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(05-24-2015, 04:25 PM)panamaniac Wrote: [ -> ]That was the Dunker Building, was it not?

Apparently, yes.  However, I have no recollection of how (or whether) it was being used before being demolished.

That was the era of trying to use shopping centres to draw people downtown: Market Square, King Centre, Waterloo (Town) Square.
In case anyone wanted to see the inside of the Mayfair. I found a decent gallery on UER.
http://www.uer.ca/locations/viewgal.asp?...alid=27395
(05-23-2015, 12:09 AM)BuildingScout Wrote: [ -> ]
(05-22-2015, 11:31 PM)Lens Wrote: [ -> ]Just a roughed map of what's been lost since the 60's

Thanks for the pictures, this is really helpful. However I take issue with the blanket use of the word "lost".

For example, the new Kitchener City Hall block was unremarkable. So was was the previous structure on the government of Canada building on Duke St. You can add the consolidated court house structures to that. Those are clear gains.

On the loss side, we have, for example the old City Hall structures, which are sorely missed.

Agreed.  Some of those loses are very positive ones.
(05-24-2015, 09:23 PM)neonjoe Wrote: [ -> ]In case anyone wanted to see the inside of the Mayfair. I found a decent gallery on UER.
http://www.uer.ca/locations/viewgal.asp?locid=28476&galid=27395

Very cool gallery.  Thanks for posting
(05-24-2015, 03:38 PM)tomh009 Wrote: [ -> ]
(05-24-2015, 01:45 PM)Drake Wrote: [ -> ]What building was inside the red circle? It looks to be quite large. What is the reason it is gone?

I don't remember the building, but it was torn down to make space for King Centre.

Wasn't it a bedding factory? (wild guess!)
(05-25-2015, 02:40 PM)MacBerry Wrote: [ -> ]
(05-24-2015, 03:38 PM)tomh009 Wrote: [ -> ]I don't remember the building, but it was torn down to make space for King Centre.

Wasn't it a bedding factory? (wild guess!)

I don't think so.  Dunker Construction had their offices there originally, and at one point CKWR was located there.
The gallery... Without context, if someone said these were behind the scene pictures of Chernobyl or some other abandoned place, I would believe it. Even a behind the scenes tour of the Twin Peaks sets.. it is quite an odd assortment.

I did like the custom railing. The stylized M was a neat touch.
(05-25-2015, 08:28 PM)Drake Wrote: [ -> ]The gallery... Without context, if someone said these were behind the scene pictures of Chernobyl or some other abandoned place, I would believe it. Even a behind the scenes tour of the Twin Peaks sets.. it is quite an odd assortment.

I did like the custom railing. The stylized M was a neat touch.

I think the railing was among the heritage elements that was supposed to be saved, but I don't know whether anyone was allowed in to take it out.
The storefront of the Hymmen Building has been blown out. This place is the Energizer Bunny of "at risk of imminent collapse" builidngs - it takes a licking and keeps on standing!

[Image: xeka2q.jpg]
(05-24-2015, 09:23 PM)neonjoe Wrote: [ -> ]In case anyone wanted to see the inside of the Mayfair. I found a decent gallery on UER.
http://www.uer.ca/locations/viewgal.asp?...alid=27395

oh right on lol..

i sure spent a few great friday nights there..
Any updates here?
(06-03-2015, 09:16 AM)Spokes Wrote: [ -> ]Any updates here?

It's still in danger of imminent collapse.  Smile
(06-03-2015, 09:52 AM)panamaniac Wrote: [ -> ]
(06-03-2015, 09:16 AM)Spokes Wrote: [ -> ]Any updates here?

It's still in danger of imminent collapse.  Smile


lol..

well this article talks about sluggish downtown and stores closing etc..

http://www.therecord.com/news-story/5657...struction/

the victoria one apt building is mentioned, saying that it will help rejuvenate the downtown

once ppl move in.

i doubt very much that just because it is located dpwntown, that it will 'help' make it any busier fpr stores.

most ppl seem to go to the big box stores. there arent many places left downtown TO shop..

it is also mentioned that the events held such as bluesfest etc also help..

i do not see how.. and even if they do, it only lasts the weekend it is held.. i cannot see how that would keep

store-owners in business for the long term.

and as someone in the article also mentioned, 'beautification' isnt going to fix everything..

who would come downtown just to 'look at' the newest green area? oh, they might stay for a coffee or something.

i simply cant see how getting rid of interesting historical buildings, replacing them with the same old green glass and

concrete blocks, and stores closing all over the downtown is going to rejuvenate anything.

look at bargain shop... was there for years and well patronized. ppl who live downtown need SOMEWHERE to shop

if they are going to go downtown.

fancy clothing stores and too many pita or sushi places are not going to cut it.

really, IF it were true that it is 'improving', then why are stores closing? they should be booming. i would think the

store owners would know.. and look at what they are saying.
Since I live in Cedar Hill, I think I will try to answer this. I don't speak for anyone but myself.
Why do I not shop downtown?

