dt_toronto_geek
Superstar
By the late 80's, "Yonge Street is Fun Street" finally died.
- Thread starter newyears1974
- Start date
By the late 80's, "Yonge Street is Fun Street" finally died.
Tewder
Senior Member
Yes, there was still some naughtiness to the street and area which was part of its mystique.
FAC33
Active Member
There's a great view of Yonge St. in this last stage in Rush's Subdivisions video. This is also around the time of my first visit to Toronto, and I remember venturing out from the relative safety of the Eaton Centre and being rather astounded.
spaced
Active Member
Wow, great find. Thanks for that.
Tulse
Senior Member
I just watched the above-mentioned documentary, and it gave me a far greater appreciation of what was happening on the Yonge Strip in '60s, and how many of those important buildings have been lost. Indeed, with the destruction of the old Edison hotel site, it looks like the Zanzibar may be the most notable structure still around (and I was greatly surprised to learn the storied history of what I've always seen as just a grotty strip club).
It's also interesting to realize just how much of that world was lost with the construction of the Eaton Centre. A lot of preservationists are unhappy with the current renovations inside the Centre, and seeing this documentary I find that a bit ironic. I suppose, however, that such irony is inevitable when talking about preservationism, as it's often the case that a "historic" building replaced an even older structure.
It's also interesting to realize just how much of that world was lost with the construction of the Eaton Centre. A lot of preservationists are unhappy with the current renovations inside the Centre, and seeing this documentary I find that a bit ironic. I suppose, however, that such irony is inevitable when talking about preservationism, as it's often the case that a "historic" building replaced an even older structure.
jje1000
Senior Member
Some interesting developments going on at the site.
"There are other fighters in this ring. Ryerson has also riled the Lalani family, owners of the former Empress Hotel, which burned in a fire in January that police ruled an arson.
Nori and Al Lalani attended Ms. Wong-Tam’s announcement. At the Empress site, now an expanse of gravel surrounded by a chain-link fence, a silver convertible Porsche rested Wednesday, with a little vanity plate on the dashboard reading “Al.â€
The Lalanis chose their words carefully when I approached them. “Our plan is to redevelop with these new parameters and possibly work within them,†said Nori Lalani. He refused to answer questions about the Empress fire.
The Lalanis are seething about a city report on the Ryerson plan, which suggests a Dundas Station entrance should be built on their land instead of in Ryerson’s future student building.
Al Lalani retorted with an angry letter to the city last month. 'How could staff come to this conclusion without consulting us? The need or demand for the entrance is created by Ryerson. Hence it follows that the city should be securing the financial assurance necessary to build the connection from Ryerson. Ryerson’s obligation to and requirement of transit is highlighted by its refusal to provide parking.'"
http://news.nationalpost.com/2011/0...rue&preview_id=77145&preview_nonce=d11aecde0b
"There are other fighters in this ring. Ryerson has also riled the Lalani family, owners of the former Empress Hotel, which burned in a fire in January that police ruled an arson.
Nori and Al Lalani attended Ms. Wong-Tam’s announcement. At the Empress site, now an expanse of gravel surrounded by a chain-link fence, a silver convertible Porsche rested Wednesday, with a little vanity plate on the dashboard reading “Al.â€
The Lalanis chose their words carefully when I approached them. “Our plan is to redevelop with these new parameters and possibly work within them,†said Nori Lalani. He refused to answer questions about the Empress fire.
The Lalanis are seething about a city report on the Ryerson plan, which suggests a Dundas Station entrance should be built on their land instead of in Ryerson’s future student building.
Al Lalani retorted with an angry letter to the city last month. 'How could staff come to this conclusion without consulting us? The need or demand for the entrance is created by Ryerson. Hence it follows that the city should be securing the financial assurance necessary to build the connection from Ryerson. Ryerson’s obligation to and requirement of transit is highlighted by its refusal to provide parking.'"
http://news.nationalpost.com/2011/0...rue&preview_id=77145&preview_nonce=d11aecde0b
J T CUNNINGHAM
Senior Member
Do I hear the word EXPROPRIATION?
