urbandreamer
recession proof
28 September 2010:
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Hooked
New Member
Wasn't Crossways built as a rental building? The fact that Heintzman Place will be made up of privately owned condos should make a big difference. The new owners will hopefully take pride in where they live ... and so they should. Welcome to the 'hood!
DavidC
New Member
Hooked,
That's a good point about the Crossways, but I think most of the complaints here are more about the general architectural style, not how the units are owned. But it may make a difference. We'll have to see. But thanks for the welcome!
-David
That's a good point about the Crossways, but I think most of the complaints here are more about the general architectural style, not how the units are owned. But it may make a difference. We'll have to see. But thanks for the welcome!
-David
Towered
Superstar
The cladding process on this one seems rather slow.
urbandreamer
recession proof
Maybe because it's real brick? I see the progress quite often, it's going at a decent clip all things considered. Still makes me puke most of the time, other than at night....
junctionist
Senior Member
The Crossways does look good, though. The brick cladding has proven quite durable and there appears to be little deterioration on the exterior. There are no balconies and hence no ugly balcony clutter, and the owner takes care of the landscaping opportunities afforded by the 1970s design, including the planters on the sidewalks. The underground parking is in excellent shape. The interior mall is always clean when I visit, even if it isn't glamorous in terms of the businesses which operate there. The businesses aren't sketchy, either, offering a variety of practical and affordable goods and services.
The owner clearly takes pride in this property.
DavidC
New Member
It's true, that the taller tower does eem to be taking longer. I've heard there may be issues regarding bricklayers.
urbandreamer
recession proof
Nonsense. I see these guys daily. It's a taller tower, so naturally will take longer. Done by eoy imo...
You should see the punks installing your balcony glass--hilarious, they look straight out of the projects, no hard hats etc in sight...
You should see the punks installing your balcony glass--hilarious, they look straight out of the projects, no hard hats etc in sight...
DavidC
New Member
Good too hear it will be done by the end of the year. I do worry however about their work-site safety. No hardhats? How far away are you from them when you see them?
Towered
Superstar
This begs the question - when did it become mandatory for all residential highrises to have balconies? I can't think of any recent developments that don't have them.
Parkdalian
Senior Member
Oh no! Balcony clutter! Evidence that human beings use the buildings!
What I'd like to see is an architect that took into account what balconies look like with clutter on them and made that part of the building's visual statement - it's only Neo-modernist designs that really struggle to deal with the effect of balcony clutter - a more chaotic or flowery style might find balcony clutter adds to the picturesqueness of the building's visual statement. Right now the trend seems to be to put fritted glass on the balconies to hide the clutter, but I'd like to see some smart designer work with this aspect of the building's use, rather than try to hide it.
What I'd like to see is an architect that took into account what balconies look like with clutter on them and made that part of the building's visual statement - it's only Neo-modernist designs that really struggle to deal with the effect of balcony clutter - a more chaotic or flowery style might find balcony clutter adds to the picturesqueness of the building's visual statement. Right now the trend seems to be to put fritted glass on the balconies to hide the clutter, but I'd like to see some smart designer work with this aspect of the building's use, rather than try to hide it.
It will be interesting to see how the frit on Festival Tower's balcony glazing hides objects behind it.
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Parkdalian
Senior Member
Yeah, I was thinking of that, and Number One Bloor. Also MLS, particularly on the lower floors. I guess the vertical garage sale effect naturally peters out the higher you go - stronger winds and all.
urbandreamer
recession proof
10 October 2010: Hadn't walked close to this building during the day in over a year.
Observations:
1)Smokey grey/black tinted windows really ruin this building. Cheaper perhaps?
2)Driveway strikes me as being abruptly suburban, especially when approaching from the very c.1900 urban built form and streetscape of Indian Grove and Heintzman. Yuck.
3)Inappropriate massing for the area. The Crossways comparison is spot on.
The main entrance area:
Of the lot, I prefer this podium area the most:
The base of the Keele St building has terribly awkward massing--very wtf were they (Crossways) thinking?
Observations:
1)Smokey grey/black tinted windows really ruin this building. Cheaper perhaps?
2)Driveway strikes me as being abruptly suburban, especially when approaching from the very c.1900 urban built form and streetscape of Indian Grove and Heintzman. Yuck.
3)Inappropriate massing for the area. The Crossways comparison is spot on.
The main entrance area:
Of the lot, I prefer this podium area the most:
The base of the Keele St building has terribly awkward massing--very wtf were they (Crossways) thinking?
AnnetteMeetsJane
Active Member
At the "ward 7 TDSB all candidates meeting" last night, it was mentioned that there is almost no capacity in the schools in the immediate area of this development (just a few spots @ Indian Rd. Cres. PS is my guess) . Apparently the plan is to bus the kids from this development out of the ward (I believe to Carleton Village P.S. and the high school in that cluster).
Apparently the problem is even worse for the building proposed for 1850 Bloor St. W. (opposite High Park). This building is within the catchment of schools that are already well over capacity. Any kids moving into this building will have to be bussed east.
My impression. coming away from this meeting, is that there is a serious disconnect between planning of new developments and the infrastructure/services it impacts. Anyone know whether there is a mechanism to get developers to kick in capital towards schools as part of the planning process? Would it be part of the section 31 money?
-AmJ
Apparently the problem is even worse for the building proposed for 1850 Bloor St. W. (opposite High Park). This building is within the catchment of schools that are already well over capacity. Any kids moving into this building will have to be bussed east.
My impression. coming away from this meeting, is that there is a serious disconnect between planning of new developments and the infrastructure/services it impacts. Anyone know whether there is a mechanism to get developers to kick in capital towards schools as part of the planning process? Would it be part of the section 31 money?
-AmJ