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I don't think the only alternative of rundown buildings/streets is shiny 46 storey towers and completely gentrified neighbourhoods. I don't know why even hinted "destroying everything"... There is no need to imagine such a dramatic scenario to prove me wrong (or there is not a problem).
Rundown buildings and neigbourhoods are simply reflection of urban failure, neglect and lack of care and maintenance. Aesthetics are subjective and not everything has to please ME, but I don't think dilapidated buildings, dirty streets full of drug addicts and panhandlers and boarded up windows are considered attractive and successful by any standards.
Our city can be of any build form, old or new, brick or glass, but decent upkeep and aesthetics is necessary and there is no excuse for neglect. When a building or street feels rundown, it is simply a bad thing. This is a successful project of turning a rundown building into a highly attractive one. Look, it is not "destroyed" or replaced by a 46s condo.
I don't think the only alternative of rundown buildings/streets is shiny 46 storey towers and completely gentrified neighbourhoods. I don't know why even hinted "destroying everything"... There is no need to imagine such a dramatic scenario to prove me wrong (or there is not a problem).
Rundown buildings and neigbourhoods are simply reflection of urban failure, neglect and lack of care and maintenance. Aesthetics are subjective and not everything has to please ME, but I don't think dilapidated buildings, dirty streets full of drug addicts and panhandlers and boarded up windows are considered attractive and successful by any standards.
Our city can be of any build form, old or new, brick or glass, but decent upkeep and aesthetics is necessary and there is no excuse for neglect. When a building or street feels rundown, it is simply a bad thing. This is a successful project of turning a rundown building into a highly attractive one. Look, it is not "destroyed" or replaced by a 46s condo.
Yeah lol. Both the before and after pictures look 100% better then the hell holes I am seeing. Seriously walk west of Bathurst on Bloor, St. Clair or Eglinton until Dufferin and you will see many examples of what I am talking about.
Yeah lol. Both the before and after pictures look 100% better then the hell holes I am seeing. Seriously walk west of Bathurst on Bloor, St. Clair or Eglinton until Dufferin and you will see many examples of what I am talking about.
of course there are better examples. The Dineen caffee which was renovated a few years ago was quite a transformation as well. The point is, a city like Toronto shouldn't have allowed buildings to be neglected to such a condition in the first place. Plenty of retail buildings on Queen West and Yonge st look horrible - yes, that didn't prevent those areas to be vibrant, but wouldn't it be better if they are well maintained?
And seriously, at Dundas and Church, about 3 minutes walk from Eaton Centre, our city looks like this:
Botti - i'm not trying to prove you wrong at all.. I even said that I'm not speaking to general aesthetics which I do agree, it would be nice to see sprucing up.. I did question the assertion that Church between Carlton and Richmond was 'boring' - there are some really interesting spots there and it isn't all boring.. Some fun/interesting places..
As a matter of fact your before and after pics really demonstrate how much 'sprucing' up makes a difference without the need to raze anything.. I guess its a question of bucks - who's is going to pay for this stuff. Private businesses have to invest the money to make these places look more appealing - its not just 'the city' as an entity right? Its like blaming 'the man'.. I dunno, maybe the city could provide some sort of incentive to business/homeowners..
I also made note of the fact that we do want a city with a diverse social stratification - sketch to some may simply mean not like them.. I'm not an advocate of rampant drug dealers or homelessness on the streets either but this speaks to other issues in the city than simply moving them to somewhere else.
of course there are better examples. The Dineen caffee which was renovated a few years ago was quite a transformation as well. The point is, a city like Toronto shouldn't have allowed buildings to be neglected to such a condition in the first place. Plenty of retail buildings on Queen West and Yonge st look horrible - yes, that didn't prevent those areas to be vibrant, but wouldn't it be better if they are well maintained?
And seriously, at Dundas and Church, about 3 minutes walk from Eaton Centre, our city looks like this:
Isn't that outrageous? I have to admit there is a problem before being able to solve it.
All the ratty old sign needed was a sand and paint job and wow. The city has the ability to look better. There are all these really cool old buidlings with interesting structural details... why not put some effort in to fixing them up a bit. By no means am I suggesting they all get ripped down. I personally really like a mix of structure styles in an area. I went for a walk near Davenport West today and same deal ... too many empty retail spaces. It was house .. house.. house... boarded up/vacant retail space (and I was walking fast and could have really used a drink ).
