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I'm pleasantly surprised by this proposal. I think KW often plays it too 'safe' from an architectural and planning perspective, and this is relatively bold.
The mall is currently in a sad state - and seems unlikely to attract any big name anchors as is. Compounded with the decline/uncertainty of brick & mortar retail, a mixed office-space/retail intensification with easy access to the 401 doesn't seem like a bad idea. Perhaps an attempt to urbanize the suburban mall? I know many will dislike the concept of faux brick/beam, but playing off our industrial past isn't the worst idea, but better than yet another stucco strip mall design.
City heritage planners are recommending to the Heritage Committee that Kitchener allow the demolition of the former Sears building, despite its heritage significance (it is not a heritage listed property).
Heritage significance? ""(A) unique example of the Kennedy Era International style of architecture in the area," and because the construction of the mall marked the beginning of the move away from downtown retail shopping." Sometimes being a fine building is just not enough ...
A unique (in Kitchener) example of Kennedy-era brutalist architecture, but the heritage committee doesn't think it needs to be preserved? But yet another run-down run-of-the-mill century home on Queen St S, nestled between apartment buildings, absolutely must be preserved?
Maybe they should rename the heritage committee to "century home preservation committee."
(10-30-2018, 08:33 PM)tomh009 Wrote: A unique (in Kitchener) example of Kennedy-era brutalist architecture, but the heritage committee doesn't think it needs to be preserved? But yet another run-down run-of-the-mill century home on Queen St S, nestled between apartment buildings, absolutely must be preserved?
Maybe they should rename the heritage committee to "century home preservation committee."
Maybe this is too cynical but "the committee for the continuation of uniformly single detached house neighbourhoods"--
10-30-2018, 10:08 PM (This post was last modified: 10-30-2018, 10:11 PM by panamaniac.)
(10-30-2018, 08:33 PM)tomh009 Wrote: A unique (in Kitchener) example of Kennedy-era brutalist architecture, but the heritage committee doesn't think it needs to be preserved? But yet another run-down run-of-the-mill century home on Queen St S, nestled between apartment buildings, absolutely must be preserved?
Maybe they should rename the heritage committee to "century home preservation committee."
To note - allowing demolition is the heritage planner's recommendation to the Heritage Committee, which will consider it at its next meeting.
"Cadillac Fairview, which owns the mall and the vacant Sears store..." --snip--
More piss poor writing by the world renowned Waterloo Region Record. No wonder people don't like the media. Not only is spell check and grammar not used, their details and information on stuff is usually fake.
Last few times I've been to Fairview Park Mall, the "vacant" Sears store was occupied by a staff and customers of Urban Behaviour. It's been there since June.
And I am sure there will be a correction in next weeks Record, but as always, the correction will leave out all of the context, so the reader will have no idea what was originally said. "Urban Behaviour is a tenant in the former Sears store. Incorrect information was posted in last months article. Good luck finding it, since you have zero idea what we are referring two (sic), and we're too damned lazy to actually do any real research when righting (sic) articles."
Hmm new ones for sure. But it's weird that the Sears facade is different in both renders. The shape is slightly different by the restaurant, so too are the inclusions of the skylights.
(11-03-2018, 08:10 PM)jamincan Wrote: I'm not sure about this faux heritage industrial aesthetic thing here. The giant chimney thing seems a step too far.
And the fake water tower. This will look so kitschy in 30 years I think... and I wonder how much of that grass will actually remain when it's all done.
(11-03-2018, 08:10 PM)jamincan Wrote: I'm not sure about this faux heritage industrial aesthetic thing here. The giant chimney thing seems a step too far.
And the fake water tower. This will look so kitschy in 30 years I think... and I wonder how much of that grass will actually remain when it's all done.
It will look kitschy the moment it is built. It's a shopping mall, however, so I doubt it matters.
(11-03-2018, 08:10 PM)jamincan Wrote: I'm not sure about this faux heritage industrial aesthetic thing here. The giant chimney thing seems a step too far.
if it ends up looking like the rendering then i love it