This is the way storefronts should be done and not that ubiquitous, cold wall of glass, we see going up on almost every new condo in the city. One day, we will realize the damage done to our main streets by putting up walls of glass but unfortunately, by then it will be too late, as we will have missed our best opportunity to transform our streets into something decent. We are basically throwing away a once in a life time opportunity that would have costed the city nothing. (so frustrating)
 
From Tuesday:
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The bulky, undulating east side of the tower does not meet a happy ending at the top which seems unresolved and out of proportion. As much as I like the materials used and effort of preservation at street level , the sum of the parts is greater than the total.

Completely agree.
 
Eldon Garnet sounds bitter about heritage preservation: https://nowtoronto.com/news/facadism-vs-public-art/

In fact, he sounds pretty bitter about the whole thing:
Standing on the sidewalk at 5 St. Joseph Street, you are visually unaware of the immense building behind the red brick facade. This might not be an architecturally interesting construction remaining from a utilitarian past, but in its banal invisibility it’s certainly a fitting street-level barrier for those unappreciative of towering condos.
 
Hallways are slowly progressing. Metal sheets and framing was installed this week on some floors. Still concret floors and unpainted walls everywhere.

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Thanks for sharing ... hmm didn't expect the elevator lobby area to be so 'industrial'
 
This is the way storefronts should be done and not that ubiquitous, cold wall of glass, we see going up on almost every new condo in the city. One day, we will realize the damage done to our main streets by putting up walls of glass but unfortunately, by then it will be too late, as we will have missed our best opportunity to transform our streets into something decent. We are basically throwing away a once in a life time opportunity that would have costed the city nothing. (so frustrating)

The good news is that these glass store fronts can be transformed as deeper pocketed and creative retail developers (read: not dry cleaners and bank branches) come in.
Case in point: Weslodge. At first, a mostly glass fronted street wall, later fitted with wooden details. Looks like it's always been this way.

Before:
lod1.jpg


After:
6vaTENp.jpg

xgOgyWs.jpg
 
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