Gore Park Lofts | 23.8 m | 6 fl | Complete

[Chronamut]

Originally Posted by ScreamingViking

We're lucky many of these are still standing. Had the 1960s-70s mentality gone farther east in a big way, structures along King might have been knocked down from James to Wellington. As it is we lost a lot due to fire and redevelopment (e.g., Effort Square nee Terminal Towers, HSBC, One James S. that replaced Birks, others)

Can anyone remember what was on the south side of King next to Denningers, prior to the Terraces?... and next to that, where the Salvation Army Thrift Store is?

Yeah but don't forget many buildings lost to fire had grander or nicer buildings put in their place- not always - but often. The transition from wood to stone helped in that regard.

And yes we are lucky many of these are still standing. However what people were allowed to do to the facades of these buildings frankly should have never been allowed. The fronts of these buildings were stripped of half of their windows just for.. signage.. 2'3s of the building face for the one near king and james is just GONE - and that was a NICE facade. Still not sure if this build is going to put that cornice back up or do something else with it - the render for it had a tree in the way so its hard to know.

If you post a pic to the areas in question I can dive into the archives and see what I can dredge up.. mind doesn't want to think atm though lol..

[ShavedParmesanCheese]

I was curious what kind of stores these buildings had over the year, in 1950 via the city directory - #125 was Movieland Shoes, and at #123½ you could find Raymond's Nuts.

[Chronamut]

Originally Posted by ShavedParmesanCheese

I was curious what kind of stores these buildings had over the year, in 1950 via the city directory - #125 was Movieland Shoes, and at #123½ you could find Raymond's Nuts.

Bet they were salty

[TheRitsman]

[Chronamut]

hmm is that the same finish they did on the building side beside the tivoli that they did on the side on this building?

[johnnyhamont]

Joe

[StEC]

I don't think there has been any progress here for a couple months now?

[TheRitsman]

Originally Posted by StEC

I don't think there has been any progress here for a couple months now?

Just been slow going, but they've been there and been working on it. Wouldn't surprise me if they were working on interiors now.

[Chronamut]

Not gonna lie, I really REALLY hate the white colour - their render showed it as more cream which tied into the brown and cream of the existing building, and the building behind it



vs



now the white just makes the existing architecture look dirty and tired unfortunately.. like a cordyceps erupting out of a dead creature.. also makes the new building appear almost sterile and hospital-like..

Hell even BLACK would have been better. Maybe they'll sodablast the brick and it'll look a bit better but I'm not too optimistic.. also them ripping the cornice off the second building just looks weird.. although the original render looks like they put something sorta in its place.. it all just feels very awkward and not entirely respectful of the original heritage design.

On the other hand if you squint you can almost pretend the building that's erupted out of it doesn't even exist lol.. I just feel like a lot of these people miss some semblance of colour and architectural balance and just go for plain weird.. all of these original buildings had a harmony and balance, both in their architectural form and colour useage.

[catcher_of_cats]

Originally Posted by Chronamut

Not gonna lie, I really REALLY hate the white colour.

Same.

The owner now might get to experience the effect of lower rents/prices for making their building ugly.

Some might like it but I feel the majority will not.

[Hawrylyshyn]

Originally Posted by catcher_of_cats

Same.

The owner now might get to experience the effect of lower rents/prices for making their building ugly.

Some might like it but I feel the majority will not.

Maybe this is the secret to building affordable housing -- make the building ugly

[Chronamut]

Originally Posted by Hawrylyshyn

Maybe this is the secret to building affordable housing -- make the building ugly

You're probably not wrong on that - all the "new" affordable housing ive seen has had this blocky paneled sheets look to it. It's like they want to advertise it's for the downtrodden. Why invest effort in making it look nice?

[Beedok]

Keeps rent in nearby buildings affordable too.

[Crapht]

Honestly I think the white is just protecting the finish underneath. It will be peeled off when they are ready. I don’t think it looks horrible. I am 100% not offended by this. The alleyway behind it has a mix of brick and corrugated metal. It looks fine.

[lachlanholmes]

Photos from Friday, September 2nd.

[Canuck905]

They have removed the wood boarding on the first floor adjacent to King Street. Also can confirm that the white material is a cover and the cream colour metal is protected behind it.

[Chronamut]

Originally Posted by Canuck905

They have removed the wood boarding on the first floor adjacent to King Street. Also can confirm that the white material is a cover and the cream colour metal is protected behind it.

Thank da lawd..

any news on if the brick part will be sodablasted to make it look new again?

[StEC]

They have some cool cross bracing in the main floor windows.

[TheRitsman]

Scaffolding and plywood is gone. Looking clean and nearly done on the exterior at least:

[Chronamut]

Originally Posted by TheRitsman

Scaffolding and plywood is gone. Looking clean and nearly done on the exterior at least:

I think you and I have a different concept of "clean" lol..