[AnnetteMeetsJane]

This morning (2023-09-09)

 

[verlander]

I'm really glad to see the facade (if not the whole building) of the former CIBC building is being retained here. It has a lot of character and makes for a strong street edge. I see potential for it to become a station entrance much like Alvaro Siza's Baixa-Chiado station in Lisbon where the station defers to the historic facade yet still works well.

The southwest corner should be more of a statement piece that acknowledges/celebrates the start of Graffiti Alley. The banal street level renderings published so far (from HDR?) make me sad. This is such an important intersection in our city I really hope the design team is chosen well and given every chance to do it justice.

 

[Red Mars]

Sept 27, 2023

 

[reinventingthewheel]

Ontario Line
@OntarioLine
Work has started on the future Queen-Spadina station. So far, teams have removed about 7,500 bricks to be cleaned and stored. Any bricks in good condition will eventually be used to construct the future station building. #OntarioLine #QueenSpadina

Current state:

Future render:

 

[isaidso]

Are they not leaving enough room for a separated bike lane + 2 lanes for cars in this spot or is this artistic expression?

 

[kozak]

Looking northeast from Graffiti Alley. November, 2023. Photo: Nick Kozak.

 

[EnviroTO]

The good news is that they haven't touched the heritage building and community gathering place on the north west corner.

 

[thecharioteer]

The good news is that they haven't touched the heritage building and community gathering place on the north west corner.

The MacDonald's?

 

[FastidiousHack]

Are they not leaving enough room for a separated bike lane + 2 lanes for cars in this spot or is this artistic expression?

I really hope I'm wrong, but I'm not aware of any plans to make a separated bike lane (cycle track) on Spadina any time soon.

I believe this rendering just rebuilds the sidewalk to the current extents.

 

[AHK]

November 20. First, one picture from the alleyway on the south west corner of the Queen and Spadina intersection, and then the rest from the north-east corner.

And one from the back of the building, with the outer layer of the double-brick wall construction stripped away.

 

[Red Mars]

Nov 28, 2028

 

[ProjectEnd]

 

[AHK]

December 6: A hive of activity on the south-west (former TD Bank Branch) corner. Demolition of the former bank branch is underway, both from the external Queen Street and Spadina street walls, as well as from the inside, working from the south-west, with the demolition equipment eating into the branch. The buildings to the west of the TD Bank branch are gone completely, basements dug out, and today, a parade of trucks delivering gravel for backfill, to create a stable level surface for arrival of the shoring equipment. On the north-east side, ongoing demolition work for the former CIBC branch, along with work on the sidewalks in front of the former bank.

 

[thecharioteer]

It's very interesting to see glimpses of the original brick TD bank that has been hidden by cladding for over 50 years. Here's a view from 1945:

And on the left in 1931:

And an earlier version of the cladding from 1972:

 

[AlexBozikovic]

Great find, @thecharioteer. This branch was Chadwick & Beckett, 1902. Same year and architects as the King/Bathurst Bank of Toronto which is also being gutted right now.