During the week, I work 9-5, get home, and the last thing I want to do is wrangle kids and head for the downtown. Heck Budds is just down the street, yet I prefer to to to Budds in Guelph. Second, there always seems to be an aggressive subset of the population downtown that I'd rather just avoid. They hang out in front of shops, on the corners, and basically anywhere on the sidewalk. I have yet, in my 9 years of living in Cedar Hill, gone for one walk downtown where I am not repeatedly asked to spare change, or nearly bowled over by people congregating. Then there are the people who insist on driving their bikes on the sidewalk. Many of the shops are small, disorganized, and full of stuff that can be knocked over or broken. People smoking, cussing, yelling, arguing, fighting. Garbage laying strewn, not on garbage day. Drug addicts, prostitutes, people with severe mental illness. For some reason, they are overly represented downtown. On the weekend, especially Market Day, it is a mob down on Cedar/King.

Maybe I totally suck. I get it. But shopping is supposed to be relaxing and fun, and I just don't "feel that" when I am downtown. Except maybe at KW Bookstore.
(06-03-2015, 01:00 PM)CTGal1011 Wrote: [ -> ]Since I live in Cedar Hill, I think I will try to answer this.  I don't speak for anyone but myself.
Why do I not shop downtown?

During the week, I work 9-5, get home, and the last thing I want to do is wrangle kids and head for the downtown. Heck Budds is just down the street, yet I prefer to to to Budds in Guelph.  Second, there always seems to be an aggressive subset of the population downtown that I'd rather just avoid.  They hang out in front of shops, on the corners, and basically anywhere on the sidewalk. I have yet, in my 9 years of living in Cedar Hill, gone for one walk downtown where I am not repeatedly asked to spare change, or nearly bowled over by people congregating.  Then there are the people who insist on driving their bikes on the sidewalk. Many of the shops are small, disorganized, and full of stuff that can be knocked over or broken.  People smoking, cussing, yelling, arguing, fighting. Garbage laying strewn, not on garbage day. Drug addicts, prostitutes, people with severe mental illness.  For some reason, they are overly represented downtown. On the weekend, especially Market Day, it is a mob down on Cedar/King.

Maybe I totally suck.  I get it.  But shopping is supposed to be relaxing and fun, and I just don't "feel that" when I am downtown.  Except maybe at KW Bookstore.

It's a simple matter of motivation/destination.  Why have I "come downtown" recently? Because there was somewhere I wanted to go downtown! (duh!)  I don't think anybody would just 'go for a walk' downtown, no matter how many heritage buildings (or green spaces, or new developments) it had.  Similarly, they aren't going to go downtown just because they live in a condo downtown.   They will "go out" downtown if they have a reason.  

Looking at Uptown Waterloo, it starts with restaurants and bars.   This isn't rocket science - TWH Social is the best thing to happen to downtown in years (and single handedly responsible for my wife and I going out for dinner in downtown Kitchener more in the past 3 months than we had in the past 3 years).   Apollo is another great destination, and the rooftop bar in the works at the Walper is going to be amazing!   Why is downtown Kitchener so busy during the day?  Because there are a plethora of fantastic lunch spots and coffee shops - Example:  The Duke St. food block had me driving from my place of work in Waterloo to downtown Kitchener for lunch any chance I could (and I would try to get there early between 11:30-11:45 at that) so that I could treat myself to some Holy Guacamole.  

Downtown needs destinations - and as it gains destinations it needs to not be intimidating.   I've traveled some relatively scary parts of the world and my wife and I consider ourselves pretty brave (you think Kitchener is bad, try going for a walk at night in Madrid or Naples - I know there are worse spots, but these places made Kitchener at 10pm look like a sunny walk in the park) - so all the intimidating factors you highlighted don't bother us (if we have a reason to be there in the first place), but I don't question for a moment that what you described is exactly what is conjured up in the heads of 90% of people living in Kitchener (outside the downtown) when you mention going downtown - But if there are destinations, the people will come - we just have to not scare them away.

Overall, I think the downtown is absolutely on the right track - 3 things happening at once:
1) Create destinations.  Invest in them. Provide them with grants. Make it easy for them to setup shop and do business downtown.  Events are part of this - sure they might just be one weekend at a time, but if you look at the event lineup between now and Oktoberfest, there is lots going on.
2) Clean it up (redevelopment + removal or discouragement of intimidating factors)
3) Bring in more people (create a market for the destinations - combination of places to work and places to live)

It's a chicken/egg situation - and for all the the positives and negatives of city hall, I do think they are doing a good job of bringing the chicken and the egg to life at the same time.
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