http://www.onebedford.com/intro_flash.html

Yup, and the vacant former Bedford Ballroom building has now been covered with a ad of the development depicting a huge rendering of the tower. Quite nice, check it out for yourself. :)

Finally!

http://static.flickr.com/42/112596556_2e8f50fc40_b.jpg

The tower looks like a nice (but shorter) variation of 18 Yorkville. The podium looks good but hopefully it will re-establish the retail strip we have today.

from the 300s to over 2 million^same prices as uptown,four seasons will be even more expensive.goodbye harveys and mr sub .

It almost looks like a copy of 18 Yorkville! (Not that that's a bad thing) ;)

Hey where is Bedford? What intersection? Is it by Bloor, cuz saying good bye to Harvey's and Mr. Sub implies Yonge/Bloor, but aren't they at Roy Square?

Hey where is Bedford? What intersection? Is it by Bloor, cuz saying good bye to Harvey's and Mr. Sub implies Yonge/Bloor, but aren't they at Roy Square?
Bloor/Bedford is right across the Varsity stadium.

wow almost identical to 18 yorkville.

I like the little mini-square it creates at the corner.

It's just such an improvement, what's not to like about it?






"right across the Varsity stadium."


You mean...what used to be Varsity Stadium.

That big empty space is a a major problem...wish they would hurry up and figure out what to do with that huge space...looking at it through a chain link fence is getting depressing.





KGB

"right across the Varsity stadium."


You mean...what used to be Varsity Stadium.

That big empty space is a a major problem...wish they would hurry up and figure out what to do with that huge space...looking at it through a chain link fence is getting depressing.

KGB

Actually they've started doing some work on it in the past week. There's lots of machinery and workers on site, they've extended the fence and there's lots of displaced soil. I'm not sure what they're upto, but something's up.

I thought they were just going to rebuild varsity stadium. if so, then the people in this condo above the stadium will have an awesome protected view. they'll also get to look over the new ROM which I think is cool. i think this is a good project. i think of this stretch as a bit of an 'in-between-zone', because its between yorkville and the annex, but that makes it also convenient to get to both areas. I often walk by here because I like eating on prince arthur right behind or i walk to the annex for brunch, so it would be nice if there was a nicer building and set up here than what there is now.

Well the good news is that Crepes a Go-Go is setting up shop at the base of 18 Yorkville as early as June, according to the owner Veronique. Although it's a little more out of my way (not that I'm selfishly thinking about myself or anything), I think that overall it's a positive outcome, since it'll be the icing on the cake for that stretch of Yorkville, and she's bound to get great business (I'm sure many loyal regulars, such as myself, will come along, and then toss in the yuppy clientelle of Yorkville with big wallets and a taste for the exotic. I just hope prices don't shoot up).

Base is nice, don't care for the tower. Too bad we're losing the older buildings on the corner.

hey spoonman, that's wicked about the crepe place! I LOVE the crepes, so i'll be able to just go downstairs now! Do you happen to know who the other retail tenants might be?

Yep, something is going on with the Varsity Stadium... looks better with trucks all over the place than just that chainlink fence. At least it looks like something is happening. In any case, it looks nice and is in a perfect location.

That whole strecth on the south side of Bloor from Bedford to Avenue Road is just one huge contruction site.

hey spoonman, that's wicked about the crepe place! I LOVE the crepes, so i'll be able to just go downstairs now! Do you happen to know who the other retail tenants might be?

No idea, sorry. Though I wouldn't mind if the florist a few doors down from the crepe shop would move in there as well. I'm not sure what her plans are, in fact. I haven't spoken to her in awhile, in turn implying that I haven't picked up any flowers for my girlfriend lately. I should probably get on that.

Here's the definitive answer on what is happening across the road....They ARE rebuilding Varsity Stadium...

June 29, 2005

UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO’S VARSITY CENTRE RECEIVES GO-AHEAD

The Governing Council of the University of Toronto (U of T) today approved plans for a recreation complex featuring a 5,000-seat stadium, playing field and track that will revitalize the former Varsity Stadium site at Bloor Street and Devonshire Place.

“Our academic plan identifies the student experience as our number one priority,” says Professor Vivek Goel, U of T's vice-president and provost. “The renewal of the Varsity site will be a huge benefit for students who will be able to use the new centre for academic programs, varsity and intramural sports and recreation.”

Following development of a master plan for the site, construction of the seating, field and track is expected to be completed by fall 2006. The regulation-size playing field will accommodate soccer, football and other sports. The surrounding eight-lane track will serve as both a training and competitive venue, meeting the standards of the International Association Athletics Federations as well as accommodating wheelchair racing.
These amenities, to cost approximately $16 million, represent the first phase of a $56-million complex envisioned as a versatile centre of physical activity for all.

“These plans were developed with broad community consultation and reaffirm the important role of physical fitness and recreation in the health and well-being of our students and staff as well as the broader community,” says Professor Bruce Kidd, dean of the Faculty of Physical Education and Health. “The Varsity Centre will significantly enhance learning beyond the classroom and strengthen the continuum of opportunities in healthy physical activity.”

Subsequent phases that are proposed will include a bubble-like air-supported structure installed over the playing field in winter months, a three- or four-storey building at the south end of the site to accommodate indoor training, research, teaching and support spaces, and renovations to Varsity Arena. The bubble will be able to accommodate three activities simultaneously, providing much-needed activity space for varsity and intramural teams and community use. Subject to funding availability and approvals, the entire Varsity Centre development could be completed by fall 2008.

Any news on this? Did anyone go to the early bird sales event? How are the suites? Prices?

Here's the definitive answer on what is happening across the road....They ARE rebuilding Varsity Stadium...

June 29, 2005

UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO’S VARSITY CENTRE RECEIVES GO-AHEAD

The Governing Council of the University of Toronto (U of T) today approved plans for a recreation complex featuring a 5,000-seat stadium, playing field and track that will revitalize the former Varsity Stadium site at Bloor Street and Devonshire Place.

“Our academic plan identifies the student experience as our number one priority,” says Professor Vivek Goel, U of T's vice-president and provost. “The renewal of the Varsity site will be a huge benefit for students who will be able to use the new centre for academic programs, varsity and intramural sports and recreation.”

Following development of a master plan for the site, construction of the seating, field and track is expected to be completed by fall 2006. The regulation-size playing field will accommodate soccer, football and other sports. The surrounding eight-lane track will serve as both a training and competitive venue, meeting the standards of the International Association Athletics Federations as well as accommodating wheelchair racing.
These amenities, to cost approximately $16 million, represent the first phase of a $56-million complex envisioned as a versatile centre of physical activity for all.

“These plans were developed with broad community consultation and reaffirm the important role of physical fitness and recreation in the health and well-being of our students and staff as well as the broader community,” says Professor Bruce Kidd, dean of the Faculty of Physical Education and Health. “The Varsity Centre will significantly enhance learning beyond the classroom and strengthen the continuum of opportunities in healthy physical activity.”

Subsequent phases that are proposed will include a bubble-like air-supported structure installed over the playing field in winter months, a three- or four-storey building at the south end of the site to accommodate indoor training, research, teaching and support spaces, and renovations to Varsity Arena. The bubble will be able to accommodate three activities simultaneously, providing much-needed activity space for varsity and intramural teams and community use. Subject to funding availability and approvals, the entire Varsity Centre development could be completed by fall 2008.


They're not quite rebuilding it. They're going to have a huge white bubble surrounding the field which should be quite the eyesore.

Too bad they didn't go for any of the earlier plans...this is definitely the worst.

They're not quite rebuilding it. They're going to have a huge white bubble surrounding the field which should be quite the eyesore.

Too bad they didn't go for any of the earlier plans...this is definitely the worst.

The bubble if installed is only in the winter months end-October-end March
Not more of an eyesore than the crummy grey winter weather
This venue should just fit fine in this location.
5000 seats,full field,running track,BRING IT ON.

I'm really looking forward to this .. I think there are such bubbles in other places in NA over playing fields. If its just in the winter it wont be too bad

once again, a block of beautiful victorian homes is being taken down for another condo. very sad. i enjoyed speaking bad french with the old lady who ran her crepe place at the corner. and booster juice was always a great hangover shake. may they both rest in peace, and goodbye to the beautiful victorian homes they were built in. i don't understand why so many people say stuff like "i don't see what's wrong with it"? to me, it's not worth ripping down this city's history for another generic building. i suppose the "nimby" in me comes out when i say, i don't want Yorkville to extend into the annex, but it seems it's creeping closer and closer, and that's really scary. the annex (my home) is a neighbourhood that has kept it's essence from day one. a great mixed community where students can bundle into large home (albeit not as cheap as it used to be). a place where families live. professors live. a place to drink and eat. and it just feels like it is slowly "selling out" to these boxes moving closer and closer. When Jane Jacobs passed, she still lived 2 blocks from my house. i had seen her walking down the streets of albany and walmer twice in my life. how cool is that? a critic of all the great cities in the world chose the annex to call her home. what an honour. pardon my rant, but it just saddens me that this city's history is being replaced on a daily basis by generic buildings. one day, we're all gonna look back and wonder "what the hell were we thinking?"

^^ I am not at all familiar with this location, and will check it out. I, too am appalled
how Victorian buildings are being quietly ripped down left, right and centre while city
council self-righteously protects us from shadows. I don't give a fk about shadows but
I do care about losing buildings with character to be replaced by just another building
that has no particular unique style. They have not tried very hard with the design here... it looks like 50 others. Are condo builders getting lazy again?

http://www.torontothegood.org/images/bedford-bloor-1970.jpg

This is one of the corner victorian mansions that's being ripped to the ground. The picture seems kinda old, as the Martinizing hasn't been there in years, but it just shows how the city changes around such historic buildings.

http://www.nowtoronto.com/issues/2005-05-19/news_story3-1.jpg

wow, i had no idea this building had been re-bricked. or maybe the brick was underneath the whole time?

