[A Torontonian Now]

Conglomeration of existing structures. At least on the west side of the store, what appeared to be its facade was a false facade in front of houses and buildings similar to the other structures in the area. You can see this in some of the demolition pics.

 

[ShonTron]

What's the history of the Honest Ed's building? Was it built in such a maze-like fashion intentionally, or was it a conglomeration of existing structures?

Mostly, yes. It started as a row of houses at Bloor and Markham Streets in the late 1940s, and slowly expanded from there up until the early 1980s. Parts of the stores were purpose-built, other parts were built out from the assemblage of earlier buildings.

Here's what the block looked like in the mid 1950s: - you can see the original houses contained within a false front wrapping around Bloor and Markham, with a purpose-built extension to the south (the flat roof).

It didn't change much in the 1967 aerial photo, but in the 1970s, Honest Ed's expanded east to Bathurst Street, incorporating the commercial blocks on the southwest corner of Bloor and Bathurst.

 

[innsertnamehere]

It's really incredible how little that area has changed since then. It looks almost identical today to that 1967 image, save for B Streets.

 

[ckupr]

Taken earlier today. Significant progress made this past week.

 

[ponyboy]

Friday afternoon. I'm not sure why the Firetruck was there.

 

[Amare]

One nice final look at the Bathurst and Bloor intersection, taken last week:

 

[adma]

Notice the sloped roof of the older dwellings that were encased by the structure...

 

[interchange42]

From yesterday, more smash-up derby pics:

42

 

[Towered]

I hope that construction will commence shortly after demolition is complete. A huge vacant lot at this vibrant corner for any length of time would be awful.

 

[adHominem]

In i42's first photo – you can see the "MIRVISH VILLAGE" and "MARKHAM ST" light-up street signs on the streetlight, just behind the stop sign. Are those the last remaining of those old blue-and-white/yellow-and-black signs in the city? I can't think of any others that still remain.

 

[innsertnamehere]

There are all kinds of old signs hanging around if you know where to look.. Can't say i've ever noticed another one of those signs though. Mind you, I walked up and down Markham regularly for years and never once noticed that one..

 

[adHominem]

The only holdouts I could remember were at Bay & Queen, which you can still see on Google Streetview as late as June 2013, but they were removed some time in the following year.

 

[ponyboy]

yesterday afternoon --

 

[coopEng]

Its really amazing all the old buildings/walkways/rooms/etc that were combined to make this place...

 

[drum118]

Dec 7
More up on site

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