[nfitz]

View attachment 456799

Excuse the blemishes...... as you can see, this area of East York is served, today, by 1 full-service supermarket (chain).

In the 1950s it was served by several more, of which I've highlighted but 4 (there was an additional one on Donlands, for sure, and I suspect others)

Yes, more than that in that area. Such as the Power at 2055 Danforth, at Woodbine and the Loblaw at Gerrard and Woodbine - see the old ads below. Probably more as well.

Today, this area has zero operating cinemas. The star I placed shows one former location (Roxy); but there were also cinemas at Danforth/Coxwell, on Donlands by O'Connor and on Woodbine near Sammon.

And the one at Woodbine and Gerrard - just east of the Naval Club. It was finally knocked down a few years ago for the new apartment building.

 

[W. K. Lis]

I think the big problem is solving these problems for families. I used to live in a condo, but, when we had kids, we moved to a relatively small house. Still in the city, but, not as convenient as living near Bay and Bloor. I can't envision living in the tiny condos that are being built now. We use up all 1800sqft of space (inc basement) and are still bursting at the seams, since we work from home as well. If you go to Europe, a lot of their apartments, even in the inner city, are quite a bit bigger, with lots of storage and big rooms. We need more of that here. After that's done, we also need to solve the amenity problem. Clicking refresh at 7am in the morning to book swimming lessons because so few spots are available really does resemble Soviet Russia.

Many of the old public schools in the old city of Toronto have pools. Swimming is part of physical education and normally included as part of schooling. Some new schools do without to save on education spending. With the 15-minute neighbourhood, pools would be part of the schools, libraries, community centre, and recreation setup. Pools may not be part of the school, but are within a 15-minute walk.

I remember in the 1950's and 1960's walking to a school (Fern Avenue) that had a pool, or to the city public library (High Park), from my school (Argentina/Garden Avenue). They were about 10 minutes away. The High Park public library was across Roncesvalles Avenue from a Loblaws (now a Sobeys), which was on the same block as Kresge's (now gone) and a Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (now CIBC). Oh yes, there was also a streetcar (now temporary suspended because of the King-Queen-Roncesvalles-Queensway intersection construction).

 

[mind_the_gap]

My trust only goes so far when we’re also heading towards a digital dollar. Paired with a Chinese-style social credit score system, 15-minute cities can become prisons for those who don’t comply.

Here’s Plannedopolis, for those who aren’t aware:

This isn’t the hell I want to live in. (And yes, this is an official video.)

Doesn’t help in Oxford, England they were planning on fining drivers who leave their 15-minute neighbourhood 70 pounds.

I don’t see these as the livable/walkable planned communities from the 60s/70s Swedish socialist-era that actually worked.

Ps. Twenty years ago I had a Loblaws across the street, now it’s a Shoppers. I’d call that regressive.

 

[evandyk]

I think the big problem is solving these problems for families. I used to live in a condo, but, when we had kids, we moved to a relatively small house. Still in the city, but, not as convenient as living near Bay and Bloor. I can't envision living in the tiny condos that are being built now. We use up all 1800sqft of space (inc basement) and are still bursting at the seams, since we work from home as well. If you go to Europe, a lot of their apartments, even in the inner city, are quite a bit bigger, with lots of storage and big rooms. We need more of that here. After that's done, we also need to solve the amenity problem. Clicking refresh at 7am in the morning to book swimming lessons because so few spots are available really does resemble Soviet Russia.

We have a kid in a condo downtown. It's a pretty nice apartment, but obviously has its space challenges. But groceries, pools, schools, playgrounds, are all steps away. We do private swimming lessons because the City of Toronto system is insufferable. Luckily we can afford it.

 

[W. K. Lis]

New condos need to be larger, not bachelor suites, and more 2 and 3 bedrooms along with an office/den. The secondary bedrooms should be large enough to contain a bed, dressers, AND desk & chair.

 

[crs1026]

New condos need to be larger, not bachelor suites, and more 2 and 3 bedrooms along with an office/den. The secondary bedrooms should be large enough to contain a bed, dressers, AND desk & chair.

When you hear people grumble that the Boomers aren't willing to move out of their oversized houses as they age to make space for the younger cohorts......this is why.

A 2-bedroom or "2+1" condo is just too small (a key word: grandchildren.....and no, shared use of a single condo guest suite is not acceptable), and given the equity available in our house there is no need to seek a lower 2-bedroom price point.

The other thing that is needed to attract "age in place" is level flooring and residence at or near ground. Boomers are still active and able, but the biggest lifestyle change point is when knees and hips give out, and we know that is coming (hopefully not until our eighties). Town houses with vertical designs (and often steep winding stairs) are not attractive to Boomers because they know that there are only so many years left of climbing stairs. I could tell some stories about reclusive people who ended up living solely on the main floor of their house.... which may not have left them with access to a bathtub or shower.....and then raccoons moved in upstairs....

Renovation of existing homes and/or expansion into triplexes and addition of garden suites is attractive because it gives opportunity to live in one unit, while generating retirement income by renting the remaining units. And one retains a certain amount of garden and patio space (shared by all units, perhaps) which keeps one near to birds and flowers and such.... just enough space for coffee and newspapers on the deck.

