[hawc]

Why does the provincial government have to get rid of all the good stuff?

Sadly, I firmly believe that we as Ontarionians got rid of this stuff by not going to them enough.

The government had to shutter and then eventually tear them down as attendance figures got so low and maintenance bills got so high that it was impossible to make a business case for them anymore.

Did they make the calls too soon in some cases? Maybe. Should they have reinvested in them or updated them in some way to make them more attractive to Ontarionians to keep going? Maybe.

But in Ontario Place's case they were constantly trying new stuff, it just could compete with Canada's Wonderland etc and people just weren't coming.

Science Centre just seems like decades of deferred maintenance finally buried it, combined with no new exhibits or any reason for people to keep checking it out. (That said my family and I probably went there 2-3 a month, but we're not most people.)



Still super sad though. I feel equally heartbroken. I just wouldn't blame it on the government. They're only reacting to decades of consumer demand and market forces. In fact if it were a private company they likely would have been shut down/redeveloped years sooner.

Now that said, what should be the future uses for these places I would definitely blame on the government.

I pray the OSC is bought UofT, George Brown, TMU etc and turned into an awesome campus or something. If it's turned into office space I pledge to move my company there!

The only childhood memory left still operating in its full glory (minus the miniature train) is Centreville!!! Don't let that one die.

 

[cd concept]

Ontario Place, the McLaughlin Planetarium and The Science Centre were my go-to places as a teen in the 70s. Why does the provincial government have to get rid of all the good stuff?

Wait, the current OSC needs $1.4B in maintenance? Couldn't they tear it downs rebuild it exactly as it was for $1.4B?

If the reason the provincial government wants to shut the Science Center down just to sell it to the developers. Then why doesn't the government get together with the private developers to refurbish the centre like they do to old shopping mall areas. In exchange for multiple skyscraper towers having a community center, commercial, retail and underground tourist buses etc parking spaces in bedded into the parcel of land. Making the Science Center more profitable now that its densely populated and having two mass transit line connecting to it which it didn't before. Would be a WIN, WIN situation to all parties because of the intensification status quo policies in mass transit core areas now a days !

 

[generalcanada]

If the reason the provincial government wants to shut the Science Center down just to sell it to the developers. Then why doesn't the government get together with the private developers to refurbish the centre like they do to old shopping mall areas. In exchange for multiple skyscraper towers having a community center, commercial, retail and underground tourist buses etc parking spaces in bedded into the parcel of land. Making the Science Center more profitable now that its densely populated and having two mass transit line connecting to it which it didn't before. Would be a WIN, WIN situation to all parties because of the intensification status quo policies in mass transit core areas now a days !

Whats funny is people saying this not realizing how incredibly difficult to build in the ravine...not even that. the actual developable area is very tiny.
Not happening

 

[cd concept]

Whats funny is people saying this not realizing how incredibly difficult to build in the ravine...not even that. the actual developable area is very tiny.
Not happening

Who's saying that you have to build in the ravine! You can build at least five slim 60+ storeys towers on a 3 to 5 storey podiums on the north and south parking lots alone. And the landscaped front entrance of the science centre could house maybe two more towers on both sides. On top of a podium where the middle part of it could be a classy 3 to 5 storey indoor artruim entrance to the centre. Just like an indoor mall which would anchor the Science Center to west of Don mills rd. And possible retail, office, community center and parking below etc. Walking through the first few levels under the north or south podiums which are now parking lots. Not to mention buildings located to the south west side of the Center. If it's part of the property it could be redeveloped just as well. Intensifying the Science Center's property could be the way save this historical landmark in my opinion!

 

[jaybe]

Who's saying that you have to build in the ravine! You can build at least five slim 60+ storeys towers on a 3 to 5 storey podiums on the north and south parking lots alone. And the landscaped front entrance of the science centre could house maybe two more towers on both sides. On top of a podium where the middle part of it could be a classy 3 to 5 storey indoor artruim entrance to the centre. Just like an indoor mall which would anchor the Science Center to west of Don mills rd. And possible retail, office, community center and parking below etc. Walking through the first few levels under the north or south podiums which are now parking lots. Not to mention buildings located to the south west side of the Center. If it's part of the property it could be redeveloped just as well. Intensifying the Science Center's property could be the way save this historical landmark in my opinion!

I agree. Further, the west facing units would have sunset views over a quiet ravine with downtown skyline views to the South West. I imagine there would be significant demand.

 

[generalcanada]

Who's saying that you have to build in the ravine! You can build at least five slim 60+ storeys towers on a 3 to 5 storey podiums on the north and south parking lots alone. And the landscaped front entrance of the science centre could house maybe two more towers on both sides. On top of a podium where the middle part of it could be a classy 3 to 5 storey indoor artruim entrance to the centre. Just like an indoor mall which would anchor the Science Center to west of Don mills rd. And possible retail, office, community center and parking below etc. Walking through the first few levels under the north or south podiums which are now parking lots. Not to mention buildings located to the south west side of the Center. If it's part of the property it could be redeveloped just as well. Intensifying the Science Center's property could be the way save this historical landmark in my opinion!

But thats already in the works lol. the parking lots werent going to see the 2040's anyway even if the science center remained.

The science center itself wont be developed

 

[picard102]

Who's saying that you have to build in the ravine! You can build at least five slim 60+ storeys towers on a 3 to 5 storey podiums on the north and south parking lots alone. And the landscaped front entrance of the science centre could house maybe two more towers on both sides. On top of a podium where the middle part of it could be a classy 3 to 5 storey indoor artruim entrance to the centre. Just like an indoor mall which would anchor the Science Center to west of Don mills rd. And possible retail, office, community center and parking below etc. Walking through the first few levels under the north or south podiums which are now parking lots. Not to mention buildings located to the south west side of the Center. If it's part of the property it could be redeveloped just as well. Intensifying the Science Center's property could be the way save this historical landmark in my opinion!

770 Don Mills | 153.7m | 48s | CreateTO | Montgomery Sisam

http://app.toronto.ca/DevelopmentApplications/associatedApplicationsList.do?action=init&folderRsn=4339762&isCofASearch=false&isTlabSearch=false 770 DON MILLS RD Ward 26 - North York District Construct a multi-building mixed use development at the southwest and southeast corners of Don Mills...

urbantoronto.ca

 

[Natika33]

Who's saying that you have to build in the ravine! You can build at least five slim 60+ storeys towers on a 3 to 5 storey podiums on the north and south parking lots alone. And the landscaped front entrance of the science centre could house maybe two more towers on both sides. On top of a podium where the middle part of it could be a classy 3 to 5 storey indoor artruim entrance to the centre. Just like an indoor mall which would anchor the Science Center to west of Don mills rd. And possible retail, office, community center and parking below etc. Walking through the first few levels under the north or south podiums which are now parking lots. Not to mention buildings located to the south west side of the Center. If it's part of the property it could be redeveloped just as well. Intensifying the Science Center's property could be the way save this historical landmark in my opinion!

I agree too. To add - I hope the community centre also has a nice west view so that it's accessible to more people (we have a dearth of affordable observatories in TO). But by all means, if a restaurant space were incorporated that could also help with the ROI. (How about one reasonable spot & one exclusive/high-end spot?)

 

[EastYorkTTCFan]

McLaughlin Planetarium

I don't think the province had anything to do with it. If I remember correctly it had something to do with the lease the R.O..M. had on the land it was on with U of T.