It pisses me off to see it get bulldozed for another clone condo.

http://www.nowtoronto.com/issues/2005-05-19/news_story3-1.jpg

wow, i had no idea this building had been re-bricked. or maybe the brick was underneath the whole time?

I agree...very disappointing that this will be gone.

EDIT

talk about creativity!

but its ok...more development = more money = even more development = even more money = start from step one again

I'm all for preserving historic old mansions....if it were the old Gooderham mansion a block west, I would personally put my body between it and the bulldozer.

But this old house was bastardized long ago, and it's never going to be turned back into a "mansion". Put it out of it's misery and get rid of the whole streetfront retail eyesore there.






KGB

Finally the website is up and running with full floorplans and amenities. Go check it.

www.onebedford.com

Im really feeling the Charleston with terrace! WOW!! Wonder how much that is going for?

^ one BILLion dollars

Those arguing in favour of the old vic building need to take a second look at the location. The subway is literally right across the street, as well a steps from Yorkville, the Annex and UofT. Right now the building contains a Mr. sub and some crepe shop, the corner is very under utilized.

hey spoonman, that's wicked about the crepe place! I LOVE the crepes, so i'll be able to just go downstairs now! Do you happen to know who the other retail tenants might be?

I talked to the owner of Mr. Sub right on the Bloor/Bedford corner and he said he will be moving into the base/ Bloor Street frontage of the new building. He also said that all of the existing businesses being forced to close for construction were offered retail spots at the base of One Bedford.

Those arguing in favour of the old vic building need to take a second look at the location. The subway is literally right across the street, as well a steps from Yorkville, the Annex and UofT. Right now the building contains a Mr. sub and some crepe shop, the corner is very under utilized.

i'm gonna have to sorta agree with KGB. this building was gutted and uglified years ago. but canuck, as a city grows, "valuable" locations will grow as well. it's just pretty sad that so many of these buildings need to be demoed. like i've said before, one day we're just gonna look back and wonder, how did we let this happen. it just seems like it's become so much easier for developers to knock down these houses. or maybe they've just become more clever.

Went to the sales centre on the weekend. This will be one fine building. I'd buy here if I had the money. The older buildings will be quickly forgotten. And sales looked really strong based on the number of red dots on the sales board. Of course there is the 10 days backing out period in effect.

Restoration can be part of high end projects like this, and they can be incorporated, at least partially, into the design. Yes they are ugly now, but with proper restoration they could look like they originally did.

. . . The older buildings will be quickly forgotten. . .

and you're okay with this? shame.

I'm a NIMBY of sorts and would normally have a problem with a project that called for the demolition of victorian buildings. However, as someone already stated, the pros outweigh the cons in this instance. The Bloor and Bedford site is very suitable for such a structure.

On the other hand, if they were going to build this on Brunswick between Bloor and Dupont, I'd have a fit!

All we're actually losing is one old, and uglified Victorian for this development. The rest of the buildings on that block aren't even worth worrying about. A Swiss Chalet? ENDS (Super cheap t-shirt store), Harvey's, Mr.Subs, convenience store, etc. Of that Bloor retail strip, this block really stands out of how cheap and out of place it is. I'm all for saving and restoring older buildings but for a situation like this, I'm going to have to go with the newer development since the pros outweigh the cons, the only thing I'm really worried about is whether or not if the retail strip can be restored once the condo is built. But I shouldn't be too worried, a place where podium base retail has worked well would be in Yorkville.

BTW, if you guys miss your Crepes Place so much, I heard that they're moving into the base of 18 Yorkville.

Hi,

I went to the preshowing for 1 Bedford. They did all the right marketing type things (i.e. having interested parties set an "appointment", having all people come in at the same day and time, servers with food and drink, etc.) to promote buying.

As an FYI, you can find the prices and conditions for purchase for the various suites at:
http://www.alexmoloney.com/onebedford

It's basically $5K with the offer; another 20% down within a year; and 5% on occupancy.

(I have no affiliation with Alex Moloney; I just found the price listing on the web, which made it easier for me than scanning the condo package)

The model suite that was presented was the $1.2M "Rossetti" (2 bedroom + den).

IMHO, Jim

Construction planned to start in October.

That was fast.

Uptown and Crystal Blue are 50% sold while CASA is 60% sold.

Its good that area will change a lot in only 5 years,

were advertising that construction is starting in the globe real estate

october is only a month away.

the star did mention a month ago that it would start in october has lord mandeep mentioned:

Toronto Star, 2006-08-26.
ONE BEDFORD AT BLOOR: Northeast corner of Bedford Rd. and Bloor St. Builder: Lanterra Developments and MCE Developments: A 32-storey, 264-unit building with a limestone exterior on the first eight floors and precast concrete and glass exterior on the upper floors. Prices: from $322,900 for 597 sq. ft. to more than $2.5 million for a penthouse with about 3,000 sq. ft. Fees: 48 cents per sq. ft., plus hydro. Amenities: indoor pool, billiards room, yoga room, exercise room, party room, hot tub, steam rooms, outdoor patio, media room and 24-hour concierge. Sales: 70 per cent sold. Status: construction to start this October. Occupancy: June 2009.

Now where the hell am I going to eat lunch? lol

hey.

construction's due to start in October? strange, nothing seems to be going on. the Swiss Chalet and other places on that block have closed down, and everything's emptying out. maybe they'll tear down the existing structures sometime in November/December or by early 2007 at the latest.

i dunno, i actually kind of like the current buildings. they add some personality and character to Bloor Street West. although further down (TD Waterhouse, CIBC, the GAP and so on) is quite attractive with all the boutiques and office towers, the area around the University of Toronto feels more intimate and historic rather than corporate. i fear this condo block would congest Bloor, let alone drain the personality of the district.

oh well. let's see what happens.

kuwaiti_patriot

At just steps from the subway this will not be congesting anything. As far as I can see investors are probably swallowing up the place and will probably be renting out to students. About your intimate and historic comment, i'm sorry but the campus is downtown and almost in Yorkville, this one tower will hardly ruin that feeling. If dollar stores and a booster juice and Harveys get you excited you can always visit Yonge and Bloor.

The message from that Bloor Swiss Chalet's staff was really sentimental and sad to read... :( I ate there far too many times haha... but anyways, that's the way cities happen. I guess demolition will start soon...?

^^Yea.. I've been in that Swiss Chalet ever since I came to Canada in 1996...:(

I got food poisoning at that Swiss Chalet. . .good riddance!

I hate Swish Chalet and that weird orangey gravy sauce... their chicken is gross. It is pretty much identicle to St. Hubert's. And if you order ribs you get a tiny little mini section that is supposed to be a "half a rack". Must be a very small rack.

Thank god this is not my Swiss Chalet near Yonge and Dundas (Their BBQ wings are like heaven). :D

It was apparently the very first swiss chalet.... opened 30 some odd years ago.

Actually, it was 1954. But I don't know if that has enough historic significance to warrant anything.

This building right on Bloor is not out of context, being such a major street with many other similar buildings. It doesn't negatively effect the residential blocks around it, as that is generally how Toronto is laid out in the first place....major commercial streets, bisected by residential streets...it tends to work quite well, so I don't see the need for panic in that regard here at all.

The important thing here is that it fits the context of the street, is of decent design and materials quality, and fits the city's fairly competent idea of intensification where it is best suited.




KGB

It's perfect for the area!!! I'm really excited!

http://static.flickr.com/42/112596556_2e8f50fc40_b.jpg

It's unfortunate to see the crepe/Booster Juice building have to go for this project...and the facade they're keeping just looks kind of awkward.

^^ From ground level it won't look awkward, and it should be an excellent detail- it will give it a more established, substantial feel at ground level.

The Crepe Place is @ 18 Yorkville now. It's the Swiss Chalet that we're pissed about ;)

^^ From ground level it won't look awkward, and it should be an excellent detail- it will give it a more established, substantial feel at ground level.



Will it? It's a fairly homogeneous complex with a historic facade sticking out. It looks rather unnatural.

Thank god this is not my Swiss Chalet near Yonge and Dundas (Their BBQ wings are like heaven). :D

... that's a great Swiss Chalet - I just wonder when they'll ever renovate the store - it has to be the most dated Swiss Chalet in the chain.

Will it? It's a fairly homogeneous complex with a historic facade sticking out. It looks rather unnatural.

... not in Toronto!

That's the Toronto look - a facade with a rich history, stuck to a modern generic templated glass shell.

Love the Architecture of Toronto! May it continue to support a film industry in need of non-location specific architecture!!!:banana:

... that's a great Swiss Chalet - I just wonder when they'll ever renovate the store - it has to be the most dated Swiss Chalet in the chain.

The Pizzaiolo on Dundas near the AGO has great pizza, just so you know! Anyways, I went by there today, it would look nice in the area. [take eyes off that disgusting residential building (on Prince Arthur I think), it almost made me puke! (maybe it was the McDonalds, which has a nice view of the ROM expansion) Go Blues!]

hoarding-a-rising

I noticed that today too. That area is really booming right now.

Tell me...who in their right minds is going to miss this....


http://img154.imageshack.us/img154/8170/pict2424nm1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)



Any damage to the original context or buildings were done a long time ago. The only recourse is to just replace this collection of crap.