Kind regards,
J T
Kind regards,
J T
Automation Gallery
Superstar
Interesting...i hope they catch this guy.
New details released in unsolved heritage-building arson
The man is hooded and brings a backpack each time, the officer said, and never looks near security cameras on his route to and from the building. “This person knew what they were doing,” she said.
It’s possible the man was becoming familiar with the building, learning how to gain access, or stashing something there, she said.
In the coming weeks a specialist who visited the scene and reviewed the surveillance images will finish determining an almost exact height and weight of the man, Det. Harris said. It’s a new technique that’s so precise she hopes it will narrow down persons of interest or help someone make a connection about a potential suspect.
“I have absolutely no doubt that somebody knows who this person is. I believe that this person had a second person involved in facilitating him getting to that area,” she said, noting there may have been a vehicle involved.
Because two of firefighters at the scene fell through the building’s roof, potential charges could include arson endangering life and arson, Det. Harris said.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news...olved-heritage-building-arson/article2273318/
New details released in unsolved heritage-building arson
The man is hooded and brings a backpack each time, the officer said, and never looks near security cameras on his route to and from the building. “This person knew what they were doing,” she said.
It’s possible the man was becoming familiar with the building, learning how to gain access, or stashing something there, she said.
In the coming weeks a specialist who visited the scene and reviewed the surveillance images will finish determining an almost exact height and weight of the man, Det. Harris said. It’s a new technique that’s so precise she hopes it will narrow down persons of interest or help someone make a connection about a potential suspect.
“I have absolutely no doubt that somebody knows who this person is. I believe that this person had a second person involved in facilitating him getting to that area,” she said, noting there may have been a vehicle involved.
Because two of firefighters at the scene fell through the building’s roof, potential charges could include arson endangering life and arson, Det. Harris said.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news...olved-heritage-building-arson/article2273318/
SP!RE
°°°°°°
I still blame the Lalani's.
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Peepers
Banned
What this new information tells us is this fire wasn't started by squatters or by a pyromaniac. This arsonist knew what he was doing - he knew where the security cameras were and was careful not to have his face captured on cam. It would appear he made three separate trips inside the building to deposit enough accelerant inside the building to ensure once the fire got going it was going to be difficult to stop!
He was obviously put up to the task by persons who had a financial interest in seeing the building burnt to the ground. I really hope they catch this guy and the person behind him and put them behind bars for a long time. We came very close to losing two firefighters that night
. I was listening live to Toronto Fire scanner feed when they went through the roof and it was a very dicey situation for a few minutes until they were rescued!
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Red October
Senior Member
Yup.
CanadianNational
Senior Member
By refusing to considerately renovate or properly maintain this historical property - until it partially collapsed even before the fire - the Lalani Group should, IMO, be ruled deliquent, negligent, incompetent - whatever the terms are - and have this land taken from them without recompense.
Also, in addition to having the Lalani Group pay the costs the city has had to take with the property since the collapse and later fire, they should legally be forced to pay for the reconstruction of the Empress or pay an equivalent amount toward the city's heritage fund as a penalty and fine.
Also, in addition to having the Lalani Group pay the costs the city has had to take with the property since the collapse and later fire, they should legally be forced to pay for the reconstruction of the Empress or pay an equivalent amount toward the city's heritage fund as a penalty and fine.
Torontovibe
Senior Member
When you consider the vast amounts of money it took to secure the area after the building collapse, hiring the experts to examine it, then the police investigation for the fire and all the legal related costs, I think the Lalanis should be hit with a huge bill to pay for all these costs. I also think they should not be allowed to build anything larger than what was there originally. If you allow them to profit from this, it will only send out a bad message that our historic buildings have no value and we'll look the other way for unscrupulous landlords.
cdr108
Senior Member
surely millions were spent. the city should send a bill for all of that equivalent to the market value of the property, and due payable in 30 days.
if not paid in full, the property should be seized.
Automation Gallery
Superstar
Isnt that part of your insurance policy...if your house falls apart or burns down
It would cost a lot more if just one person got killed.