The tagging in this area is out of control. Taggers should spend the next 2 years if caught cleaning up all the tagging in the city 100%, even if it means they don't work to make a living. Really know how to chase business away
No wonder we end up with so many surface parking lots in this city. If you have a vacant lot awaiting construction, it's too easy to get hit with a dumping violation even if you're not at fault. It's safer to surface the lot, even if it's for a few months than to keep up with others dumping on your lot. I'm gonna bet that this will be the fate of this lot if nothing is planned for a little while.
I, for one, am glad that we have mechanisms in place, and that they are being exercised, which prevent ad hoc garbage dumps from popping up around town. The state of this particular lot is totally unacceptable.
Dukes Cycle turned out pretty good, better than I would have expected. It fits in nicely and isn't overly fussy, it kind of pays a respectful nod to what used to stand there. Does anyone know if that is retail area on the 2nd & 3rd floor or replacement apartments?
The second floor appears to be retail as there's a staircase inside one of the stores that leads up. However, given that there's a central door that isn't for the stores, the top floors will probably be residential.
Dukes Cycle turned out pretty good, better than I would have expected. It fits in nicely and isn't overly fussy, it kind of pays a respectful nod to what used to stand there. Does anyone know if that is retail area on the 2nd & 3rd floor or replacement apartments?
I think the builders deserve credit for an elegant architectural contribution to the city. It's not the best we could have hoped for, but we avoided the eyesore shown in the rendering. However, I don't see how it pays a respectful nod to the Victorian block that stood there before. Its details suggest neoclassical inspiration; whereas, the heritage building that burned down had distinctly Victorian details.
If anything it looks like a generic '20s structure that's been stripped of most of its significant detailing. After a few years of city dirt, few will know the difference. Right now it looks very new, and therefore a bit awkward and out of place. Red brick would've let it blend in a little better.
It looks decent, reminds me of Uptown Waterloo's attempt at recreating historical urban retail buildings. A few more years of ageing will help this buidling blend in with its neighbours. Hopefully the lot directly to the east is developed soon with something of similar (or better) quality, the emptiness left behind by the blaze really hurt the aesthetics and streetwall consistency of this stretch of Queen.