One Young (née Mayfair Hotel) | 5 fl | Complete

[Lens]

Mayfair Hotel Demolition by Matt, on Flickr

[KWchick]

Welcome to the forums, KWchick!

(...)  when i first moved here in '83, there were two grocery stores; one where city hall was, and one in the market square building (i am pretty sure)
as well, there was a hardware store.. woolworth's.. movie theatres.. the king centre was busy with interesting stores.. in fact the whole downtown was busy with shoppers and ppl who just wanted to browse.

now we have... how many pita shops?  a couple sushi bars.. there isnt very much really to go downtown FOR anymore.
bargain shop is gone.. the td bank moved..  and even factories.. all gone or converted to 'lofts'..

it is a real shame.
anyway.. nice to meet you all. interesting thread.

I moved here in '77, and went to high school at Cameron Heights.  Other than Market Square (which had Eaton's and Zehrs), the downtown core was pretty run down at that time already.  King Centre came later, but there simply weren't enough shoppers to keep those busy -- most people preferred to go to Fairview or Conestoga.  And the decrepit factories and run-down car dealerships certainly didn't make the downtown any more lively.

We now have a fabulous city hall, older buildings with a new life (Kaufman Lofts, Arrow Lofts, Tannery, Breithaupt), more people moving to downtown (lofts above, 1 Victoria, 100 Victoria, City Centre Condos), the UW school of pharmacy, LRT and a transit centre coming.  It's night and day compared to 30 years ago.

And there are lots of great restaurants downtown, both casual and more upscale.  271, Ellison's, Northern Thai, Holy Guacamole, Kinkaku, Twh Social, Niko Niko, The 41, Cheeses Murphy, Crepe Cafe ... and the list is way longer than this.

I've been waiting for the downtown to be revitalized for nearly four decades.  But I'm finally confident that it really is happening now.

thanks

well...

im glad you like it ... i guess i am just not really an upscale kinda gal lol.

the factories were places where ppl went to work.. could even stay for years without concern of them closing. so many of them did.
you could apply all along king street into waterloo for work!

now, even schneider's gone.. well there arent too many places left to find that kind of work.

i guess it depends on what kind of person you are and what things you like to do.. for work or socially etc.

im a blue-collar kinda gal. so i also enjoyed the old bars. i know lots certainly dont miss those lol
and i understand why.. but.. i met alot of kind ppl there believe it or not.
regular folks mostly.. other blue collar types like myself.

as far as the new restaurants and things you mentioned.. well i dont really go to any of them.

i am just saying that, for myself, most things that were familiar, and that i liked about the downtown are gone now,

or soon to be gone. i miss the way it was. nothing to be done about that of course. just my 2 loonies' worth..

[notmyfriends]

Mayfair Hotel Demolition by Matt, on Flickr

You are truly an artist.

[panamaniac]

In the spirit of demolition (pardon my sarcasm), with the Mayfair and Hymmen buildings being removed, part of me feels like the two remaining buildings should also be demolished to create the best redevelopment opportunity. The convenience store adjacent to City Centre's sale office is definitely an eye-sore, but I do appreciate the building adjacent to Hymmen (144-150 King St W). I understand that it is of heritage interest to the City (but not designated). In any event, there's an opportunity for some great density and master planning on that site under current zoning if the frontage from Young St to the Elements building was considered as a whole. Unfortunately, with multiple property owners with different timelines and agendas, that can be difficult to achieve.

I'd hate to lose Weber Chambers.  I don't know if the façade is original to the building, but it's unique in Downtown and the building dates to 1895.  The apartments in Weber Chambers are currently being renovated.  I can't remember what is under the ugly metal cladding of the convenience store although it's likely red brick.  The peaked roof on that building makes me thing that it too might be pre-1900.  The biggest loss on that block, imo, was Lyric Theatre.

[tomh009]

the factories were places where ppl went to work.. could even stay for years without concern of them closing. so many of them did.  you could apply all along king street into waterloo for work!  now, even schneider's gone.. well there arent too many places left to find that kind of work.

i guess it depends on what kind of person you are and what things you like to do.. for work or socially etc.  im a blue-collar kinda gal.  so i also enjoyed the old bars.  i know lots certainly dont miss those lol and i understand why.. but.. i met alot of kind ppl there believe it or not.  regular folks mostly.. other blue collar types like myself.

as far as the new restaurants and things you mentioned.. well i dont really go to any of them. i am just saying that, for myself, most things that were familiar, and that i liked about the downtown are gone now, or soon to be gone.  i miss the way it was.  nothing to be done about that of course. just my 2 loonies' worth..

You are right ... factory jobs have disappeared (I worked at Schneider's, too, when I was young ...).  Not only downtown, but in all of Kitchener, in Ontario, in Canada -- all of the western countries.  Factories are now mostly in low-cost countries, and I doubt they will ever come back here, not in the same form.  I regret the loss of those jobs, but that won't bring them back.