This configuration actually suits families with young children, also, where 2-bedroom condos do not.

If we are going to improve the quality of urban life - and especially to pry us Boomers out of our oversize empty nests - we need to drastically change the mix of housing that is about to be built.

I'm off topic I know, so I will stop here.

- Paul

 

[afransen]

New condos need to be larger, not bachelor suites, and more 2 and 3 bedrooms along with an office/den. The secondary bedrooms should be large enough to contain a bed, dressers, AND desk & chair.

It's one thing to say this, but how does one make it happen? Construction costs, psf, being what they are, how does one make 1200+ sqft units affordable to people who are instead choosing 400-500sqft units?

 

[Cambry Ardship]

Mind_the_gap, I don't want to be condescending, but you really need to touch grass. There are no secret plans to construct urban prison zones under the guise of liveable, environmentally friendly neighbourhoods. That is bonkers.

In reality-based discussion, I'd be interested in learning more about municipal barriers to implementing road diets. Many of the residential streets in North York seem very wide and drivers frequently reach excessive speeds. Where there are curb extensions, they seem to be done in a very minimalistic way, to be polite. The one nearby has no landscaping, seating, trees or pollinator plants--just paving stones. But from what I've seen of some in Montreal, they could be much better designed.

 

[lenaitch]

when knees and hips give out, and we know that is coming (hopefully not until our eighties)

It starts a lot earlier. In my peer group of 50-70 year old, many have already been up on the hoist multiple times for replacement parts.

But you make a good point. One of the main 'asks' when we were moving out of the 1890s farm house was 'bungalow'. With 10' or 12' ceilings, that staircase to the bedrooms upstairs looked less appealing as time went on. Being able to live on a single level only a few steps to the ground is huge (and all of my bits are original!) My sister-in-law just had her second knee done and they rented a hospital bed as she couldn't get upstairs to the bedroom. Thankfully, they had the room and the recovery is relatively short now. Without a mandatory back-up power, you'd never get me in a highrise.

 

[W. K. Lis]

It's one thing to say this, but how does one make it happen? Construction costs, psf, being what they are, how does one make 1200+ sqft units affordable to people who are instead choosing 400-500sqft units?

Sometimes the "luxury" upgrades are not really needed. Marble instead of laminated, heated floors instead of forced air for bathrooms, gas cooktops instead of induction cooktops, solid wood flooring instead of engineered planks, double ovens instead one oven, etc..

Some "upgrades" have to be accepted. Circuit breakers instead of fuses, air-conditioning, stacked washer and dryer (heat pump versions have no venting), etc..

 

[afransen]

Sometimes the "luxury" upgrades are not really needed. Marble instead of laminated, heated floors instead of forced air for bathrooms, gas cooktops instead of induction cooktops, solid wood flooring instead of engineered planks, double ovens instead one oven, etc..

Some "upgrades" have to be accepted. Circuit breakers instead of fuses, air-conditioning, stacked washer and dryer (heat pump versions have no venting), etc..

You think that is what is making condos cost 1200-1400 psf?

 

[evandyk]

A 2-bedroom or "2+1" condo is just too small (a key word: grandchildren.....and no, shared use of a single condo guest suite is not acceptable), and given the equity available in our house there is no need to seek a lower 2-bedroom price point.

We have a 2+1 condo that was an absolutely ideal place to have an infant/toddler. It's also an absolutely ideal place for us to retire when he's moved out of the house. It's not an ideal solution for the in-between phase, and there aren't many apartments close to transit that are.

 

[goreckm]

We have a kid in a condo downtown. It's a pretty nice apartment, but obviously has its space challenges. But groceries, pools, schools, playgrounds, are all steps away. We do private swimming lessons because the City of Toronto system is insufferable. Luckily we can afford it.

One kid is fine in a condo, but 2 or 3 it quickly becomes untenable, especially as they get older, and want their own space.

We miss living in a condo, and would give up the house in a heartbeat if we got the same amount of space.

 

[goreckm]

It's one thing to say this, but how does one make it happen? Construction costs, psf, being what they are, how does one make 1200+ sqft units affordable to people who are instead choosing 400-500sqft units?

The fact that a condo costs a similar $/sqft to a house in the same area is kind of insane to me. It should be 1/3 the price, as you give up a lot living in a condo, assuming similar location.

Only solution would probably be some kind of federal or provincial builder building a huge amount of units, which should hopefully lower prices, or possibly subsidize the prices somewhat.

 

[gabe]

If you go to Europe, a lot of their apartments, even in the inner city, are quite a bit bigger, with lots of storage and big rooms. We need more of that here.

I've been in apartment buildings built in the 1960s and 1970s in Toronto that are like that. My grandparents lived in an old 1960s apartment building on Dixon rd. The apartment was over 900 sq ft, with a kitchen bigger than the one i have in my house. Now a days the kitchens in new condo's look like they belong in a Winnebago they are so tiny.