[VoiceofReality]

This is not the city. This is Pen Equity. The city has little or nothing to do with any of these buildings.

Sorry, for clarity I was referring to 277 Victoria /the current Hakim Optical Building (N side of Dundas). The City owns 277 Victoria and expropriated the Hakim building with a view to sell / develop this block to a condo / hotel developer. Given all the condo / hotel developments in the city that have been marketed / developed over the past few years one can only wonder why this block wasn't developed. Now that there are no more excuses (on Metropolis / Toronto Life Square) I am hoping it comes to market.

Additionally my understanding is that the Mission Press Building is now owned by Hakim, not PenEquity. PenEquity is not involved...

 

[alklay]

You could be right about the Mission building.

 

[caltrane74]

that was easy!

 

[ShonTron]

Sept 11:

 

[Patriot]

This building is an eye soar. I'm glad they are renovating it...it will boost the area for sure.

 

[MetroMan]

All of Dundas is an eyesore East of Dundas Sq. The whole area needs sprucing up.

 

[adma]

That building transcended its eyesoredom back when it still housed the Mission Press...

 

[allabootmatt]

All of Dundas is an eyesore East of Dundas Sq. The whole area needs sprucing up.

You can include the stretch between Yonge and Univ. too....

 

[MetroMan]

Well, at least Victoria to Bay is looking good with all the latest improvements and One City Hall is pushing that further West. I do agree that Dundas is really crappy beyond there.

 

[jaborandi]

You can include the stretch between Yonge and Univ. too....

It's a bit of a mystery how such a daggy area so close to the CBD has not been developed. It would seem like a natural for condofying.

 

[p5connex]

The new Hakim building is going to be an eyesore as well, maybe to a lesser-extent than what is there now, but nonetheless an eyesore.

p5

 

[TKTKTK]

I don't know if I'd call that building an eye-sore exactly. It's got great bones, beautifully worn-in brickwork, and has a certain honesty that shouldn't be overlooked (and certainly not covered-over with a more up-to-date mediocrity).

Use it as an anachronistic podium and build a slender miesian box above it, just don't replace it with some boring 80s glass curtain wall.

 

[Hydrogen]

Yeah, the Bond hotel next to it has far less in terms of character.

 

[allabootmatt]

It's a bit of a mystery how such a daggy area so close to the CBD has not been developed. It would seem like a natural for condofying.

Two words: bus station.

 

[dt_toronto_geek]

You can include the stretch between Yonge and Univ. too....

Great advances have been made between Yonge and Bay (including 1 City Hall on the south/west corner). Bay to University isn't shiny-beautiful but it certainly has character with all the Chinese shops and restaurants.