DSC
Superstar
The Farmers Market (now in the tent at 125 The Esplanade) is supposedly moving back 'in early 2025". The old antique market organiser retired and there is a new 'antique' market most Sundays in the tent (in my opinion more flea than antique) - I assume it too will move as the tent site will be the site of the new St Lawrence District Library.
EBT
New Member
True those projects have taken longer but they are exponentially more complex than St Lawrence North - a simple five storey structure. It is incomprehensible to me how it could take 15 years to realize the construction of a 5 storey building and it is still not open! In China they can erect 60 storey towers in just over one week!
I suspect a big reason for the incomprehensive delay is the fact that the developer of the project is the City of Toronto and the bureaucrats overseeing the project were not in any rush to put themselves out of a job. It's just human nature.
Rascacielo
Senior Member
DSC
Superstar
I think a better explanation is that the City's Real Estate services Division does not actually have staff who are capable of managing fairly major construction projects. Also that Council had to repeatedly add more $$$ to deal with 'stuff' - some perfectly predictable (the need for an archaeological survey/excavation in an area that was clearly 'historic') and some not so much (covid)
unrealestate
Active Member
I do agree with the sentiment 100% but really the construction started in summer 2019
junctionist
Senior Member
If you reads reports like this one about Canada's productivity problems, it can be hard to envisage what's being discussed. "Productivity" is usually reported on through a macroeconomic lens. Reporters rarely delve into its implications in our communities.
Look no further than projects like this one, where people have apparently been paid well to do their jobs (based on the costs of the project to date) but were slow to complete their work. It affected our quality of life as a society, as we paid a lot in taxes but didn't get to use the building for a long time. There was probably a push to do high-quality work in an important civic building like this one, but it was still really slow work for a building that doesn't have particularly complex details.
It's easy to assume it's a government worker problem based on common assumptions (that are sometimes true and sometimes not). However, the TD report that I linked to highlights significant productivity issues in the construction industry. Low productivity is problem we have as a country that we have to deal with for our success as a country and our quality of life.
Look no further than projects like this one, where people have apparently been paid well to do their jobs (based on the costs of the project to date) but were slow to complete their work. It affected our quality of life as a society, as we paid a lot in taxes but didn't get to use the building for a long time. There was probably a push to do high-quality work in an important civic building like this one, but it was still really slow work for a building that doesn't have particularly complex details.
It's easy to assume it's a government worker problem based on common assumptions (that are sometimes true and sometimes not). However, the TD report that I linked to highlights significant productivity issues in the construction industry. Low productivity is problem we have as a country that we have to deal with for our success as a country and our quality of life.
mburrrrr
Senior Member
Picture from Nov 7, 2024
That temporary tent is probably the best money ever spent at City Hall. Approaching 10 year anniversary next month and still standing.
Hmmm.. umm, any bets they probably rented it by the month?
That temporary tent is probably the best money ever spent at City Hall. Approaching 10 year anniversary next month and still standing.
Hmmm.. umm, any bets they probably rented it by the month?
Entrance on south and west and maybe north side
christiesplits
Senior Member
That's the vibe I get, at least before opening day. The glass walls feels a tad too "office park."
DSC
Superstar
There is talk of a coffee shop in area to west of main doors - not sure if City sorted it out.
everydayhim
Active Member
CityPainter
Active Member
I love that idea. I noticed that nice space to the west of the doors today and it could definitely make a perfect coffee shop. Third Wave has good coffee but their current space is so cramped I often walk by when I see it's busy. Pandemic habit, I suppose. But any good slick shop would do well in this space, and would add 24/7 life to the building.
I also noticed today the elevators to the east of the doors have been unsheathed and are looking very vibrant in bright red. But the front of the building still lacks visual interest, as others have said. At the very least it needs some signage, plantings, artworks, decals, benches... something.
slicecom
Active Member
That bank of elevators in frosted glass with the ugly "92" vinyl numbers on the outside really ruins the sightlines both east and west along front street. Unfortunate they couldn't have just incorporated them into the building instead of jutting out the front of it.
nstuch
Active Member
waterismyhouse
New Member
not seen these on here:
