I got a good look at this building yesterday, and you know for an old building it is rather plane. It doesn't have a lot of the customary detail work especially around the windows. There are some details for sure especially the entrance columns but they could be kept for an entrance to a...

Actually it is proximity of bedrock near the surface that makes tall buildings possible. And yeah it is a lot of weight that is why you need bedrock and why things like curtain walls are used to lighten the load so the structural members at the bottom of the building can be smaller, and...

Is the bus tour group going to NPS because the tourists said that's where they want to go, or do the bus tour stop there because it is part of their route to stop there.

Exactly, they ask too much which is why you get the typical stores. It just gets me that people on here will say that Yonge street North of Wellesley is terrible and needs to be redeveloped. So there goes all the interesting small stores and you will get the typical condo store. Not against...

In other words typical condo commercial stuff.

We could be like Detroit where the middle class and upper class fled dowtown to the suburbs, now it is real cheap to live downtown there. Is there a country where it is relatively in expensive to live in the downtown of there main city. Toronto will only get more expensive as demand is greater...

I have a feeling that the basement levels may alredy be complete because as I recall the whole site was under construction when they demolished the concrete stub that was there. They may have left the foundation for this building. Anyone know if that is true.

What does dealing with public space to do with avenues and boulevards which would require taking over a large swath of private land to create them. Urban planners are not the Napoleon of this day and age.

Funny because on the Aura site they are saying it (Aura) is too busy which I think is the opposite of bland.

Count me in as well, I love it,

Obviously you do not know what you speak of, and did not fully read the article. The developer submitted the application due to the April 1st date after which fees increase. It is that simple and has nothing to do with sideswiping anyone. Any developer with a project near site plan application...

yes... but the courts rarely go against what the OMB decides.

Don't forget the OMB is a quasi-judicial board. They also look at the legality of councils decision. ie favouring one business over another or restricting competition etc. I guess without the OMB, legal issues like that would go through the normal court process.

I always spec double glazed spandrel panels, the architects want it because it gives a depth to the spandrel panel. The outer glass is spec'd with a colour tint to it and the inner glass is clear with a coloured film coating on the back. Not sure what all the fuss is about spandrel panels, to...

Exactly!

add on to 5) ....Could have been a lot better, though. I guess that's what we get in Rob Ford's Toronto

I actually think the biggest impact will be the OMB. I saw an article where the city wants to opt out of the OMB process, if that happens I believe council's decision will be the final decision and would that mean taller buildings would not be approved, just wondering.

...and the Metro Toronto Convention Centre

Not till March/April

Oh I agree and I have no problem with change but I guess I am afraid the base of condos will all have the same stores. Ever notice that no matter what city you go to in Canada the suburbs all have the same stores in a plaza. Walmart, Best Buy/Future Shop, Mark's Warhouse, Montana's... That is...