Quote:
Originally Posted by Urbanarchit
As someone from the area, I have no problem with them. In light of how expensive the city and these neighbourhoods have gotten, we need more apartments and condos. Unless people want to have them on their residential streets (people definitely don't want them there), and considering there is a moratorium on 3-storey apartment buildings in Westboro, we're rather limited where these sorts of buildings can be placed. It's better when they're built on empty lots and restore retail and street-frontage continuity to the street. I would love to see the garage beside the above proposal developed with something. There are several buildings along the stretch that I think are much better than what was there before, and is improving the street. But I do concede that Main & Main's proposal for the corner is not appealing whatsoever.
I think the two buildings that are there now should be kept and renovated (I believe the brick building on the corner has a crumbling foundation on Churchill last I checked). I do think that there are several buildings on Wellington and Richmond that should be kept (even if they're not heritage). Yet, as the proposal I posted was on their "past projects" section, I imagine it might not be legitimate. They did have a building for Preston Street a while ago that was never officially proposed and is now missing from their website; so, who knows what this is about. This building is incredibly terrible in appearance and massing, that even I wouldn't support it. I think I could tolerate 6-7 storeys at this corner with a setback from Churchill and Richmond, to be honest. |
I do agree that the area could use some more dwelling units, I just don't think that it's appropriate to replace the existing 2 buildings there with that monstrosity, especially when the next door lot is a much better candidate for redevelopment. There are many other more appropriate locations nearby to place large residential towers, like on McRae avenue and near Westboro Station (the area immediately north of the station). There's also the corner lot at Churchill and Scott where the old weightwatchers building use to be.
It would just be a shame to see that red brick building at the corner get torn down for an ugly condo building. I bought my first bike in that building when it was a small sports shop, so I suppose there's some sentimental value there for me.