be phenomenal.
When I was learning how to use Sketchup for a planning class I had made a mock up 3 or 4 years ago of what I'd like to see (sorry about the vague hint of a watermark over the image. I don't remember why I originally put it in). I never finished it and I think I'd make some changes to it but this is what I had come up with:
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RocketAppliances
Active Member
Red Mars
Senior Member
Pic taken June 8, 2012
canarob
Senior Member
That's a hell of a photo. With everything else getting built, I keep forgetting we're getting an aquarium!
someMidTowner
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Today:
lolwut
New Member
• Approximately 90,000 sq.ft. of retail space to
be built at the base of the CN Tower, the icon
of Toronto
• An unparalleled opportunity for restauranteur
retailers and leading brands to showcase their
products in innovative, interactive and
imaginative new presentations
• A dynamic retail pavillion
be built at the base of the CN Tower, the icon
of Toronto
• An unparalleled opportunity for restauranteur
retailers and leading brands to showcase their
products in innovative, interactive and
imaginative new presentations
• A dynamic retail pavillion
taal
Senior Member
This isn't planned till a later date no ? A second phase kind of, not the second phase to the aquarium which as noted early seems to have been scrapped (there will be one and only one phase, but will be larger).
I didn't think they were going ahead with the retail for a while ?