KGB

now that i think about it, you're right.

that old block should go down. adding a sleek condo block should revitalize the neighborhood and bring more prestige to The Annex.

when will demolition of the existing buildings start?

kuwaiti_patriot

Tell me...who in their right minds is going to miss this....


http://img154.imageshack.us/img154/8170/pict2424nm1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)



Any damage to the original context or buildings were done a long time ago. The only recourse is to just replace this collection of crap.






KGB



You could raze much of Bloor (and the city for that matter) using the same argument.


I hope a good variety of retail replaces what's there.

You could raze much of Bloor (and the city for that matter) using the same argument.


Simply not true....this little section no longer has any historical, architectural or contextural relation to its surroundings....it's an unpleasant break in the fabric. You cannot say that for "most" of the city at all....most of the city "fits" quite well...pleasant or not.






KGB

Tell me...who in their right minds is going to miss this....


http://img154.imageshack.us/img154/8170/pict2424nm1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)



Any damage to the original context or buildings were done a long time ago. The only recourse is to just replace this collection of crap.






KGB

i agree with you except for that cute little building on the corner

... but this block is exactly what's going to happen to all of the older buildings on Yonge.

The cheap landlords will allow them to run themselves into ruin, facades will cover over the details, and soon no one will miss them if their gone.

Look at the stretch of Yonge from College north. It too will soon look like this. It's a shame.

but this block is exactly what's going to happen to all of the older buildings on Yonge. The cheap landlords will allow them to run themselves into ruin, facades will cover over the details, and soon no one will miss them if their gone. Look at the stretch of Yonge from College north. It too will soon look like this. It's a shame.


You have it backwards there. Many reasons for disagreeing with this one.....first of all, the Yonge Strip has context...whether you like it or not. Second, there has been an ongoing facade improvement program for the past 10 years that has seen much improvement to buildings both outside and in, and continues. Yonge, for better or worse, has been gentrifying over the last 30 years.

Thirdly, while many of the buildings are indeed covered in signage and bad paint, the real appeal of Yonge is not in its physical shape, but rather its vibe. I have nothing against buildings restored to their origonal glory (and most of the buildings along Yonge are indeed old), but I fear for the loss of the "Yonge Strip" when that day comes. I love its somewhat haphazard nature...its unbelievably varied places of business (Starbucks next to porn shop next to live theatre next to Scientology headquarters, next to used book store next to leather shop, etc, etc)

Yonge is more important than some hollow facade...it has a soul.

How this equates to that pathetic half block of crap eludes me. The idea is to tear it down and build something more in keeping with the context of that stretch of Bloor. I don't know if a condo complex is the ideal answer, but it's certainly an improvement over what is there.

But since it's clear that you "want" to be negative about everything, it doesn't matter what they do....anywhere....you will find something negative about it....even if they did EXCACTLY what you consider to be perfect.






KGB

^^ I love Yonge strip's edgy feel... it's GREAT, and I love all the random jumble off little places along there. Thank you very MUCH!

(Oh.. and that shoe store with an amazing selection for low prices :D)

But since it's clear that you "want" to be negative about everything, it doesn't matter what they do....anywhere....you will find something negative about it....even if they did EXCACTLY what you consider to be perfect.


KGB


... you think that a large chunk of Yonge Street's aging buildings are in good repair? It looks to me that most of the buildings 30 years and older are in disrepair.

I would like to see major sections saved and restored. I can only think of a handful of buildings that actually have been restored. Restoration doesn't mean that the street will become generic, actaully the reverse will happen.

It's my view that this city is starting to become very run down looking. We don't reinvest in anything, walking West Queen West, everything looks grimey, dirty, worn out. I don't know why so many people here are so defensive of decay.

It seems this city works on the premise that we only do things when they are totally broken.

My philosophy is to be proactive, then reactive. Like we know that a large chunk of architecture in this city is shit, so lets stop building shit. Lets put more pressure on the bodies that be as to improve things. Instead of watching from the sideline only making comments when we see the finished project. It's clear that Yonge Street's many old buildings, lets improve it.

Why stive for average?

You seem like one very lost little individual....no point in even indulging your false comments.

Could you imagine if we unleashed your wacko principals on say...Kensington? It would cease to exist. No...I think one of the biggest threats to the fabric of this city...are people of your ilk. Luckily, you are harmlessly confined to ranting away on internet forums.






KGB

"Luckily, you are harmlessly confined to ranting away on internet forums"

I thank god for small mercies! :)

... you think that a large chunk of Yonge Street's aging buildings are in good repair? It looks to me that most of the buildings 30 years and older are in disrepair.

I would like to see major sections saved and restored. I can only think of a handful of buildings that actually have been restored. Restoration doesn't mean that the street will become generic, actaully the reverse will happen.

It's my view that this city is starting to become very run down looking. We don't reinvest in anything, walking West Queen West, everything looks grimey, dirty, worn out. I don't know why so many people here are so defensive of decay.

It seems this city works on the premise that we only do things when they are totally broken.

My philosophy is to be proactive, then reactive. Like we know that a large chunk of architecture in this city is shit, so lets stop building shit. Lets put more pressure on the bodies that be as to improve things. Instead of watching from the sideline only making comments when we see the finished project. It's clear that Yonge Street's many old buildings, lets improve it.

Why stive for average?


I know I didn't agree with you in the other thread, but I agree with you 100% right here. Toronto doesn't try at all to make it's streets beautiful or upkeep its buildings. I never realized this until I started to travel more. I remember way back when I was really young, Toronto was always much cleaner and nicer than most places, but these days it seems like we've declined. After travelling through Europe and Asia I can definately say that we don't try nearly hard enough if at all to upkeep our city. It's a shame that in the past I could tell people 'hey Toronto is one of the cleanest cities in the world' but now that would just be flagrantly untrue.

One of my biggest beefs is the routine destruction and marking of sidewalks. I will frequently see sidewalks remade in this city, then not even a month later, crews will mark it all up with spraypaint to point out some underground pipe or something. Meanwhile these markings seemingly don't do much, and just end up staying there forever until 40 years later when the sidewalk is finally repaired again. Not to mention often crews will for some reason or another demolish parts of the road/sidewalk (which JUST got it's only redo for the next 10 years) the day after, leave some pylons for months, then just do a crappy job covering it up so that a nice level ground is yet again all raggedty.

I can accept that having all brick/interlocking walkways like they do in Asia and Europe may be hard in our land of snow, but the routine pointless (or at least very badly planned) destruction of roads and sidewalks really irritates me.

While we're at it, how about those trashcans where the 'door' is so springly that you have to push really really hard to put anything in, and so piles of trash just end up on the ground surrounding them... you know those big bins with all the advertising on them.



I think the One Bedford building is marvelous though. Having spent much time at that Harvey's and Swiss Chalet, I can say I won't miss it much and I hope the retail space in the new building will be nicely done.

"I can accept that having all brick/interlocking walkways like they do in Asia and Europe may be hard in our land of snow, but the routine pointless (or at least very badly planned) destruction of roads and sidewalks really irritates me."

and your comparison to Europe and Asia is as pointless as it being pointless to call the destruction happening on our streets pointless ;) as neither are seeing the intensification of existing neighbourhoods in the same fashion as Toronto

"I will frequently see sidewalks remade in this city, then not even a month later"

problems do occur in the desire to finish a project as quick as possible not to mention settling

"I can accept that having all brick/interlocking walkways like they do in Asia and Europe may be hard in our land of snow, but the routine pointless (or at least very badly planned) destruction of roads and sidewalks really irritates me."

and your comparison to Europe and Asia is as pointless as it being pointless to call the destruction happening on our streets pointless ;) as neither are seeing the intensification of existing neighbourhoods in the same fashion as Toronto

"I will frequently see sidewalks remade in this city, then not even a month later"

problems do occur in the desire to finish a project as quick as possible not to mention settling

I don't think you get what I'm saying.

What I'm saying is that the city will only fix up sidewalks every 5 years or every 10 years or something. Same with roads which aren't highways (which are the only roads that constantly get repaired, and of course under provincial jursidiction).

And so you get a brand new road or sidewalk, and in the FOLLOWING week I will see some worker decide to install some pipes or something and dig up the thing again, then patch it up badly. So the newly fixed road/sidewalk is no longer nice and smooth, it's bumpy again, and when winter comes the badly fixed up road will burst and crack because of the badly filled in seams. If there was actually some REAL planning, they'd do the pipes first, then do the road. But government bureaucracy basically stops all common sense.

The other point is, they will fix sidewalks and then mark them up with all these spraypainted arrows the next day for whatever reason. I can't see any good reason why this would be done unless it was for construction. But then frequently, no visible construction happens (actually I've seen this happen many times where a year later they will remark the ground again after it's finally all washed away because I guess they couldn't get around to do whatever they wanted to do in the first place). It's like if you paid lots of money to get your kitchen fixed, then the next week you knock down one of the walls and do a halfassed job putting up a new wall.

I don't think you get what I'm saying.

What I'm saying is that the city will only fix up sidewalks every 5 years or every 10 years or something. Same with roads which aren't highways (which are the only roads that constantly get repaired, and of course under provincial jursidiction).

And so you get a brand new road or sidewalk, and in the FOLLOWING week I will see some worker decide to install some pipes or something and dig up the thing again, then patch it up badly. So the newly fixed road/sidewalk is no longer nice and smooth, it's bumpy again, and when winter comes the badly fixed up road will burst and crack because of the badly filled in seams. If there was actually some REAL planning, they'd do the pipes first, then do the road. But government bureaucracy basically stops all common sense.