Yes, the downtown has changed, and there are fewer blue-collar bars and restaurants.  There are still some, but compared to what it was 30+ years ago, there are more upscale bars/restaurants, and far more ethnic food.  That, too, is a change.  It's good for a lot of people (including me) but not so good for others (maybe you).  I do hope you find some things or places to enjoy downtown -- or somewhere else in the twin cities.

[KWchick]

the factories were places where ppl went to work.. could even stay for years without concern of them closing. so many of them did.  you could apply all along king street into waterloo for work!  now, even schneider's gone.. well there arent too many places left to find that kind of work.

i guess it depends on what kind of person you are and what things you like to do.. for work or socially etc.  im a blue-collar kinda gal.  so i also enjoyed the old bars.  i know lots certainly dont miss those lol and i understand why.. but.. i met alot of kind ppl there believe it or not.  regular folks mostly.. other blue collar types like myself.

as far as the new restaurants and things you mentioned.. well i dont really go to any of them. i am just saying that, for myself, most things that were familiar, and that i liked about the downtown are gone now, or soon to be gone.  i miss the way it was.  nothing to be done about that of course. just my 2 loonies' worth..

You are right ... factory jobs have disappeared (I worked at Schneider's, too, when I was young ...).  Not only downtown, but in all of Kitchener, in Ontario, in Canada -- all of the western countries.  Factories are now mostly in low-cost countries, and I doubt they will ever come back here, not in the same form.  I regret the loss of those jobs, but that won't bring them back.

Yes, the downtown has changed, and there are fewer blue-collar bars and restaurants.  There are still some, but compared to what it was 30+ years ago, there are more upscale bars/restaurants, and far more ethnic food.  That, too, is a change.  It's good for a lot of people (including me) but not so good for others (maybe you).  I do hope you find some things or places to enjoy downtown -- or somewhere else in the twin cities.

i worked there too. til a couple years ago.

i know they wont come back.. and factory work, if there is any, is usually temp or contract now anyhow.

i guess i wouldnt mind so much if i were just starting out. then i wouldnt have only factory experience. but it is all i have pretty well.

there are only a couple blue collar type bars i know of, and though i dont go out like we all used to after work fridays, i have gone a few times.
mostly i just stay home now, as do the rest of the old crew, i think.

well i cant say i really find much that interests me downtown.. perhaps the once a year car show or bluesfest. but not as a regular place to go.

but i guess it is good for some ppl, as you say.

[Lens]

You are right ... factory jobs have disappeared (I worked at Schneider's, too, when I was young ...).  Not only downtown, but in all of Kitchener, in Ontario, in Canada -- all of the western countries.  Factories are now mostly in low-cost countries, and I doubt they will ever come back here, not in the same form.  I regret the loss of those jobs, but that won't bring them back.

Yes, the downtown has changed, and there are fewer blue-collar bars and restaurants.  There are still some, but compared to what it was 30+ years ago, there are more upscale bars/restaurants, and far more ethnic food.  That, too, is a change.  It's good for a lot of people (including me) but not so good for others (maybe you).  I do hope you find some things or places to enjoy downtown -- or somewhere else in the twin cities.

i worked there too. til a couple years ago.

i know they wont come back.. and factory work, if there is any, is usually temp or contract now anyhow.

i guess i wouldnt mind so much if i were just starting out. then i wouldnt have only factory experience.  but it is all i have pretty well.

there are only a couple blue collar type bars i know of, and though i dont go out like we all used to after work fridays, i have gone a few times.
mostly i just stay home now, as do the rest of the old crew, i think.

well i cant say i really find much that interests me downtown..  perhaps the once a year car show or bluesfest.  but not as a regular place to go.

but i guess it is good for some ppl, as you say.

It's a bit off topic, but what interests you outside of Downtown? As far as I'm concerned the highest concentration of activity and activities to take part in happen Downtown or Uptown.

And thank you notmyfriends! I took no pleasure in photographing the demolition but it was certainly interesting to see the short bit of work that I saw.

[mpd618]

In the spirit of demolition (pardon my sarcasm), with the Mayfair and Hymmen buildings being removed, part of me feels like the two remaining buildings should also be demolished to create the best redevelopment opportunity. ... In any event, there's an opportunity for some great density and master planning on that site under current zoning if the frontage from Young St to the Elements building was considered as a whole. Unfortunately, with multiple property owners with different timelines and agendas, that can be difficult to achieve.

I think increasing the amount of frontage belonging to a single building here tends to result in more boring buildings and less interesting streetscapes. Demolishing a good building in order to make a wider homogeneous facade is not my idea of an improvement. I think if we got rid of the requirements to provide parking within every project and the minimum frontage requirements, it would be a lot easier to build good density without a large land assembly.

