Well, it's my neighbourhood, so I have to like it. Another from today.

Hoardings are down. It's kind of hulking but I don't mind it. The retail has very high ceilings. From today:

From today:

It's really rather OK... from today:

Glad to hear there is retail at grade, it was my one concern on seeing the renderings.

Bixi is an amazing system--but be prepared for the screams when people realize that the stations take up parking spaces.

Trump & Tai Chi

I was disappointed by the removal of signature architectural elements when this started, but I think now it's looking pretty good. I do hope they bring in some significant greenery, not those poor scruffy ficuses that were struggling in there.

Since the guy is a surveyor, "a lot" might mean an inch or two...

Excellent photoessay on blogto today about this building: http://www.blogto.com/city/2011/03/a_last_look_at_the_imperial_oil_building_pre-condos/

From today:

If I recall correctly he said that he would get something like three month's rent in compensation.

I was talking to a someone who lives in this building--he says he and others will be evicted for the sake of this project.

Peeking out at Yonge and Wellesley:

Another view from today, this time from C5 at the ROM:

from today:

Taken Tuesday. The dude almost waved me off. Then he decided it was OK.

I hope you're not referring to Mississauga. There's nothing sophisticated about it. Wealth does not equal progress or urbanity. That's what I mean. Montreal is a real 21st century city. For all the handwaving about 'creative class' and 'urban innovation' Toronto is far, far behind. Just...

Indeed. After passing through the five barbed wire perimeters and flashing my Canadian passport at the black helicoptors, I can't wait to shake hands with those glorious paragons of democratic values Hu Jintao, King Abdullah I of Saudi Arabia and Dmitry Medvedev. Who cares is a few dirty hippies...

The irony is that Montreal is otherwise run down, shabby and dirty. Fortunately, they have had decades of proper planning and infrastructure building so that even in it's fallen state the city is so much more beautiful, sophisticated and urban than here.