The other point is, they will fix sidewalks and then mark them up with all these spraypainted arrows the next day for whatever reason. I can't see any good reason why this would be done unless it was for construction. But then frequently, no visible construction happens (actually I've seen this happen many times where a year later they will remark the ground again after it's finally all washed away because I guess they couldn't get around to do whatever they wanted to do in the first place). It's like if you paid lots of money to get your kitchen fixed, then the next week you knock down one of the walls and do a halfassed job putting up a new wall.


People in this city seem (including Miller) talk about "dirty streets full of litter" and talk of how they are "cleaning the streets".

The real reason Toronto looks so dirty now days is the crumbling streets and sidewalks. I realized this when I looked at a postcard from the late 80's of summertime on Yonge Street. The whole street looked so much cleaner then today - and I realized why - the street and sidewalks were in perfect condition.

Walk along Front Street from Union to the CN Tower - and look at just how bad the streets and sidewalks are. Haphazard repairs as you say, along with never ending spray paint markings all but make the city look impoverished.

If Toronto wants to look "clean" it's time that we start fixing the streets and sidewalks - along with all of the older buildings on Yonge.

And yes - there's nothing wrong with cleaning up and repairing buildings in Kensington Market. Letting the city crumble - doesn't make it better as other posters here seem to claim.

People in this city seem (including Miller) talk about "dirty streets full of litter" and talk of how they are "cleaning the streets".

The real reason Toronto looks so dirty now days is the crumbling streets and sidewalks. I realized this when I looked at a postcard from the late 80's of summertime on Yonge Street. The whole street looked so much cleaner then today - and I realized why - the street and sidewalks were in perfect condition.

Walk along Front Street from Union to the CN Tower - and look at just how bad the streets and sidewalks are. Haphazard repairs as you say, along with never ending spray paint markings all but make the city look impoverished.

If Toronto wants to look "clean" it's time that we start fixing the streets and sidewalks - along with all of the older buildings on Yonge.

And yes - there's nothing wrong with cleaning up and repairing buildings in Kensington Market. Letting the city crumble - doesn't make it better as other posters here seem to claim.

Agreed completely.

The problem is, it's hard to realize the magnitude of the problem unless you visit other places. Visiting other places in Ontario doesn't do much to help either. You have to go further. Hong Kong is perhaps the best example. Before SARS the streets were really dirty, sort of like Chinatown. Now it's cleaner than Japan and nicer too in many areas. NYC is another great example, they've really turned things around in the last decade.

What baloney....I've never been to a city that had perpetually perfect sidewalks or roads....the city looks after over 7000 kms of sidewalks...your anticdotle storeis about crappy sidewalks are pretty meaningless. And service locates are required EVERYWHERE. As for the doors on the garbage cans not being up to your speck....well, all I can say is you are really looking deep for an excuse to complain. And I've walked Yonge since the 70's (I don't need to look at postcards), and it hasn't really seemed any cleanner or dirtier than it ever has...and the sidewalks were replaced about two years ago.

I have noticed street littler is less noticeable than it was a few years ago, when it had gotten noticeably bad for Toronto). But there is nothing magic about it...the city has simply allocated more money for street cleaning. Yea, Toronto used to be unbelievably clean in terms of litter on streets going back decades...but that was because the city allocated large sums of money to it, which it simply didn't spend in other areas....Toronto was very clean...and very boring....now it isn't. I'd rather put up with a little bit of litter and live in a city that has a little more going for it than streets you can eat off.

Better yet, I wish people would simply not be so careless with litter so much. The city doesn't put the litter there, so I really don't throw all the blame at them for it. The streets might have been squeaky clean decades ago, but where do you think all that garbage went? Recycling wasn't exactly a big priority then ya know.

And stop yacking about the european cities...do you know the kind of massive municipal issues they face that we don't...you guys really live in a grass-is-greener little world. Not that many of you could actually afford to live in your perfect little euro urban centre anyway. Everything is a compromise I'm afraid.






KGB

How this equates to that pathetic half block of crap eludes me. The idea is to tear it down and build something more in keeping with the context of that stretch of Bloor. I don't know if a condo complex is the ideal answer, but it's certainly an improvement over what is there.

KGB

An improvement to you, and to other people I'm sure but this little stretch is quite vibrant and well used by the local student population. Many of these establishments serve as meeting places. This strip may not have "soul" to you but it certainly does for a lot of other people.

Whether the condo complex is an improvement over what's there now remains to be seen. Condo developments usually aren't that great when it comes to replacing retail.

Hopefully their will be a good variety of retail in the new spaces.

What baloney....I've never been to a city that had perpetually perfect sidewalks or roads....the city looks after over 7000 kms of sidewalks...your anticdotle storeis about crappy sidewalks are pretty meaningless. And service locates are required EVERYWHERE. As for the doors on the garbage cans not being up to your speck....well, all I can say is you are really looking deep for an excuse to complain. And I've walked Yonge since the 70's (I don't need to look at postcards), and it hasn't really seemed any cleanner or dirtier than it ever has...and the sidewalks were replaced about two years ago.

KGB


Obviously not everything is going in a perfect state of repair all the time, but there's no doubt Toronto could generally improve it's streetscaping.

KGB hit it right on the nail. People throw the litter on the streets. So, if you see litter don't automatically go blaming the city for this. Look at your fellow citizens.

They're the ones responsible for it.

People have really turned into pigs the last 10 years. Zero urban civic pride. Litter isn't as bad as it use to be though.

As for bad road conditions? True to a certain point but after visiting Montreal this summer and seeing the state that their roads and public transit are in?

We shouldn't be that hard on the state of Toronto's streets too much..... I've said it before. Toronto is not that bad of a city to be living in. We're just conditioned to think we live in a dump.

The one thing I do agree with is that we could better. It seems to be an issue of funding though. Not lack of polictical will. And think about it for a moment.

Most the urban decay as being described out there became much more noticable when a certain Conservative provincial government finished their downloading phase.

And some people just want to bash Toronto period, just for the sake of it. No names will be mentioned. You know who you are.

yeah toronto is one of the few big cities that is experiencing a downtown revival, lots of stuff is gonna be going up and that means new sidewalks and other stuff like traffic lights. yorkville just got at least a kilometer if not more of new sidewalks over the past decade, the city can't replace everything so quickly though - they just choose the busiest places.

If Paris is to be our model... watch where you walk in that city. Ain't always neat and tidy, and doesn't always smell like roses.:lol: ....

As for bad road conditions? True to a certain point but after visiting Montreal this summer and seeing the state that their roads and public transit are in?

Saying Toronto is better than a city where highway overpasses will fall and crush people really doesn't inspire much confidence.

It's true that Toronto's downtown is improving by leaps and bounds in terms of residentials, but it's also true that work needs to be done to make the city a nicer place in many respects.

Having a cleaner city isn't just about paying more garbagemen, hell we don't even have a proper 'please don't litter' campaign in Toronto. The problem is, if the people at the top don't even show that they really care, your average citizen isn't going to really care either when they start littering.

What baloney....I've never been to a city that had perpetually perfect sidewalks or roads....the city looks after over 7000 kms of sidewalks...your anticdotle storeis about crappy sidewalks are pretty meaningless.

I guess you've never been to Asia. Or Switzerland. Or hell even Vancouver where the streets are just a lot nicer. For instance, Tokyo has perfectly maintained roads and sidewalks and it's a lot bigger than Toronto by area and amount of roads.

I can accept the fact that in Canada we use the concrete sidewalks. They are cheaper to make and maintain, and shows our utilitarian "Canadianess". But I can't accept the fact that we can let our cities and infrastructure slowly crumble and just say 'well we have a lot of roads so... well it's too hard to do anything'. Everything adds up, and if we won't do the simple things, what's the point of dreaming any bigger?

I don't understand everyone's fear of dirt and a bit or garbage. if you don't like these types of things, go live in suburb somewhere. I have to say I was actually JEALOUS of New York's dirty streets.

Garbage, noise, traffic, pollution, dirt, crowds, etc. are all part of the city, to me anyway. (that all said, I still think this project is pretty dull)

Sure our sidewalks and roads aren't perfect... but who cares? The Financial District already makes a really good impression... very clean, very clean and well-maintained buildings.

We want diversity. Not a 'fixed-up' Yonge strip, thank you very much.

Can't argue with u there epi.

We want diversity. Not a 'fixed-up' Yonge strip, thank you very much.


???

I can see the travel literature now:


" Yes come to Toronto Canada and see the world famous 'dilapidated Yonge Street'. We took a vote from the people of Toronto and by a wide margin, people choose the 'run down' look over 'restoring buildings and improving sidewalks'. Here we present a truly authentic presentation of Canadiana, see people sleeping on the street, interact with people of all demographics as they ask you for money, some may even perform with you as they tell you grand stories like how they "never ask for money, and they missed their bus to Markham". A lucky few may even be marked by pigeon droppings as they walk next to our historical Victorian buildings which are a popular home to these birds as they nest in the rotted out eves. But for your safety, be careful not to trip on your way, we choose not to fix the sidewalk... "

"dilapidated" Yonge Street?

i'm new to Toronto, and honestly, while parts of Yonge may be a tad tired and run-down, i feel like it has character. it's true, money CAN be spent to restore buildings, improve façades, and fix what blemishes there are, but this all comes in due time. think of it this way, do we want a slightly-more improved Yonge Street or another Las Vegas Boulevard?

while these problems may have been there for a while, Toronto's renaissance only kicked off in the last few decades.

if you look at the city as a whole, it's a great social, diverse, and urban piece. i've lived all over the world, from Paris to New Delhi, so i know what's dilapidated and run-down and what's beautiful and full of character. no city in the world is perfect, no matter how amazing it is. Toronto has a very dynamic skyline, it's extremely safe for a city of this size, and there's so much to see and do. nobody's gonna care about a sidewalk unless there are gaping holes in them, and i'm sure nobody's gonna overlook that. plus they're working on this problem with all the road work around St. George to University Streets and so on. in a few years, all of these little issues should be ironed out, so what's the big deal?

