[Tewder]

Automation: I'd like to see a casino and an aquarium too, but at the silos? Maybe.

Frank: I like the idea of a history museum too, the city badly needs one.

 

[adma]

True, you might get a couple more people to an art museum in Toronto than a music museum, but come on... if you really want international attention build a world class waterfront aquarium or casino.

Somehow, I can picture a UTer adopting that as an ironic gag sig...

 

[MadMax]

True, you might get a couple more people to an art museum in Toronto than a music museum, but come on... if you really want international attention build a world class waterfront aquarium or casino.

Casino would be nice....although not for me so much, as I am somewhat of a competual gambler. Hold em' poker anyone

 

[Parkdalian]

True, you might get a couple more people to an art museum in Toronto than a music museum, but come on... if you really want international attention build a world class waterfront aquarium or casino.

I think we should try to really get international attention by building an aquarium casino in the malting silos. If you can't pay your gambling debts, you'll already be swimming with the fishes!

 

[MatrixElement]

October 24 Picture

Here is the crumbling dock wall along the west side of Portland Slip that will be repaired in the first phase, along with removing the marine leg to open up the promenade to Ireland Park.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/41002894@N07/4040975354/

 

[DSC]

This recommendation is coming to the Executive Committee next week:
The Deputy City Manager, Cluster B and Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer
recommend that City Council:
1. Approve a phased plan to preserve the Canada Malting silos and a master planning
exercise to complete improvements to the remainder of the site for public and private
use as described in this report.

See: http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2009/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-24719.pdf

 

[dt_toronto_geek]

This is very promising news, good find DSC. I hope the western side of the lot doesn't turn into a parking lot once demolition is complete.

 

[lead82]

Is the plan to demolish the malting silos? I personally think they are an eyesore on this part of the waterfront. They're in terrible shape, so unless the city is able to get some use out of them by turning them into a museum or something, they should be demolished. Such prime real-estate for a beautiful landmark building such as a Toronto Museum or aquarium.

Maybe they can incorporate parks of the silos into a new structure.

 

[grey]

Such prime real-estate for a beautiful landmark building such as a Toronto Museum or aquarium.

Maybe they can incorporate parks of the silos into a new structure.

The silos were going to be turned into an art/music museum because of their landmark status.

That was the idea

 

[TrickyRicky]

somehow personally I don't find the concept of a Historical museum at that site appealing. I think a more modest site somewhere less removed, say in the St. Lawrence market area, would be more appropriate.

Not that it is necessarily appropriate for the site, but I find it strange that there is no stand-alone natural history museum in Toronto, particularly one focusing on geology. Resource extraction and mining and minerals play such an important role in our economy and our history.

 

[dt_toronto_geek]

Is the plan to demolish the malting silos? I personally think they are an eyesore on this part of the waterfront. They're in terrible shape, so unless the city is able to get some use out of them by turning them into a museum or something, they should be demolished. Such prime real-estate for a beautiful landmark building such as a Toronto Museum or aquarium.

Maybe they can incorporate parks of the silos into a new structure.

The silos stay, everything else comes down. Check out page one and two of the Staff Report linked by DSC above.

 

[MatrixElement]

Thanks for posting the document. It's a very nice comprehensive summary of the whole situation, and matches what was heard at the meeting.

I'm feeling very optimistic about this now. Phase I looks like a done deal. The budget is already there, and it is mostly basic infrastructure and demolition work that has to be done anyway for public safety, with few frills. Nobody will be able to credibly oppose it, not even Rob Ford and the Toronto Sun. Yet it will still produce some immediate public benefits by opening up the east promenade to Ireland Park, eliminating the true eyesores which are the western buildings, and doing emergency work on the silos themselves.

Phase II will probably be slowed down by inevitable public consultations and NIMBYism as the residents debate just how many development rights they are willing to sell off in exchange for public amenities, but at least it will be self-financing and permanently save the silos from decay.

That said, people do need to be realistic. This is going to be a nice but modest project. The Toronto Museum is not going here, assuming it ever gets built; that decision has already been made. The document anticipates about $10 million from the land sale, some of which will be needed to repair the silos, and the rest is already being eyed for ordinary community improvements like a pool. Wouldn't an aquarium or other museum cost several tens of millions, if not fifty or one hundred, not to mention the operating costs? Where is the City going to get that money in this budget situation?

 

[adma]

eliminating the true eyesores which are the western buildings

Actually, what's so "true eyesore" about the westernmost administration building? It's a splendid piece of 30s/40s-style brick Moderne, to the point where in raw terms, given their druthers, I can picture a lot of silo opponents favouring it, on architectural, landscape, adaptability/functionability, etc grounds, over the silos. Trouble is, it's literally and figuratively overshadowed by the silos, so people haven't bothered noticing it at all.

And I'm not trying to be "smart", either.

 

[MatrixElement]

Actually, what's so "true eyesore" about the westernmost administration building? It's a splendid piece of 30s/40s-style brick Moderne, to the point where in raw terms, given their druthers, I can picture a lot of silo opponents favouring it, on architectural, landscape, adaptability/functionability, etc grounds, over the silos. Trouble is, it's literally and figuratively overshadowed by the silos, so people haven't bothered noticing it at all.

And I'm not trying to be "smart", either.

Are you referring to the small detached Administration Building at the southernmost part of the property, right along the water, currently used by the city forestry department? There are no plans to tear it down. The report anticipates either continuing its current use, or letting the Ireland Park Foundation use it as a small museum and interpretation centre.

Or are you referring to the southwest quadrant of the main complex, immediately due west of and almost attached to the south silos, with the three huge gray-brown vertical stripes on the west face?
Bing image. Looking at Google Street View from Bathurst and a few other stray pictures I do see some interesting brickwork overshadowed by all the industrial stuff and siding.

 

[adma]

Are you referring to the small detached Administration Building at the southernmost part of the property, right along the water, currently used by the city forestry department? There are no plans to tear it down. The report anticipates either continuing its current use, or letting the Ireland Park Foundation use it as a small museum and interpretation centre.

Or are you referring to the southwest quadrant of the main complex, immediately due west of and almost attached to the south silos, with the three huge gray-brown vertical stripes on the west face?
Bing image. Looking at Google Street View from Bathurst and a few other stray pictures I do see some interesting brickwork overshadowed by all the industrial stuff and siding.

Yes, I'm referring to the detached Admin bldg. And the rest: yes, I agree, on whatever sliding scale, it's probably most "expendable"...