[thecharioteer]

its amazing how often that excuse was given as a reason for demolition. i've come across it many times. and you're right, its unconvincing. the fact that examples of a certain kind or style of building exists elsewhere seems an odd justification for tearing a building down here.

True, and usually the argument went that the example in the other city was better than our local version, i.e. in the discussion over the proposed demolition of the Old City Hall, Richardson's Allegheny County Courthouse was always used as an example of a superior version of Romanesque Revival, so why save ours?

The other argument that doomed a number of buildings was the issue of Memory, namely bad memories. Howard's Provincial Lunatic Asylum never stood a chance because of that (the Don Jail almost faced the same fate).

Finally, we presently operate under a dysfunctional system in which Preservation Services is part of the Planning Department and is so chronically under-staffed that even basic "listing" functions don't occur (i.e. 81 Wellesley East). Heritage Toronto (the former Toronto Historical Board) is no longer part of the development process. When this gets combined with political indifference, we get cases like the recent demolition of Hungarian House at 836 St. Clair West, the original Shaarei Shomayim Synagogue designed by Kaplan & Sprachman in 1948. The indifference of Councillor Joe Mihevic, combined with the ambivalence of Preservation Services resulted in the demolition by Urbancorp for some unspecified future use.

 

[thecharioteer]

Actually, I think it was more a matter of Etobicoke York Community Council (y'know, the fine home of Ford, Holyday, Mammoliti, Palacio in this ward et al) wanting to help the police along; and thus the matter of "heritage status" was overridden, and the City's weak heritage regs + infrastructure meant that the preservation board could do little more than shrug. Luckily enough, the police chief wound up heeding the protests and claims and decided "hey, it's a nice building, why not save it"--and thus, the present solution.

Note that it's recently been announced that 11 Division won a 2013 Award of Architectural Excellence from the OAA.

 

[thecharioteer]

Bathurst/Front 1916:

 

[LowPolygon]

When this gets combined with political indifference, we get cases like the recent demolition of Hungarian House at 836 St. Clair West, the original Shaarei Shomayim Synagogue designed by Kaplan & Sprachman in 1948. The indifference of Councillor Joe Mihevic, combined with the ambivalence of Preservation Services resulted in the demolition by Urbancorp for some unspecified future use.



View attachment 11750

View attachment 11751

what a travesty. just pathetic.

 

[LowPolygon]

King St. W. (on right) looking west from east of Wilson Park Road, June 1887. this seems to have been taken from a hot-air balloon.

 

[Lone Primate]

King St. W. (on right) looking west from east of Wilson Park Road, June 1887. this seems to have been taken from a hot-air balloon.

Wow, must have been next to unbelievable in the day! I imagine you could have made a pretty penny... or even a dime!... selling a shot like that to the Globe back then.

 

[thecharioteer]

Jarvis hotels:

Albion Hotel, east side of Jarvis between King and Front, 1873:

The first Four Seasons:

 

[junctionist]

King St. W. (on right) looking west from east of Wilson Park Road, June 1887. this seems to have been taken from a hot-air balloon.

Those are great photos. I'd like to save them for my personal collection of historical photos of Toronto, but I only save if I can note the source. Do you know what it is (even if you just found it in a book or on a website)?

 

[Mustapha]

King St. W. (on right) looking west from east of Wilson Park Road, June 1887. this seems to have been taken from a hot-air balloon.

/QUOTE]


Outstanding, thank you!

 

[Mustapha]

Does anyone know why the first Four Seasons was closed down? Did business fall off?

 

[LowPolygon]

Those are great photos. I'd like to save them for my personal collection of historical photos of Toronto, but I only save if I can note the source. Do you know what it is (even if you just found it in a book or on a website)?

the larger file is here:

http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/detail.jsp?Entt=RDMDC-PICTURES-R-589&R=DC-PICTURES-R-589

the details are mine, enhanced in a variety of ways via photoshop.

its not a huge file, 1920x1161 but its decent, and the details can be drawn out...

 

[thecharioteer]

I think it's one of the truly most "evocative" photos you've ever posted, deepend! Good work!

 

[yonderbean]

Amazing photo! I'm wondering if this building with the tower is the one that still stands (with billboard now instead of tower) at the Queen-King-Roncesvalles intersection. The location seems about right.

 

[thecharioteer]

Good call, yonderbean. I had been wondering whether it was some forgotten Parkdale estate.

 

[Davidackerman]

amazing pic