Anthony Astrachan put it best: "Toronto, in short, is a city that works."

kuwaiti_patriot

The problem is, if the people at the top don't even show that they really care, your average citizen isn't going to really care either when they start littering.


Uh...where have you been???? Miller ran and won his last election on that platform, and has made it a priority all along. And the difference is quite noticeable...I saw some report that said street litter has been reduced by 40% since Miller became mayor. The city has made big strides on environmental and sustainable issues. You don't sound like someone who has been following much, given your big statements.





work needs to be done to make the city a nicer place in many respects.


Of course there's room for improvement....but like I already said, no place exists that doesn't.





Tokyo has perfectly maintained roads and sidewalks


Sure they do...because the country stays alive by make-work projects. They pave roads that don't need it because they need to keep the construction industry in business. We live in a slightly more pragmatic city. But Tokyo has other infastructure and municipal problems we don't even want to think about, let alone experience even a fraction of. You are using selective reasining too much.



And urban2 is so out to lunch, he's just talking to himself now, arebe-style.






KGB

When I talked about Montreal, I wasn't referring to the overpass accident. Rather, I was talking about their sidewalks and roads downtown. Visited the city in the summer and was surprised.

They're in bad shape.

And one of my new friends is from Quebec and openly blasts the conditions of the roads in Montreal as well as their transit system. Thinks Toronto is leagues better.

So, once again Toronto isn't the most beautiful looking in the world and has problems. But what city doesn't?

Hey...all cities go through cycles of decay and repair that don't coincide with each other. Today cityX might not be keeping up with sidewalk repair, while they might actually be concentrating on sewers and stormwater issues....at the same time CityY is keeping the sidewalks in good repair, while their sewers are in piss-poor shape.

I could have used any examples...but you get the point.

Over the long haul, Toronto has been consistantly well run when considering ALL the issues....it has a long-standing reputation for it....even if we happen to be slipping in the sidewalk department at the moment. Not that I buy into this sidewalk fetish in the first place...I highly doubt Toronto falls into the bottom 2% of world city sidewalk ranking or anything.

Most of the arguements have been based on anecdotal evidence anyway, so they really don't mean much.


Meanwhile...the topic is the Bedford project. Something tells ne there will be a nice fresh patch of sidewalk outside this development when it is finished....this should make a few people happy?






KGB

" Yes come to Toronto Canada and see the world famous 'dilapidated Yonge Street'. We took a vote from the people of Toronto and by a wide margin, people choose the 'run down' look over 'restoring buildings and improving sidewalks'. Here we present a truly authentic presentation of Canadiana, see people sleeping on the street, interact with people of all demographics as they ask you for money, some may even perform with you as they tell you grand stories like how they "never ask for money, and they missed their bus to Markham". A lucky few may even be marked by pigeon droppings as they walk next to our historical Victorian buildings which are a popular home to these birds as they nest in the rotted out eves. But for your safety, be careful not to trip on your way, we choose not to fix the sidewalk... "

LOL!

Dirtier than Switzerland or Vancouver? Thank God. At least there is some action on the streets here and not a Snooze-Fest. It is such a suburban mentality to want spic and span cleanliness on every sidewalk. I have never been to Asia, so do not have a clue how clean the sidewalks are, but I can assure you that I have no desire for our city to become Singapore Part Deux. I actually like chewing gum and have no desire to be arrested for it. I can vouch that a great many World Klass(tm)Cities in Europe, North and South America do NOT have sidewalks clean enough to eat off of. And people who live in those WorldKlassCities don't fuss and fret about it.

Until people understand that places like the Yonge Strip trancend notions of superficiality, they will continue to just not get it. "People Places" don't owe their existance to some official decree of what "beautification" is supposed to be, as you risk losing the haphazrad nature of creativity and diversity for bland sterility.

And interesting, diverse people places are far more enjoyable than places that aren't.





KGB

Until people understand that places like the Yonge Strip trancend notions of superficiality, they will continue to just not get it. "People Places" don't owe their existance to some official decree of what "beautification" is supposed to be, as you risk losing the haphazrad nature of creativity and diversity for bland sterility.

And interesting, diverse people places are far more enjoyable than places that aren't.





KGB

You make no sense at all. In one post you will deride the collection of businesses and buildings at Bloor and Bedford "this collection of crap." Then on the other hand you talk about how Yonge is so great and so on. I see absolutely no difference between the old businesses on Yonge compared to that corner on Bloor. Being a former UofT student I can tell you that MANY MANY people go there every day, and walk by there at all times of day. It is by all means a very busy intersection and has it's own life, and businesses which are frequently by many, many people. Lots of people are customers of the businesses on that part of Bloor and make the most of it. Meanwhile the new building will serve millionaires who can afford to live downtown but not in Yorkville directly.

So why can some areas keep identicaly looking 'collections of crap', but then some other areas (which you personally prefer but offer just as good a 'vibe' for OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT YOU) good and need no changing ever?

Either you are supporting development (which is the reason why most people post on this board) or you are supporting keeping things exactly the same and not changing things at all (which is what you seem to be saying in your last few posts) because it's just so nice to keep things 1960s. Or else you're just playing favorites with neighbourhoods just becuase you like one place more than others, but present it as some sort of fact instead of your opinion.

And no, Toronto isn't doing that good a job with the letter or else people would have noticed.

You make no sense at all. In one post you will deride the collection of businesses and buildings at Bloor and Bedford "this collection of crap." Then on the other hand you talk about how Yonge is so great and so on. I see absolutely no difference between the old businesses on Yonge compared to that corner on Bloor.


Oh COM'ON...I've already been through this....skip back a bit and read it.



This is not some hub of activity for UofT students...we are talking about a Mr Sub, a convenience store, and "ENDS" (which is only one of those temporary tenents that take cheap, short term leases...besides, the one in The Beach is much better) , a Harveys (look anywhere that needs revamping, and they always seem to be there), and a Swiss Chalet, looking like it was air-lifted straight from Brampton.

I'm sorrry, but I can't find a single shred here to be a preservationist over...and I have a strong tendancy for doing that.







KGB

Oh COM'ON...I've already been through this....skip back a bit and read it.



This is not some hub of activity for UofT students...we are talking about a Mr Sub, a convenience store, and "ENDS" (which is only one of those temporary tenents that take cheap, short term leases...besides, the one in The Beach is much better) , a Harveys (look anywhere that needs revamping, and they always seem to be there), and a Swiss Chalet, looking like it was air-lifted straight from Brampton.

I'm sorrry, but I can't find a single shred here to be a preservationist over...and I have a strong tendancy for doing that.

KGB


... I agree, I initally felt that the buildings should be preserved, but when you look at the nature of the buildings, there's nothing much there. The only worthy candidate is the one on the corner, but there's nothing spectatular to it except it's age.

Oh COM'ON...I've already been through this....skip back a bit and read it.



This is not some hub of activity for UofT students...we are talking about a Mr Sub, a convenience store, and "ENDS" (which is only one of those temporary tenents that take cheap, short term leases...besides, the one in The Beach is much better) , a Harveys (look anywhere that needs revamping, and they always seem to be there), and a Swiss Chalet, looking like it was air-lifted straight from Brampton.


KGB

But it is a hub of activity for UofT students. Starting at the Tim Hortons just across the street the entire strip is well used by UofT students and many of the establishments serve as meeting places.

You can find a number of businesses on Yonge that are in crappy buildings and that are crappy businesses themselves that really wouldn't be missed.

I don't care for the aesthetics of this strip either, but to label it as "crap" and then argue that even worse retail give Yonge it's "soul" is ridiculous.

But it is a hub of activity for UofT students


That would be pretty sad if the "hub" of student activity boiled down to these 5 businesses. Sorry dude, but if they were razing a block of Harbord, I might get upset, but just because there happens to be a sub shop and a fuking Harveys, which happens to be in the UofT area, which obviously sees student traffic hardly makes it some kind of untouchable UofT venerated institution. Nothing will be lost....there are fast food joints aplenty within walking distance.

My arguement isn't just about the businesses...or even the state of the street facades (which are valid reasons alone), but how badly it is out of context with its surroundings. Look where it is...centred around Bloor/Yorkville....UofT campus and the cultural institutions...and the Annex residential neighbourhood....all very impressive. Now you have this pathetic half-block which is totally out of context with everything...it's a blight any way you shake it.







"but to label it as "crap" and then argue that even worse retail give Yonge it's "soul" is ridiculous."


If the Yonge Strip consisted soley of a half block which included just those businesses, then your arguement might have some merit...but since it doesn't, I'm not the one being ridiculous.





KGB

I'm with you 100% on this KGB and i'm a UofT student. Yeah, I used to visit that Harvey's and it was good, but there are plenty of burger joints around that area if you are desperate, plus there is another Harveys only a few blocks away at Yonge and Bloor. Yeah, there is student traffic walking by it maybe, but it's not a hub of any sort.

Obviously not everything is going in a perfect state of repair all the time, but there's no doubt Toronto could generally improve it's streetscaping.