All the ratty old sign needed was a sand and paint job and wow. The city has the ability to look better. There are all these really cool old buidlings with interesting structural details... why not put some effort in to fixing them up a bit. By no means am I suggesting they all get ripped down. I personally really like a mix of structure styles in an area. I went for a walk near Davenport West today and same deal ... too many empty retail spaces. It was house .. house.. house... boarded up/vacant retail space (and I was walking fast and could have really used a drink ).
Seriously though KLM - how do you propose we do this meaningfully?.. Most of these places are either businesses or homes right? Is it the job of the 'city' to spruce these up... If people have a meaningful solution that is actually going to do something about the identified problem great otherwise we are really sort of stating the obvious that some run down and worn down places in the city (which is far from being a Toronto only problem), need to be spruced up and improved upon. We can all agree that places In the city would do well with some rather modest investments to improve the way they look bring them back to respectable condition - the question is how do we achieve this?
Botti - i'm not trying to prove you wrong at all.. I even said that I'm not speaking to general aesthetics which I do agree, it would be nice to see sprucing up.. I did question the assertion that Church between Carlton and Richmond was 'boring' - there are some really interesting spots there and it isn't all boring.. Some fun/interesting places..
As a matter of fact your before and after pics really demonstrate how much 'sprucing' up makes a difference without the need to raze anything.. I guess its a question of bucks - who's is going to pay for this stuff. Private businesses have to invest the money to make these places look more appealing - its not just 'the city' as an entity right? Its like blaming 'the man'.. I dunno, maybe the city could provide some sort of incentive to business/homeowners..
I also made note of the fact that we do want a city with a diverse social stratification - sketch to some may simply mean not like them.. I'm not an advocate of rampant drug dealers or homelessness on the streets either but this speaks to other issues in the city than simply moving them to somewhere else.
Seriously though KLM - how do you propose we do this meaningfully?.. Most of these places are either businesses or homes right? Is it the job of the 'city' to spruce these up... If people have a meaningful solution that is actually going to do something about the identified problem great otherwise we are really sort of stating the obvious that some run down and worn down places in the city (which is far from being a Toronto only problem), need to be spruced up and improved upon. We can all agree that places In the city would do well with some rather modest investments to improve the way they look bring them back to respectable condition - the question is how do we achieve this?
I am obviously not 100% sure, but I am thinking that people who live in these communities need to do basic up kept of their properties or be held more accountable. Why should tax payers money be spend because you can't handle up keep on your property? In public areas we don't usually see this level on decay because our taxes pay for the up keep. If you own retail space the city should enforce stricter laws on up keep requirements. This is also a public safety issue. Even basic lawn grooming and quick layer of paint makes a huge difference. Maybe my expectations are too high as I have bought 2 ratty older homes ( with decent bones as I am not completely crazy) and did major revamps myself and don't see the big deal in getting my hands dirty to fix stuff. A well planned home or business improvement can be as simple and cost effective if you are willing to do it your self. I think I missed my calling ... I should have gone in to construction management ! Seriously you can do wonders with $30 investment from purchases made at the hardware store even with dollar store tools ex brushes, sand paper and tape. Then again look at the dump that younge and Dundas use to be.... and now it is stellar!
I don't live in Toronto so I can't name specific neighbourhoods, but from the several times per year I roll in from Sudbury, which can also be pretty dumpy FWIW, I think the following areas need to be blown up and given a re-start:
- The area around and especially just north of Lawrence West station.
- The mess that is everywhere around Yorkdale mall. Like, EW.
- Mississauga.
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Your standards may be higher then mine lol!
. The city has the ability to look better. There are all these really cool old buidlings with interesting structural details... why not put some effort in to fixing them up a bit. By no means am I suggesting they all get ripped down. I personally really like a mix of structure styles in an area. I went for a walk near Davenport West today and same deal ... too many empty retail spaces. It was house .. house.. house... boarded up/vacant retail space (and I was walking fast and could have really used a drink 
).