You are right ... factory jobs have disappeared (I worked at Schneider's, too, when I was young ...).  Not only downtown, but in all of Kitchener, in Ontario, in Canada -- all of the western countries.  Factories are now mostly in low-cost countries, and I doubt they will ever come back here, not in the same form.

Manufacturing is still a very large part of our local economy (roughly ~20% of employment), and my understanding is that it is not on a sharp downward trajectory. What's left is of course more niche and more advanced kinds of manufacturing.

[rangersfan]

The region is fortunate to have strong advanced manufacturing and high tech manufacturing sectors.

[Lens]

Young Street by Matt, on Flickr

Mayfair Hotel Demolition - Young Street by Matt, on Flickr

Mayfair Hotel Demolition - One Going Up, One Going Down by Matt, on Flickr

Mayfair Hotel Demolition - Smash by Matt, on Flickr

Mayfair Hotel Demolition - Observers by Matt, on Flickr

Mayfair Hotel Demolition - Danger by Matt, on Flickr

[tomh009]

You are right ... factory jobs have disappeared (I worked at Schneider's, too, when I was young ...).  Not only downtown, but in all of Kitchener, in Ontario, in Canada -- all of the western countries.  Factories are now mostly in low-cost countries, and I doubt they will ever come back here, not in the same form.

Manufacturing is still a very large part of our local economy (roughly ~20% of employment), and my understanding is that it is not on a sharp downward trajectory. What's left is of course more niche and more advanced kinds of manufacturing.

Yes, around 20% of employment is manufacturing companies based on StatsCan data (the actual number of factory jobs will be less than that as manufacturers also have white-collar employees).  More specialized than before, and still factory employment is on a gradual downward slope.

And compared to the 80s, which KWchick referred to, we have lost companies like Budd, Uniroyal, Kaufman, Arrow, Schneider's, BFGoodrich etc. 

[panamaniac]

Manufacturing is still a very large part of our local economy (roughly ~20% of employment), and my understanding is that it is not on a sharp downward trajectory. What's left is of course more niche and more advanced kinds of manufacturing.

Yes, around 20% of employment is manufacturing companies based on StatsCan data (the actual number of factory jobs will be less than that as manufacturers also have white-collar employees).  More specialized than before, and still factory employment is on a gradual downward slope.

And compared to the 80s, which KWchick referred to, we have lost companies like Budd, Uniroyal, Kaufman, Arrow, Schneider's, BFGoodrich etc. 

And about to lose Lear - pretty much the last of the "old school" industries in town, apart from Krug Furniture and a few smaller firms.

[Spokes]

In the spirit of demolition (pardon my sarcasm), with the Mayfair and Hymmen buildings being removed, part of me feels like the two remaining buildings should also be demolished to create the best redevelopment opportunity. The convenience store adjacent to City Centre's sale office is definitely an eye-sore, but I do appreciate the building adjacent to Hymmen (144-150 King St W). I understand that it is of heritage interest to the City (but not designated). In any event, there's an opportunity for some great density and master planning on that site under current zoning if the frontage from Young St to the Elements building was considered as a whole. Unfortunately, with multiple property owners with different timelines and agendas, that can be difficult to achieve.

I'd hate to lose Weber Chambers.  I don't know if the façade is original to the building, but it's unique in Downtown and the building dates to 1895.  The apartments in Weber Chambers are currently being renovated.  I can't remember what is under the ugly metal cladding of the convenience store although it's likely red brick.  The peaked roof on that building makes me thing that it too might be pre-1900.  The biggest loss on that block, imo, was Lyric Theatre.

Me too.  I don't think the facade is original, but I too like it.  Anyone know what the plans are for the apartments?  Or what their current state is?

As for the convenience store building, I'd lose no sleep seeing it go.  Keeping the Weber Chambers building though makes it very difficult to redevelop around it.

[Spokes]

With regards to the Weber Chambers building at 150 King, from today's Record:

The next building further down, at 150 King St. W., was built earlier as a standalone building and officials are confident it can safely remain after its neighbours to the west come down. But they want to be sure the dismantling of the roof from the Hymmen building doesn't hurt the building at 150 King, so engineers and demolition officials will take a few days to work out details of the next stage of the demolition.

http://www.therecord.com/news-story/5638...-few-days/

[tomh009]

Me too.  I don't think the facade is original, but I too like it.  Anyone know what the plans are for the apartments?  Or what their current state is?

As for the convenience store building, I'd lose no sleep seeing it go.  Keeping the Weber Chambers building though makes it very difficult to redevelop around it.

Need some creative architecture, but I'm certain something can be done (although it would  be easier if Weber Chambers and the convenience store were included).

On the other side, is the convenience store the only property between Weber Chambers and the City Centre property?