One Young (née Mayfair Hotel) | 5 fl | Complete - Printable Version +- Waterloo Region Connected (https://www.waterlooregionconnected.com) +-- Forum: Land Development and Real Estate (https://www.waterlooregionconnected.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=4) +--- Forum: Urban Areas (https://www.waterlooregionconnected.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=5) +--- Thread: One Young (née Mayfair Hotel) | 5 fl | Complete (/showthread.php?tid=299) |
RE: Mayfair Hotel - Spokes - 05-22-2015 (05-22-2015, 09:34 AM)tomh009 Wrote:(05-22-2015, 08:49 AM)Spokes Wrote: Me too. I don't think the facade is original, but I too like it. Anyone know what the plans are for the apartments? Or what their current state is? Yes RE: Mayfair Hotel - realtyforward - 05-22-2015 (05-21-2015, 09:38 PM)mpd618 Wrote:(05-21-2015, 12:35 PM)realtyforward Wrote: In the spirit of demolition (pardon my sarcasm), with the Mayfair and Hymmen buildings being removed, part of me feels like the two remaining buildings should also be demolished to create the best redevelopment opportunity. ... In any event, there's an opportunity for some great density and master planning on that site under current zoning if the frontage from Young St to the Elements building was considered as a whole. Unfortunately, with multiple property owners with different timelines and agendas, that can be difficult to achieve. I see where you are coming from, but there's great examples of new buildings with large frontages and interesting facades - anything can be created with great design. Take the Waterloo Town Square development (LCBO to Channers) for example - it's one building but has the allusion of many due to the varying facades. Anyway, my point is that larger blank slates make it easier to redevelop and limit the number of vacant pockets in the core. I can appreciate the position that Weber Chambers should stay, but there are economies of scale with larger redevelopments and the trade off might be that we see a longer period of vacant land than we might otherwise if it were gone. I do like the Weber Chambers building though - I hope it isn't structurally compromised through this demolition work. RE: Mayfair Hotel - tomh009 - 05-22-2015 (05-22-2015, 09:37 AM)Spokes Wrote:(05-22-2015, 09:34 AM)tomh009 Wrote: On the other side, is the convenience store the only property between Weber Chambers and the City Centre property? Assuming the Weber Chambers building stays, that will certainly limit the redevelopment options for the convenience store. Although in Tokyo they will build tall (earthquake-resistant!) buildings in less than 3m of street frontage ... RE: Mayfair Hotel - KWchick - 05-22-2015 (05-21-2015, 08:12 PM)Lens Wrote:(05-21-2015, 05:31 PM)KWchick Wrote: i worked there too. til a couple years ago. oh, well.. as i said, it used to interest me downtown.. lots of ppl i knew were still about, so it was nice just to even go for a walk down there and see them. and of course as i mentioned, the old bars had lots of bands to go and see, for example. just the familiarity i suppose. that was kind of my point. i realize most think it is great to have all new things and i am glad many still like it. RE: Mayfair Hotel - tomh009 - 05-22-2015 (05-21-2015, 11:27 AM)Owen Wrote:(05-21-2015, 10:56 AM)Coke6pk Wrote: I know nothing about demo/salvaging, but the bricks are falling to the ground (which I would assume would at least damage them partially), and at the end of the day a bulldozer just pushes everything up against the side of the building. I'm sure there are few salvageable bricks... but then again, what do I know? And indeed they are being recovered. As you can see, the brick clean-up is all manually done, which is why they are not cheap. RE: Mayfair Hotel - Coke6pk - 05-22-2015 Yesterday: Leave for Italy out of YKF on the weekend... so no more updates. RE: Mayfair Hotel - mpd618 - 05-22-2015 (05-22-2015, 09:57 AM)realtyforward Wrote: I see where you are coming from, but there's great examples of new buildings with large frontages and interesting facades - anything can be created with great design. Take the Waterloo Town Square development (LCBO to Channers) for example - it's one building but has the allusion of many due to the varying facades. Anyway, my point is that larger blank slates make it easier to redevelop and limit the number of vacant pockets in the core. If the west side of King from William to Willis is as good as it gets, it kind of proves my point. And how easy it is to redevelop is also a bit of the problem - designing something interesting to fit the space is a challenge, one that you don't need to confront if you are not as confined by space. It's a moot point as it relates to this block, but I think we need to have more conversation as a city on how (or whether) small-lot redevelopment can work. RE: Mayfair Hotel - BuildingScout - 05-22-2015 (05-22-2015, 08:45 PM)mpd618 Wrote: If the west side of King from William to Willis is as good as it gets, it kind of proves my point. And how easy it is to redevelop is also a bit of the problem - designing something interesting to fit the space is a challenge, one that you don't need to confront if you are not as confined by space. I think he was saying that that part is nice, not that it is the epitome of modern design. Having said that, I challenge you to find a continuous King street front in KW that is nicer than that, new or old. I can give plenty of examples in other cities that are nicer, again, new and old, but here the standard has generally been rather low and it generally will be rather easy to build something nicer than what is being replaced. RE: Mayfair Hotel - Lens - 05-22-2015 Just a roughed map of what's been lost since the 60's RE: Mayfair Hotel - BuildingScout - 05-23-2015 (05-22-2015, 11:31 PM)Lens Wrote: Just a roughed map of what's been lost since the 60's Thanks for the pictures, this is really helpful. However I take issue with the blanket use of the word "lost". For example, the new Kitchener City Hall block was unremarkable. So was was the previous structure on the government of Canada building on Duke St. You can add the consolidated court house structures to that. Those are clear gains. On the loss side, we have, for example the old City Hall structures, which are sorely missed. RE: Mayfair Hotel - Lens - 05-23-2015 I agree, I simply want to illustrate what older structures had been lost, regardless of their particular value. Two buildings that I think aren't talked about much are the 6 storey Dunker/Medical Arts building and the bank building where the BMO branch now stands. The Mayfair Hotel by Matt, on Flickr Mayfair Hotel Demolition - Gone by Matt, on Flickr Mayfair Hotel Demolition - Last Grace on the Skyline by Matt, on Flickr Mayfair Hotel Demolition - Monochrome Mayhem by Matt, on Flickr Mayfair Hotel Demolition - Exposed by Matt, on Flickr RE: Mayfair Hotel - KWchick - 05-24-2015 (05-22-2015, 11:31 PM)Lens Wrote: Just a roughed map of what's been lost since the 60's thats just sad. RE: Mayfair Hotel - Drake - 05-24-2015 What building was inside the red circle? It looks to be quite large. What is the reason it is gone? RE: Mayfair Hotel - tomh009 - 05-24-2015 (05-24-2015, 01:45 PM)Drake Wrote: What building was inside the red circle? It looks to be quite large. What is the reason it is gone? I don't remember the building, but it was torn down to make space for King Centre. RE: Mayfair Hotel - panamaniac - 05-24-2015 That was the Dunker Building, was it not? |