Dan416
Senior Member
As you point out, this is TORONTO, not frakking Wasaga Beach!
As you point out, this is TORONTO, not frakking Wasaga Beach!
gristle
Senior Member
Since that first 20 metres from the water is lake-fill, the concept of "natural" was left behind a while back. As for Lake Shore (you didn't mention Queen's Quay further south), it's underneath another popular obstruction (Gardiner), and a little more than 20 metres from the water.
Just how far north is the unobstructed lake view to be set back at?
ahmad.m.atiya
Banned
So true. Sadly.
Tewder
Senior Member
Why? 'Lawns' are integral to the urban form, and an enlightened element of it. Only scraper geeks would toss up buildings everywhere... and how's that working for us? Nope, give me lawns and gardens and greenspace please, and all the more so along the waterfront. Too late I know, but let's put to rest this false notion that urbanists only care about bricks and mortar. It's unbecoming!
a0th
New Member
what are you even talking about, this is a city not a nature preserve. and all that land was manmade anyway.
a0th
New Member
.............there are parks. excellent ones like sugar beach and sherbourne common which are literally right beside this building.
ahmad.m.atiya
Banned
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grey
Senior Member
For what it's worth, the mistakes of the past aren't going unrecognised -- the West Donlands, East Bayfront and Portlands are getting loads of great greenspace.
buildup
Senior Member
I've sat on those fine benches in front of Corus facing the water and found it to be an excellent space. Not sure I'd have preferred to be sitting in muddy or slushy grass instead...
someMidTowner
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
The boardwalk along corus quay and sherbourne common is pretty obviously an enormous improvement over the brownfield that preceded it. The crumbling dockwall was restored during this revitalization, not to mention sugar beach. the "20 meters between lake shore blvd and the lakeshore" comment doesnt sway me. Toronto harbour is a former industrial giant and to suggest a natural shoreline in that area would be to ignore the harbours industrial past (and present). I agree with buildup's comment above. This is an amazing public space that animates the fine balance between work and play. heres a pic i took earlier in the year:
Riverdale Rink Rat
Senior Member
Dude, if you think you need a view from Lake Shore, you've never been down to East Bayfront. And if you think that Corus, GBC, Sugar Beach, and Sherbourne Commons is not an unbelievable improvement on what was there, you're bananas. There's a park to the west of Corus, a boardwalk to the south, and a park to the east, and you want a view from Queen's Quay or Gardiner while you're driving along. Don't make me laugh.
fred
New Member
Yes, It's an improvement over what was there before - but only JUST! It's generally disappointing and a far cry from what it could've been! Corus would be an OK building if it were located in Markham, but Not on this prime, downtown, waterfront location!! GBC would be an OK building if it were located closer to Casa Loma Campus, but NOT on this prime, downtown, waterfront location!! I would've rather seen something that everyone in Toronto and tourists alike would enjoy and be able to participate in, like Harbourfront, or entertainment venues, or a new Casino, or even to have preserved this land in hopes of getting the 2024 Olympics! The location would've been a great selling point to the IOC! But what they've done to this prime, downtown, waterfront location is nothing to gush about, but rather be ashamed and disgusted! I hope there is a special place in the depths of hell reserved for all those that were involved in this disgrace!
I am surprised they didn't build townhouses on this land!
grey
Senior Member
Casinos, ferris wheels and monorails are great, but the land is worth more to the city in terms of tax revenue as a dense neighbourhood where people live and work, and that's what all the zoning and preparation has been for.
wopchop
Building Toronto
Yes, it's a disgrace that we're going to allow people to work, live, and play in prime downtown real estate. I hope they all go straight to hell.
TOareaFan
Superstar
The boardwalk along corus quay and sherbourne common is pretty obviously an enormous improvement over the brownfield that preceded it. The crumbling dockwall was restored during this revitalization, not to mention sugar beach. the "20 meters between lake shore blvd and the lakeshore" comment doesnt sway me. Toronto harbour is a former industrial giant and to suggest a natural shoreline in that area would be to ignore the harbours industrial past (and present). I agree with buildup's comment above. This is an amazing public space that animates the fine balance between work and play. heres a pic i took earlier in the year:
That is one cool picture! Right there in one frame you get a glimpse of the past/present/future of this area...very well done.
Judging this project on the private sector economics is (IMO) unfair. I tend to be a righty but what I see here is a project that kickstarted an area with public cash....was successful in doing that and all the cash was recovered! The fact that they "only" made 1% annual return (which, in itself, is incorrect because it gives no value to the rent received prior to the sale) is irrelevant. They built it, the market accepted it it, it is no "landmark" but also is no "wart" and all the public money is back in hand.....not a bad investment!