Oh, don't worry, we all see through Urbandreamer, he's quite transparent. Just take everything he says as sarcasm or with a grain of salt. (or in his case, crab apples lol)
 
Tulse said:
I'm not sure how much of Ontario Place is arguably "heritage" in any reasonable definition -- at the very least, I think arguments would have to be made for the heritage value of the individual elements. (I mean, I like geodesic domes as much as the next person, but is the IMAX theatre building really "heritage"?)

And it's not like this plan is unmotivated -- attendance at the park has fallen pretty dramatically, and if the park becomes unsustainable and falls into disrepair, the "heritage" argument becomes a bit moot.
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Put it this way--in 2010, those who'd think the pods and Cinesphere fall out of "any reasonable definition" are probably akin to those who think the best thing to happen to Toronto architecture over the past half century is Robert Stern's 1 St Thomas.

However, you have a backhanded point there re Cinesphere: to divorce it from the pods would trivialize it unnecessarily a la "just another geodesic dome"--like it or not, Zeidler's central ensemble is an integral whole.

As for the rest of Ontario Place: well, if you're into *landscape* heritage and a Michael Hough-o-phile, say your bit. But personally, I'm wondering: if the restaurant pavilions have to go, given their seemingly lightweight construction could they be offered for dismantling and "repurposing" elsewhere...
 
Traynor: Post of the (UT) decade! "I'm lov'n it." :D

I shall remake Toronto in my own image. Urbandreamer for mayor, 2020! (Am I the only UT member that wanders around the city imagining what buildings should be knocked down, what lots densified, and precisely which architecture firm should do the job? Then I think about the math, and how much money I'd want to make--hey, I'm not greedy like the typical Toronto developer....)

Torontovibe: No sarcasm here, I'm deadly serious--I loathe Zeidler's "architecture." You can tell by all his designs that he grew up during the heydey of the automobile--what a suburban bore! And I'm not transparent--I always have a hidden agenda.... (Although that crab apple reference made me realize that although I grew up surrounded by a crab apple orchard, I've always detested the apples. Damn, I can just picture those cows munching on them....thanks for the memories!)

Adma: I don't date club chicks. I like my women sober.
 
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I remember going to Ontario Place as a lad in the mid-70's. It was a big let down - it was boring and it was crowded. I asked my parents how long we had to stay for. The only thing that's changed since then is, it isn't crowded any more.

Having said that, it think a good deal of the concepts that come in will include preserving the architectural aspects of the space, which in fact take up only a small portion of the park.
 
I've been thinking about how expensive Ontario Place is for what you get. For an adult to step onto the grounds its $20 with tax, add the kids to that then you have to pay for the little one's to enjoy the attractions of their choosing and it adds up pretty quickly. The Toronto Star offers a "play all day" pass, 4 people between the ages of 6-64 pay $100 plus taxes & parking and that includes "most" attractions and then there's the season pass which doesn't include all attractions. Then there's the overpriced food and drink on-site. Those who can afford a day like this with a family of four in this economy would probably take their money elsewhere and get more bang for their buck. Also consider the cooler and wetter weather of the previous two summers, is it any wonder that attendance has dropped?
 
TJ O'Pootertoot said:
I wonder if the "blank canvas" remarks were partially aimed at getting people to talk about how many wonderful things there ARE at Ontario Place right now, upon which they can build.
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You know I think this could be just very good marketing on Ontario Place's part. Get everyone all hot and bothered about the most iconic parts of it getting torn down, but not really having any intention to do so. With the campaign to "save" Ontario Place generating free publicity for OP, they'll get more attention than they've had in a while. So they'll "save" the heritage buildings and do what everyone here is suggesting, just add to the iconic nature and not tear it all down.
 
Again the usual comments with how Toronto doesn't respect its heritage. Our record isn't great by any means but the dark ages are long over. Get with the times, man! I have no doubt these buildings would get protection if they fell under our jurisdiction. Unfortunately, its up to the likes of Brantford etc. whether these buildings survive.
 
A friend and I were talking about this yesterday and we both agreed that it's time for a makeover. 40 yrs later and OP is showing its age. I'd like to see the sphere remain but the rest can go. I wonder if putting a casino here like Montreal did with its old expo grounds would make sense. Of course she reminded me that the other casinos would fight tooth and nail to prevent Toronto from ever getting its own casino since they would lose business.
 
dt_toronto_geek said:
I've been thinking about how expensive Ontario Place is for what you get. For an adult to step onto the grounds its $20 with tax, add the kids to that then you have to pay for the little one's to enjoy the attractions of their choosing and it adds up pretty quickly.
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Agreed. According to the Ontario Place web site, admission in 1971 was $1.00 for adults and 50¢ for children -- so price rises have greatly exceeded the inflation rate over that time.

I see parallels to two other government-run jewels that have been allowed to deteriorate since the Seventies: the TTC and the Toronto Zoo.
 
Blovertis said:
I see parallels to two other government-run jewels that have been allowed to deteriorate since the Seventies: the TTC and the Toronto Zoo.
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Though the TTC isn't *of* the 70s in quite the same way. (But the sometime-vicissitudes of the Ontario Science Centre are definitely comparable.)
 
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