AlbertC

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City:
Toronto
http://app.toronto.ca/DevelopmentAp...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 Road and Eglinton Avenue East. comprised of the following: 150,684 sm of residential gross floor area; 5,818 sm of non-residential gross floor area, including community space; 4,540 sm of new public parkland, 5,185 square metres of privately-owned public spaces and other public spaces and recreation opportunities; and Two new public streets providing enhanced connectivity.
 
Interesting. I always wondered who owned the lot at the southeast corner - didn't realize it was the science centre.

Speaking of the science centre - maybe this can help pay for some much needed renovations? The centre has been left to rot for a while now, it needs some updates.
 

And, from that link, we can see that the site is part of a (humongous) surface lot:

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It's actually City-owned land which was declared surplus in 2010: http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaItemHistory.do?item=2010.GM33.20

Transfer of Properties to Build Toronto and Declaration of Surplus - Third Quarter 2010
City Council Decision

City Council on August 25, 26 and 27, 2010, adopted the following:

1. City Council grant authority to enter into an agreement to transfer part of the property at the southwest corner of Eglinton Avenue East and Don Mills Road, more particularly described in Appendix 2 of the report (August 6, 2010) from the Chief Corporate Officer, including agreements related thereto, to Build Toronto, substantially on the terms and conditions set out in Appendices 1 and 2 of the report (August 6, 2010) from the Chief Corporate Officer, and on such other and amended terms and conditions as may be approved by the Chief Corporate Officer, in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor.

Appendix: https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2010/gm/bgrd/backgroundfile-32973.pdf

Southwest Corner of Eglinton Avenue East & Don Mills Road

BACKGROUND
The southwest corner of Eglinton Avenue East and Don Mills Road (the “Property”) was acquired by the former Metropolitan Toronto in 1955 for road allowance purposes to accommodate a possible future interchange of these two arterial roads.

In 1967, the Property was stopped-up and closed by By-law No. 3027. The Property, approximately 22,207 m² (5.49 acres) in size, is currently leased to The Centennial Centre of Science and Technology for parking purposes. The latest lease renewal was effective July 1, 1998 for a five year term and the lease is currently overholding

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oh yes, I recall seeing a long while ago a plan for the interchange. eglinton was going to be a mini freeway from Brentcliffe to the DVP.
 
oh yes, I recall seeing a long while ago a plan for the interchange. eglinton was going to be a mini freeway from Brentcliffe to the DVP.

Correct. That's why the City also owned the n-w and s-e corners as well.

Eglinton did not exist at all between Brentcliffe and what is now Victoria Park Avenue until the 50's.

(Victoria Park Avenue was still Dawes Road at the time)

Metro acquired what was once Highway 5A (Eglinton east of Victoria Park) at the beginning of the 50's.

It then began the process of connecting it to Eglinton.

Construction was principally 1955/56
 
This application includes 805 Don Mills Road, at the southeast corner of the intersection. Architect is Montgomery Sisam:

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Not impressed. I want an arrangement of buildings southwards from the LRT/subway station that has the Science Centre at the other end of the vista, and has a retail and café-lined pedestrian mall between them. Let's think big here and make the science centre feel like a destination again, not just another building down the road that doesn't merit any special consideration.

42
 
Not impressed. I want an arrangement of buildings southwards from the LRT/subway station that has the Science Centre at the other end of the vista, and has a retail and café-lined pedestrian mall between them. Let's think big here and make the science centre feel like a destination again, not just another building down the road that doesn't merit any special consideration.

42

I don't disagree w/your aspiration, but feel the need to point out that you can barely see the Science Centre if you're directly in front of it.

The landscape changes, along side the adding of the IMAX leave most of the complex obstructed view from Don Mills, and virtually all of the distinctive architectural identity has been concealed/obliterated.

If you're going to go w/the Vista idea, I think this is the moment to get the Science Ctr folks dreaming about what they want to be again, AND how that should present outwardly.

I would argue for excavating in front of the existing building and perhaps the existing parking to the north.

Using that opportunity to bury the IMAX, add a large amount of new exhibition space, maybe a new TV Studio (explanation to follow); and of course, bury the parking.

I would then restore the original look of the OSC to a large degree, including the fountains.

I would shift the outdoor programming space on to the existing entry road, and areas to the north.

The TV reference speaks to a different kind of profile. You get me remembering when OSC reps used to appear on David Letterman in the U.S.
giving the facility a much larger profile than it has today.

They might want to consider the ability to package popular public demonstrations and syndicate them to various TV shows around the world, might pay off quite well.

Just a thought.
 
I'm fine with the IMAX where it is. Just redesign everything between the new station and the front doors. Put parking underground, with a new community on either side of a walkway leading to the centre, and yeah, splash out on new fountains to create a sense of occasion.

Yup, close and renovate one OSC hall at time over X years. The building is one of a kind, and needs to be a reinvigorated on a regular basis to stay a great place to open kids' minds. It's worth the investing in, and that includes making the best out of the land between the new station and the front doors, and it should start with a design of this property at the north end which doesn't preclude that.

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Not impressed. I want an arrangement of buildings southwards from the LRT/subway station that has the Science Centre at the other end of the vista, and has a retail and café-lined pedestrian mall between them. Let's think big here and make the science centre feel like a destination again, not just another building down the road that doesn't merit any special consideration.

42

Yes. Since the LRT station is going to be called "Science Centre" it'd be ridiculous to walk out of the station and not able to see or easily walk to the Science Centre. (I dislike Pioneer Village Station's name for a similar reason.)
 

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