Definitely agree. Often, the drab street furniture and concrete makes it feel a bit like walking in the 'burbs.

Definitely agree. Often, the drab street furniture and concrete makes it feel a bit like walking in the 'burbs.

... when is the Bloor St. upgrade to it's streetscaping going to occur? It's been talked about for years now.

Demo has begun.

My arguement isn't just about the businesses...or even the state of the street facades (which are valid reasons alone), but how badly it is out of context with its surroundings. Look where it is...centred around Bloor/Yorkville....UofT campus and the cultural institutions...and the Annex residential neighbourhood....all very impressive. Now you have this pathetic half-block which is totally out of context with everything...it's a blight any way you shake it.


Out of context is a good description for it. This is not the only area in the city with this problem, but I am certainly glad that here it is getting fixed.

CrazyCanuck- what do you mean- Demo has begun? Where? I am curious because I walked along Bloor from Yonge to St. George on Monday and saw nothing to which could be viewed as demolition. A few renovations of store fronts, but no demolition.

The street furniture in this city is a whole mess in itself which needs to be seriously addressed. Maybe we will get some more of those recycled Tetra-pak benches with the bins incorporated directly behind the seating? I always wondered- couldn't they have come up with something more interesting- its fucking molded plastic? The cost of the mold is only high when you make one of them, but when you are mass producing the g-damned things??

p5

Renovation? They're rippin the sucker down! Might want to take a closer look down Bedford.

They have excavated a very deep pit. This photo is from Bloor St looking north towards the subway:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2113/1992973056_a14fbdb9b4_b.jpg


In this photo looking east you can see the ROM in the background:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2049/1992973074_99445e519b_b.jpg


Looking west with the Woodsworth College Residence tower on the left:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2334/1992973086_d04907a7e0_b.jpg

I walk by the pit several times a week and it is huge. I have a feeling the base is going to be a nice one.

Thanks for this update!!
I forgot about this one.

There goes the June 2009 completion deadline.

I think you may be right, but it could be close. This isn't reaching ground level before March at the earliest.

Photos taken today of the crane that was installed recently.


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2307/2114399748_6feec63d24_b.jpg


View of the crane from Bloor and Avenue Rd. The dinosaur gallery opened today at the ROM.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2138/2114399756_5abdce6949_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2379/2114480516_cc2810306b_b.jpg

Why couldn't the fugly Mcdonalds go instead.

Might just. The sweetheart lease from the City that they have had for the past 89 billion years has finally expired.

^I want that blowup dinosaur! Imagine if that bothersome neighbour of mine were to look out his window and see this!

Give him a real eyeful, and maybe he'll keel over! :lol:

I'm really not liking how this tower is shaping up ... a wooden slat retaining wall and a dirty, candy cane coloured crane? C'mon!

LOL! absolutely. Disaster!!! ...


;)

update today, before hunting dinosaurs at the ROM:

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j251/dawnd_01/Autumn%202007/winter%202007/IMGP2890i.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j251/dawnd_01/Autumn%202007/winter%202007/IMGP2892i.jpg

July 25

From Bedford looking southeast. They have done a lot on the large site since the last update but still not reached ground level.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3198/2703752483_86e5c5bfc7_b.jpg

From Bloor looking north.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3069/2703752491_d07078c5bd_b.jpg

No dino at the ROM but now they have a sand sculpture.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3243/2703752505_3cf48d4e94_b.jpg

I'm going to like this one.

Then it rained and the sand sculpture was no more... JK =D

^^ :(

Has construction been delayed or somthing? :ohno:

This one has been really slow all along. It's asleep at the wheel.

Anyhow I'll miss Gus and his little Beckers. Such a nice guy. I remember he always gave me and my dad a free Oh Henry bar or Starburst when I was a kid. I used to love the sour ones...:(
I never went to the Crepes shop but RIP anyways. If I were still living in the annex I wouldn't know where to go for my Mr Sub Fix..

Anyhow I'll miss Gus and his little Beckers. Such a nice guy. I remember he always gave me and my dad a free Oh Henry bar or Starburst when I was a kid. I used to love the sour ones...:(
I never went to the Crepes shop but RIP anyways. If I were still living in the annex I wouldn't know where to go for my Mr Sub Fix..

Subway, 1 block to the east.

^^can't remember a Subway being there in 05... although there was one I occasionally went to on Bloor near Brunswick St.

This one has been really slow all along. It's asleep at the wheel.

As with any project with a substantial podium, it takes much longer to construct the podium. Look at the threads for London, MLS, Murano, etc.

8 storey podium will take some time.

Anyhow I'll miss Gus and his little Beckers. Such a nice guy. I remember he always gave me and my dad a free Oh Henry bar or Starburst when I was a kid. I used to love the sour ones...:(
I never went to the Crepes shop but RIP anyways. If I were still living in the annex I wouldn't know where to go for my Mr Sub Fix..

The Crepes restaurant lives on Yorkville Ave at Yonge St in the 18 Yorkville building.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3225/2866484993_613415a33d_b.jpg

The woman who owns that crepe shop is a total bitch apparently... She used to phone up the BIA or drop by and insist on 'designer garbage bins' in front of her shop... Hehehe, and she hates you unless you speak French.

The woman who owns that crepe shop is a total bitch apparently... She used to phone up the BIA or drop by and insist on 'designer garbage bins' in front of her shop... Hehehe, and she hates you unless you speak French.

Crepe Nazi?

NO CREPE FOR YOU!

"la vache qui ne rit pas" :D

:rofl:

The woman who owns that crepe shop is a total bitch apparently... She used to phone up the BIA or drop by and insist on 'designer garbage bins' in front of her shop... Hehehe, and she hates you unless you speak French.

I happen to think she's a very sweet lady, at least from a naive customer's point of view, and I don't speak a lick of French. When I told her that my girlfriend and I were heading to Paris a few summers ago and asked for restaurant advice, she whipped up an email for us with a comprehensive dining itinerary (we only had a chance to try a couple of her suggestions, but they were excellent). Although I suppose I can see how, to some, her typically Parisian brusqueness and tenacity can be misconstrued for rudeness.

Alleged attitude aside, the crepes are fantastic.

She was really nice to me as well the one time I met her, giving me a free bottle of her homemade iced tea.

I've never met her but I've heard hilarious stories from the board of the BIA. Maybe she's nice to customers, makes sense?

The nicest person I've met while working in Yorkville was the manager of the HUGO Hugo Boss on Hazelton.

October 24

One Bedford has reached ground level and there were many construction workers. Looking southeast.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3277/2984885842_3bb93e6102_b.jpg

Looking east. A boulder on a skid?
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3216/2984885846_b988cf77af_b.jpg

Looking west.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3029/2984885856_6360dcf956_b.jpg

Parking ramp. Looking north from Bloor.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3167/2984885866_5aa00d5d51_b.jpg

Wow... this thing might actually get built in our lifetimes!
Only took it almost 2 years to get to the ground floor.
(on site demolition started Jan 07)

I wonder what happened to the Mr. Sub guys. They always gave me tons of meat to compensate for my lack of veggies.

Finally, (gasp) this building is rising above ground. Mostly at street level, but the elevator core(?) is rising above the 1st story. The only photo I could get today (too cold outside for me.:() is a glimpse of the crane, with 155 Cumberland rising in the background.

http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh33/urbandreamer4ever/constructionpixtorontobyurbandreamer4ever/DSC00030-2.jpg

You were brave to even attempt photography today. It was nastily cold.

horrible weather indeed, it's nice to see some progress on Bloor Street.

January 10

Looking northwest. It has taken a long time but One Bedford is now rising above ground level.:)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3305/3197361248_b831eb838d_b.jpg

Looking southeast.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3352/3197361252_ff046eed0e_b.jpg

Hopefully, One Bedford will draw attention away from that horribly cheap and bland looking hotel next to it. It's as tacky as those airport motels that dot the side of highways.

I would tend to agree. That Intercontinental was ghastly, even when it was new.

The grand old buildings in this neighbourhood and the new additions to the ROM and Conservatory, only make the disparity that more noticeable.

It is just so glaringly cheap looking. PoMo at its nastiest. That location of Bloor should have had something far more luxe, and as you say, the encroaching buildings are going to make it look even more tawdry.

Can you imagine if we had another grand hotel in the Canadian Chateau style right across from the ROM? Park Avenue, eat your heart out! It's amazing what just one or two fabulous buildings can do for an entire neighbourhood.

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii108/jasonzedd/mississauga1356.jpg

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii108/jasonzedd/Mississauga1987.jpg

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii108/jasonzedd/Mississauga1994.jpg

I can't believe how slowly this tower is rising. Those construction guys must be pissing around or something. :lol:

What are you talking about? They've at least quadrupled the pace!
Their averaging almost a floor per month now.
I'm starting to think they might actually get it done before the next boom arrives. :applause:

What is the normal pace for a highrise (ie how long does it take to usually build a floor?).

What are you talking about? They've at least quadrupled the pace!
Their averaging almost a floor per month now.
I'm starting to think they might actually get it done before the next boom arrives. :applause:

It's more like one floor every 2 months. They have been at ground level for, oh, about 7 months now.

This is going to make the view from the stands that much better. I can't wait for homecoming!

What is the normal pace for a highrise (ie how long does it take to usually build a floor?).

On average 2 floor per week.

two floors per week?? That seems a bit fast.

Sorry shouldn't of said 'on average' for that stat. 2 floors per week is the upper limit.
The average pace is somewhere between 1 to 1.5 floors per week.

This one is starting to pick up the pace, a bit.

