10-08-2015, 07:04 PM
(10-08-2015, 05:15 PM)BuildingScout Wrote: I'm ok with the building and frankly rather surprised at the lukewarm reception it got here. Here's why I think it is a building we should support:
Sure the design isn't exactly the most daring, but it isn't horrid either.
- It takes the trouble to preserve the heritage house
- Enclosed in glass houses, while new to some, work well in practice. Check out Bell Canada place in T.O. for an example.
- It would the tallest building in town. It's been almost 30 years since the previous record holder got built. Time to build a taller one.
- It continues connecting Uptown with Northdale. This is a good thing.
- It casts a shadow on the school during the hottest months of the summer while allowing sun light in the winter, just the way a properly planted tree is supposed to.
- It's full of single units where vacancy rate is lowest.
- It hides the parking spots.
- It's mixed usage.
- It's street facing.
- It's podium and tower.
On point one, I'm surprised since you're often the one to take pains to point out that a given building isn't heritage. This one isn't, and probably has not a lot of heritage. However...
Point two- yes, enclosing houses in glass is great. It would be great to try it out in the Region, if only to prove that it's a valid way to preserve heritage while allowing development in the future.
Point three...the tallest building in the city should have a lot demanded of it design-wise.
You're right on the rest. It's street-facing and podium-and-tower and mixed use. It's good. But the design is only not horrid. I never would have thought of the prominence of the site, but Markster is right that it will be very visible. So something really not horrid would be called for.