Parkdalian
Senior Member
Syn, I think the issue here is more that people don't really understand by what you mean by "respectful." I think the towers as they are, are respectful of their neighbourhood. By "respectful" do you mean:
1. They should be shorter.
2. They should not be modern in design.
3. They should not feature glass or steel.
4. Or something else?
If you do mean any of these things, why do you think these concerns represent "respect" more than the buildings do now?
A Clewes tower in Riverdale would shade backyards - a legitimate concern for homeowners whose property values would decline because of this. Here, shade is not really an issue. Are you concerned they ruin postcard images of the neighbourhood? You can still take plenty of those without the towers.
Do they ruin the neighbourhood's old-timey feeling for you? I think this might be what you are trying to get at, and what many people here revolt against. Although history is important, we shouldn't be lulled into the feeling that we are immersing ourselves in another time by strolling through the Distillery District with a Balzac's coffee in our hands. The current use of the Distillery is very different from its original use, and although a connection to the past is important, we will never have an "authentic" feeling of history in this neighbourhood no matter how hard we try. If the area was "authentic," for instance, we would be presented with overworked factory employees toiling in what we consider inhuman conditions. So, we shouldn't try to fake a feeling of the past. We should, instead, forge ahead to build something new and interesting that retains portions of the past.
1. They should be shorter.
2. They should not be modern in design.
3. They should not feature glass or steel.
4. Or something else?
If you do mean any of these things, why do you think these concerns represent "respect" more than the buildings do now?
A Clewes tower in Riverdale would shade backyards - a legitimate concern for homeowners whose property values would decline because of this. Here, shade is not really an issue. Are you concerned they ruin postcard images of the neighbourhood? You can still take plenty of those without the towers.
Do they ruin the neighbourhood's old-timey feeling for you? I think this might be what you are trying to get at, and what many people here revolt against. Although history is important, we shouldn't be lulled into the feeling that we are immersing ourselves in another time by strolling through the Distillery District with a Balzac's coffee in our hands. The current use of the Distillery is very different from its original use, and although a connection to the past is important, we will never have an "authentic" feeling of history in this neighbourhood no matter how hard we try. If the area was "authentic," for instance, we would be presented with overworked factory employees toiling in what we consider inhuman conditions. So, we shouldn't try to fake a feeling of the past. We should, instead, forge ahead to build something new and interesting that retains portions of the past.