The first building that started this modern boom

ditto · June 17th, 2012, 07:58 PM

A group of friends and I had a drunken conversation about the very first building that started this building construction boom in Toronto and when the boom will end. There are plenty of threads about the bust so let's talk about the start of the boom instead. It was interesting to hear the examples from the group

I blurted out 1 King West, someone said Apex at Cityplace, College Park, and another said Pantages Tower. Someone thanked Mike Harris for the Superbuild fund, which led to the funding of key cultural and educational facilities, and then the Mike Harris haters went ballistic

arguing that his government had nothing to do with this current boom....

Even though it may not be the first, I still think it was 1 King West was the most visible symbol that started this boom. And how can we not remember those late night info-mercials with Harry Stinson, LOL

***Taller, Better*** · June 17th, 2012, 08:08 PM

Interesting question...1 King West would certainly have some claim due to its prominent location. Certainly the boom started gaining steam around then. Spire was also proposed near the beginning of the boom, too. Took a long time to go up, but it was an early entrant in the race.

I guess this building back in 1793 was really the beginning of a very long boom for Toronto!

mdparker · June 18th, 2012, 01:25 AM

Good topic... Haven't lived in TO since the mid-90's but visit it at least a few times a year... Remember coming in to downtown from Pearson ('04ish?) and having my cab driver pointing out the Cityplace land that was being cleared for development... There was virtually no development during my 6 years in TO, and not much in my time away from it up to that point... I'm not the biggest fan of the CP development (with a few nice exceptions), but it really showed the pent up demand for contemporary living space downtown... I really have to say that CP was the straw that stirred the drink...

Epi · June 18th, 2012, 02:24 AM

The buildings that I would consider:
-1 King West (lol yes I loved those informercials too)
-The first Cityplace buildings on Front St.
-Waterclub Condos at York/Queens Quay

monkeyronin · June 18th, 2012, 02:57 AM

The current boom seemed to start around 2003, in which case there's no single building to choose from, but Pantages being by far the tallest and most prominent of that year would make a good case for being its poster child.

***Taller, Better*** · June 18th, 2012, 05:22 AM

I was rather thrilled when Pantages went up; seemed like ages since anything new had been built! It's certainly not much to look at now, though.

InTheBeach · June 20th, 2012, 04:18 AM

I would say Pantages, in terms of something that was actually tall.

But if we want to go back a little but further, I would say ACC. It was the biggest development we saw after a big lull following the late 80's, early 90's bust.

Back then, we were having our near-Greece moment (yes, I know we were not that bad, but it sure felt like a localized crisis - unemployment was >12% in Ontario).

June 17th, 2012, 07:58 PM	#1
ditto Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Toronto Posts: 132 Likes (Received): 0	The first building that started this modern boom A group of friends and I had a drunken conversation about the very first building that started this building construction boom in Toronto and when the boom will end. There are plenty of threads about the bust so let's talk about the start of the boom instead. It was interesting to hear the examples from the group I blurted out 1 King West, someone said Apex at Cityplace, College Park, and another said Pantages Tower. Someone thanked Mike Harris for the Superbuild fund, which led to the funding of key cultural and educational facilities, and then the Mike Harris haters went ballistic arguing that his government had nothing to do with this current boom.... Even though it may not be the first, I still think it was 1 King West was the most visible symbol that started this boom. And how can we not remember those late night info-mercials with Harry Stinson, LOL

June 17th, 2012, 08:08 PM	#2
*Taller, Better* Administrator Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Toronto Posts: 52,815 Likes (Received): 302	Interesting question...1 King West would certainly have some claim due to its prominent location. Certainly the boom started gaining steam around then. Spire was also proposed near the beginning of the boom, too. Took a long time to go up, but it was an early entrant in the race. I guess this building back in 1793 was really the beginning of a very long boom for Toronto! __________________ Please visit my photoblog! Montréal \| Mexico \| Niagara-on-the-Lake \| Brazil \| Hamilton aka "The Hammer"! "Fine words butter no parsnips"-17th Century proverb.

June 18th, 2012, 05:22 AM	#6
*Taller, Better* Administrator Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Toronto Posts: 52,815 Likes (Received): 302	I was rather thrilled when Pantages went up; seemed like ages since anything new had been built! It's certainly not much to look at now, though. __________________ Please visit my photoblog! Montréal \| Mexico \| Niagara-on-the-Lake \| Brazil \| Hamilton aka "The Hammer"! "Fine words butter no parsnips"-17th Century proverb.

June 20th, 2012, 04:18 AM	#7
InTheBeach Indie Bean Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: The Beach Posts: 2,305 Likes (Received): 2	I would say Pantages, in terms of something that was actually tall. But if we want to go back a little but further, I would say ACC. It was the biggest development we saw after a big lull following the late 80's, early 90's bust. Back then, we were having our near-Greece moment (yes, I know we were not that bad, but it sure felt like a localized crisis - unemployment was >12% in Ontario). __________________ You are a waterfall Waiting inside a well You are a wrecking ball Before the building fell And every lightning rod Has got to watch the storm cloud come. - Us Ones In Between, Sunset Rubdown

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June 18th, 2012, 01:25 AM	#3
mdparker Registered User Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Saskatoon Posts: 29 Likes (Received): 0	Good topic... Haven't lived in TO since the mid-90's but visit it at least a few times a year... Remember coming in to downtown from Pearson ('04ish?) and having my cab driver pointing out the Cityplace land that was being cleared for development... There was virtually no development during my 6 years in TO, and not much in my time away from it up to that point... I'm not the biggest fan of the CP development (with a few nice exceptions), but it really showed the pent up demand for contemporary living space downtown... I really have to say that CP was the straw that stirred the drink...

June 18th, 2012, 02:24 AM	#4
Epi Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Toronto Posts: 2,579 Likes (Received): 8	The buildings that I would consider: -1 King West (lol yes I loved those informercials too) -The first Cityplace buildings on Front St. -Waterclub Condos at York/Queens Quay

June 18th, 2012, 02:57 AM	#5
monkeyronin Mơמkƹ͛ƴ∆ґơɲiɲ Join Date: May 2006 Location: London Posts: 4,463 Likes (Received): 44	The current boom seemed to start around 2003, in which case there's no single building to choose from, but Pantages being by far the tallest and most prominent of that year would make a good case for being its poster child.