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa250/torontovibe/SPORTSGUYS-June4-09048.jpg

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa250/torontovibe/SPORTSGUYS-June4-09043.jpg

4 floors in 4 years !!!! Exciting!!!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v18/destination_life/IMG_0947.jpg

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii108/jasonzedd/Mississauga-2/07312009b006.jpg

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii108/jasonzedd/Mississauga-2/07312009b004.jpg

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii108/jasonzedd/Mississauga-2/08292009003.jpg

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii108/jasonzedd/Mississauga-2/08292009004.jpg

Thanks for all the work, Jasonzed

So, when's the Mr. Sub moving back in? Those guys were best. I didn't realise 'til now that takes up the space where the Bedford Ballroom used to me. It's a pretty substantial podium for a building that size. Seems to fit well with the scale of Bloor Street.

So, when's the Mr. Sub moving back in? Those guys were best. I didn't realise 'til now that takes up the space where the Bedford Ballroom used to me. It's a pretty substantial podium for a building that size. Seems to fit well with the scale of Bloor Street.

Bedford ballroom is still there...

Is it? I'm clearly confused with what I'm looking at. Haven't been around there in ages. . . . It used to be between the Intercontinental and Bedford Street along Bloor ... five years ago at least.

The Bedford Ballroom is gone. The Bedford Academy is still there.

Okay, so I'm not going loopy.

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii108/jasonzedd/Mississauga-2/09122009012.jpg

thanks Jason, it actually looks like a building now lol.

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii108/jasonzedd/Mississauga-2/09182009a043.jpg

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii108/jasonzedd/Mississauga-2/09182009a044.jpg

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii108/jasonzedd/Mississauga-2/09182009a048.jpg

By dt_toronto_geek on UT. October 10, 2009.

From Avenue Road & Bloor

Click on the thumbnail to enlarge, then click again on the image for full size.

http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/xx341/scullydog259/th_OneBedford_Oct10-09.jpg (http://s770.photobucket.com/albums/xx341/scullydog259/OneBedford_Oct10-09.jpg)

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii108/jasonzedd/Mississauga-2/20091017014.jpg

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii108/jasonzedd/Mississauga-2/20091025037.jpg

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii108/jasonzedd/Mississauga-2/20091025042.jpg

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii108/jasonzedd/Mississauga-2/20091025019.jpg

i like the idea of that muesum house building nearby...hopefullly it turns out well

4 floors per year, it's looking real now though.

By drum118 on UT



http://davidfisher.biz/photo/2009/nov/2009_11_07/IMG_nov-07-09-0090.jpg

http://davidfisher.biz/photo/2009/nov/2009_11_07/IMG_nov-07-09-0094.jpg

http://davidfisher.biz/photo/2009/nov/2009_11_07/IMG_nov-07-09-0095.jpg

http://davidfisher.biz/photo/2009/nov/2009_11_07/IMG_nov-07-09-0097.jpg

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii108/jasonzedd/Mississauga-2/20091121039.jpg

By dt_toronto_geek on UT


Click on the thumbnail to enlarge, then click again on the image for full size.

http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/xx341/scullydog259/th_OneBed1_Dec12-09.jpg (http://s770.photobucket.com/albums/xx341/scullydog259/OneBed1_Dec12-09.jpg) http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/xx341/scullydog259/th_OneBed2_Dec12-09.jpg (http://s770.photobucket.com/albums/xx341/scullydog259/OneBed2_Dec12-09.jpg) http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/xx341/scullydog259/th_OneBed3_Dec12-09.jpg (http://s770.photobucket.com/albums/xx341/scullydog259/OneBed3_Dec12-09.jpg)

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii108/jasonzedd/Mississauga-2/20091220019.jpg

This building really stands out due to its location. Looking good! I'd live here.

Agreed. From Elkhanan's batch.

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii108/jasonzedd/Mississauga-3a/20100110077.jpg

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii108/jasonzedd/Mississauga-3a/20100110078.jpg

as slow as this one may be, it's still nice to have a building in that spot, it extends the Bloor west skyline a bit and fills the ugly gap that used to be there 25 years ago when they started construction.

Working on the 32nd floor this week--topping off within a month?

http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/219/dsc02845q.jpg

http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/970/dsc02854wm.jpg

http://img696.imageshack.us/img696/1369/dsc02840c.jpg

Retail base is gonna look hot!

http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/2581/dsc02856ri.jpg

More great pics, urbandreamer. Thanks. For the lucky few who will be calling this home, their southward views will never be blocked. From the perspective of the Bloor St canyon, I wish this was taller. From the perspective looking north across Kings College Circle toward University College, I wish this was shorter. Oh well. Toronto never stands still.

I was standing beside it yesterday, looking up at it. I'll bet it is quite luxe inside, but from the outside it is a bit Plain-Jane.

Well, at least they're using real stone on the base.

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii108/jasonzedd/Mississauga-3a/20100119003.jpg

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii108/jasonzedd/Mississauga-3a/20100119004.jpg

what a beauty!

Looking much better than I thought it would.

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii108/jasonzedd/Mississauga-3a/20100120005.jpg

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii108/jasonzedd/Mississauga-3a/20100120021.jpg

By drum118 on UT

http://davidfisher.biz/photo/2010/jan/2010_01_16/IMG_jan-16-10-0074.jpg

http://davidfisher.biz/photo/2010/jan/2010_01_16/IMG_jan-16-10-0076.jpg

http://davidfisher.biz/photo/2010/jan/2010_01_16/IMG_jan-16-10-0078.jpg

http://davidfisher.biz/photo/2010/jan/2010_01_16/IMG_jan-16-10-0075.jpg

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii108/jasonzedd/Mississauga-3a/20100213082.jpg

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii108/jasonzedd/Mississauga-3a/20100213064.jpg

Thanks for all the photos Jasonzed - wonderful contribution!!!

Really nice base on this one.The scale works well with the surrounding structures.

Really nice base on this one.The scale works well with the surrounding structures.

Yes, this is a great building and wonderfully suited for the area. The people who have bought into this project are very lucky!

The precast/stone is a brilliant quality-- this tower just looks like such high quality.

I am very happy with this design, and what it does for the streetwall along Bloor.

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii108/jasonzedd/Mississauga-3a/20100228034.jpg

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii108/jasonzedd/Mississauga-3a/20100228083.jpg

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii108/jasonzedd/Mississauga-3a/20100228044.jpg

I like this building but I don't appreciate what it's doing to traditional views of U of T. It's poking up awkwardly everywhere on campus.

U of T will eventually be surrounded by towers. I prefer signs of the city rather than blank sky. Same goes for the northern terminus of university avenue beyond the legislature.

A height reduction at 21 Avenue Road was insisted upon so that one wouldn't see it poking up behind the legislature when looking north. How is sky an appropriate bookend? You bookend a grand avenue with imposing structures, not sky. Likewise, I'd rather that the University of Toronto felt like an oasis in the city, rather than an oasis in what could be farmland beyond the campus.

^^It's not sky that's the bookend but the legislature building. The same was the case with University College but no longer thanks to One Bedford.

^^It's not sky that's the bookend but the legislature building. The same was the case with University College but no longer thanks to One Bedford.

Yes, I know, but they (urban planners) stop that train of thought by arguing that what lies beyond the Legislature should be sky. Sky? I didn't move to a city to see sky. It's an urban landscape that I'm in search of. I want a wall of towers visible behind the Legislature in the same way that Grand Central Station in New York is complimented by the Met Life building.

Sky has no place in an urban bookend. One Bedford isn't tall enough to create that urban backdrop behind University College. It really needed to be double the height it is. Now this below is a proper urban bookend. No sky behind the bookend. :okay:

http://gallery.photo.net/photo/5654195-lg.jpg
http://gallery.photo.net/photo/5654195-lg.jpg

^^The Met Life/Pan Am Building is considered to be a major blunder almost universally. Not all view corridors are worth preserving but some are. Unfortunately, we've compromised the view up Bay to Old City Hall, with RoCP poking up behind, as well as the view up King's College to University College, with One Bedford poking up behind. At least let's try to protect the view up University to the legislature building. Another view terminus worth safeguarding is up Avenue to UCC. I'd hate for that to be blocked. Any others? Can't think of them right now.

^^The Met Life/Pan Am Building is considered to be a major blunder almost universally.

That's a matter of opinion. The development of towers at the terminus is a vast improvement over blank sky. What exists now is quite under whelming and have been waiting for it to finally start filling in.

You view it as preserving a corridor, I view it as completing the corridor. At the end of a corridor one usually finds a wall, do we not? The corridor looks half complete without the sea of towers built to back end it. I had always assumed that it looked half finished because Toronto hadn't gotten big enough yet.

Unfortunately, there seems to be a large contingent who don't find this type of big city built form appealing. I will have to go to New York for that, I suppose.

That's a matter of opinion. The development of towers at the terminus is a vast improvement over blank sky. What exists now is quite under whelming and have been waiting for it to finally start filling in.

You view it as preserving a corridor, I view it as completing the corridor. At the end of a corridor one usually finds a wall, do we not? The corridor looks half complete without the sea of towers built to back end it. I had always assumed that it looked half finished because Toronto hadn't gotten big enough yet.

Unfortunately, there seems to be a large contingent who don't find this type of big city built form appealing. I will have to go to New York for that, I suppose.

