Fairview Park Mall - Grand Market District

[tomh009]

People gotta get over the Heritage Committee doing exactly what it is mandated to do ....

Preserve every house that's at least 100 years old?

[jeffster]

People gotta get over the Heritage Committee doing exactly what it is mandated to do ....

Just as long as they don't try to preserve:

Buildings less than 100 years old & privately owned & is already attached to another ugly building (such as Wal*Mart), strictly retail, non-historical, etc....such as that Sears building.

[panamaniac]

People gotta get over the Heritage Committee doing exactly what it is mandated to do ....

Preserve every house that's at least 100 years old?

If that house is in a designated heritage district, probably.  But the Heritage Committee preserves nothing.  It makes recommendations to City Council, which takes the decision.

[MacBerry]

People gotta get over the Heritage Committee doing exactly what it is mandated to do ....

If 65 years old is "heritage" then I should be preserved too ...

[panamaniac]

People gotta get over the Heritage Committee doing exactly what it is mandated to do ....

If 65 years old is "heritage" then I should be preserved too ...

Age is only one of a number of factors determining heritage value.  The St Mary's heritage district was created when the houses there were less than 60 years old, iirc.

[tomh009]

If 65 years old is "heritage" then I should be preserved too ...

Age is only one of a number of factors determining heritage value.  The St Mary's heritage district was created when the houses there were less than 60 years old, iirc.

Which begs the question why the two houses on Queen St had to be preserved. No historical significance, no unique features, mediocre condition and surrounded by apartment buildings -- but still they were more important than adding reasonably-priced housing near an LRT station.

[panamaniac]

Age is only one of a number of factors determining heritage value.  The St Mary's heritage district was created when the houses there were less than 60 years old, iirc.

Which begs the question why the two houses on Queen St had to be preserved. No historical significance, no unique features, mediocre condition and surrounded by apartment buildings -- but still they were more important than adding reasonably-priced housing near an LRT station.

No argument from me - I didn't think that was a good decision.

[razzie13]

Noticed on the webpage some updated renders. Along with some new tenants for the Sears building, namely Winners and Marks

[clasher]

That's a lot of trees!

[jeffster]

Noticed on the webpage some updated renders. Along with some new tenants for the Sears building, namely Winners and Marks

Also noticed was the new building across the street in front of Cineplex.

[tomh009]

That's a lot of trees!

A lot of trees -- but not much density. Still 50% surface parking, and almost all buildings with just a single floor. Grand Market District? Hmmm.

[urbd]

That's a lot of trees!

A lot of trees -- but not much density. Still 50% surface parking, and almost all buildings with just a single floor. Grand Market District? Hmmm.

This is just the first phase of the full redevelopment of the 'district'.

[Rainrider22]

If you review this thread, you will see mostly negative comments.  From the faux industrial look to the number of floors, to not saving the ugly old precast contrete siding of the former Sears building.  I am going against the grain here and will say this, I hope this project ends up looking the renders,  I welcome it and think it will end up being very nice..

Give the project a chance please...

[jeffster]

If you review this thread, you will see mostly negative comments.  From the faux industrial look to the number of floors, to not saving the ugly old precast contrete siding of the former Sears building.  I am going against the grain here and will say this, I hope this project ends up looking the renders,  I welcome it and think it will end up being very nice..

Give the project a chance please...

I like the renderings and hope it ends up as advertised. Fairview Park Mall has a huge ugly parking lot, and needed to be filled in a bit. Getting rid of the old ugly Sears Automotive building too is a plus. I don't see much downside to this improvement.

[tomh009]

If you review this thread, you will see mostly negative comments.  From the faux industrial look to the number of floors, to not saving the ugly old precast contrete siding of the former Sears building.  I am going against the grain here and will say this, I hope this project ends up looking the renders,  I welcome it and think it will end up being very nice..

Give the project a chance please...

Well. I'll admit it's an improvement. But it's still low density, with the only worthy architecture (whether we personally like it or not) to be demolished, and replaced by a faux-heritage smokestack. Oh well.