I completely agree with your aesthetic isaidso. To me, urban landscapes mean the sense that you are hemmed in on all sides by towers and street walls - whether they be nearby, overwhelming the street itself or in the distance, perhaps beyond a park or boulevard, blocking out portions of the sky. When I'm in midtown Manhattan, I feel as though I'm in a massive maze - the kind of place where a superhero or giant Cloverfield-type monster can disappear from plain site among the density.

But that's just what I like in a vast city. Some people want density but also sky, as is the case with large cities in Europe. But as much as I love London and Paris, they don't have that atmospheric urban grit, bustle, and brashness that New World cities like New York, Chicago, or yes, even Toronto have. For me, European cities are about subtlety, beauty, and reflection, not overwhelming grandeur. There are no superheroes or giant monsters in London or Paris.

I completely agree with your aesthetic as well if that's of any comfort. But then again, on a site like this, you're bound to find a few like-minded people here and there. ;)

I completely agree with your aesthetic as well if that's of any comfort. But then again, on a site like this, you're bound to find a few like-minded people here and there. ;)

It is of comfort. Honestly, it was a huge surprise to find out that some city people viewed a corridor book ended by sky to be the desired goal.

^^Again, book-ended by significant monuments, not by empty sky. Nobody's asking for an open meadow in the middle of the city.

enjoyed reading this discussion. In general I'll hv to agree with elkhanan... cities that are beautiful/grand/whatever adjective you have in mind, require a variation in urban form, which includes relief spaces. By plugging the end of every view corridor with - more buildings - you kill the sense of hierachy, and the city becomes a uniform maze. Some people like that I guess, but IMO the most well-rounded cities are a combination of all worlds, and not just the "urban scene"

I can understand both of the points of view in this thread and I just want to note an example from Paris.

http://www.travel-images.com/france147.jpg

That skyscraper, on the left, really detracts from the beauty of this vantage point. In person, it is much more obvious and a much bigger planning error, in my opinion.

enjoyed reading this discussion. In general I'll hv to agree with elkhanan... cities that are beautiful/grand/whatever adjective you have in mind, require a variation in urban form, which includes relief spaces. By plugging the end of every view corridor with - more buildings - you kill the sense of hierachy, and the city becomes a uniform maze. Some people like that I guess, but IMO the most well-rounded cities are a combination of all worlds, and not just the "urban scene"
But there are plenty of view corridors that aren't bookended (mainly on long/straight streets) and that's great. You can look for miles down streets like Bloor/Danforth, King, Yonge, etc, and although sections are lined with highrises on the sides, they ultimately have sky at the end. This tends to be very common in grid cities. In other words, the problem isn't a lack of open-ended views, but rather a lack of grand, book-ended views.

I can understand both of the points of view in this thread and I just want to note an example from Paris.

That skyscraper, on the left, really detracts from the beauty of this vantage point. In person, it is much more obvious and a much bigger planning error, in my opinion.The problem with that situation seems to be the lack of consistency and coordination. The entire rest of the view is lowrise, with one conspicuous, incongruous structure sticking out like a sore thumb. Another issue is that a major theme of that vista is also the symmetry, and the Tour Montparnasse doesn't really line up:

http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/6563/450pxviewfrom153metersa.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:View_from_153_meters_above_the_ground_level_(Restaurant_Jules_Verne_-_Tour_Eiffel)_(129551782).jpg

I have to say that comparing what does and doesn't work well in Europe doesn't necessarily translate into the N. American cityscape since the cities often have quite fundamental design differences.

Le Tour Montparnasse is even more reviled than the Pan Am/Met Life Building. What a blunder. And it's full of asbestos. I'd say One Bedford is our Montparnasse vis-à-vis King's College/University College.


http://i49.tinypic.com/ngr8k5.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The_mall.JPG


Oi, London! Why all that sky behind Buckingham Palace, as seen from The Mall? Bookend it, I say!

I have to say that comparing what does and doesn't work well in Europe doesn't necessarily translate into the N. American cityscape since the cities often have quite fundamental design differences.

Naturally, but it was the most poignant example I could think of. Le Tour Montparnasse is perhaps the biggest blight in an otherwise gem of a view.


As for One Bedford, I actually really like the tower. Although it does complicate the view of University College from Kings Circle.

Looking brilliant today in the gorgeous sunshine!

http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/8866/dsc01288b.jpg

http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/4927/dsc01291i.jpg

http://img191.imageshack.us/img191/9619/dsc01249e.jpg

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii108/jasonzedd/Mississauga-3a/20100320010.jpg

Oi, London! Why all that sky behind Buckingham Palace, as seen from The Mall? Bookend it, I say!

You're comparing Toronto to London? :weird:

Bookending Buckingham Palace with a north American backdrop doesn't make sense. Bookending an avenue in downtown Toronto with skyscrapers does.

I didn't move to a Toronto to get a European vista. It's an imposing wall of skyscrapers that I want to see bookend an avenue. Sky? No thank you.

And you mentioned the much reviled Pan Am Building in New York. That's a matter of opinion. It's much loved by people in the other camp. ;)

Oi, London! Why all that sky behind Buckingham Palace, as seen from The Mall? Bookend it, I say!The thing is though, that view IS bookended. The corridor of trees and flags is low and narrow (compared to a wide boulevard lined with highrises), so the palace looks large and imposing at the end of the corridor. The provincial legislature can't perform the same function for University Ave, since Uni is FAR wider and lined with FAR taller/heftier elements making the legislature appear diminutive rather than imposing, and drawing the eye up to the sky. If University was much narrower and lined with shorter elements (trees, flags, low-rise buildings, etc.), than the legislature would make for an imposing bookend.

Sadly University Avenue is missing a grand gesture on the south end to create a pleasing Beaux Arts layout. Something really monumental should have been there, like a grand arch, or something like the once planned Vimy Circle. I've long been in favour of moving the dinky bronze statue of Sir John A McDonald from its place of prominence on the south end of Queen's Park, and installing something grand like a spectacular water fountain. That would provide the sense of arrival suitable to an august structure like Queen's Park.
However, I like the grand sweeping width of the avenue, and the lush boulevard, and would hesitate to make it more narrow.

1 Bedford vs. cute UofT students? Sorry, KPMB--you lose!

http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/5631/dsc01803c.jpg

Even OISE out-classes 1 Bedford!

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii108/jasonzedd/Mississauga-3a/20100411012.jpg

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii108/jasonzedd/Mississauga-3a/20100411014.jpg

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii108/jasonzedd/Mississauga-3a/20100417a052.jpg

Now that's like getting free admission to sporting events. Your view south will never be obstructed either.

Oooo ... get to watch Varsity Blues football.

Yeah, it's a nice bonus, but I'd much prefer being in the stands. They're a little bit like the Leafs though: one of the most storied teams in their sport, yet don't seem able to win.

You have to pay me to watch university football in Ontario.

You have to pay me to watch university football in Ontario.

I'm not surprised. Ontario isn't exactly a football hot bed. You have to go to the Maritimes, Quebec, Saskatchewan or to the United States to find people who are passionate about this sport. Football is central to the culture in these places. They don't require super stars, billion dollar stadiums, or any of the frills. They love, love, love the sport at a very primal level. In many of these places, they'll even turn out for high school football.

University: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan http://skhuskies.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/game-4-trailer-web.mov
High School: Massillon, Ohio http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ilp-b5ca4kI

Ontario? Forget it! That's squarely hockey and soccer territory.

April 29

One Bedford courtyard.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4044/4564734572_34b7067f57_b.jpg (http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4044/4564734572_34b7067f57_b.jpg)

That looks ridiculous!

Hi guys! this is a quick pic I took a while a go from queen's park. beautiful day btw and One bedford looking sharp! Hope you like it! :) http://i897.photobucket.com/albums/ac180/darwinpaiva/IMG_0345-1.jpg

not particularily tall, not particularily pretty... not sure why this one gets so much attention let alone a devoted thread.

some sort of sympathy thing happening here? anyone else agree?

Almost every building over 50 m has its own thread. One Bedford could have been much taller, but still makes quite a big impact due to where it is. It bookends the Mink Mile on the western end and creates a wonderful juxtaposition to ROM and Varsity Stadium.

There won't be any towers constructed on the campus directly south of it. Those south facing views will probably always remain fabulous.

Almost every building over 50 m has its own thread. One Bedford could have been much taller, but still makes quite a big impact due to where it is. It bookends the Mink Mile on the western end and creates a wonderful juxtaposition to ROM and Varsity Stadium.

There won't be any towers constructed on the campus directly south of it. Those south facing views will probably always remain fabulous.

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii108/jasonzedd/Mississauga/20100612044.jpg

By dt_toronto_geek on UT.


And the top of One Bedford from Charles Street West

Click on the thumbnail to enlarge, then click again on the image for full size.

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee140/laserboy_TO/th_OneBedford_June20-10.jpg (http://s233.photobucket.com/albums/ee140/laserboy_TO/OneBedford_June20-10.jpg)

Elkhanan1 - thank you for all the info and updates on many projects!!!!!

Respect,
Marco Polo

^^ My pleasure. :)

By Marcanadian on flickr.


http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4081/4743159433_759deee786_b.jpg

Wow, you posted them before I did. You're really on top of things around here! :cheers:

^^ :okay:

By urbandreamer on UT and here (with some asinine commentary).



3 July 2010:

http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/2231/dsc00226fs.jpg

I think it'll be rather windswept feeling in the winter, without tree coverage here or a glass canopy like they do in Vancouver.

It suddenly dawned on me that this hotel plaza must die! Yes, bring some life to this area with retail frontage, and perhaps another tower? Afterall, One Bedford's view must be hemmed in!

http://img682.imageshack.us/img682/4802/dsc00267a.jpg