I suppose no one is mentioning the Canada Post site because for now it's no longer for sale . . . or at least that's my understanding. Is the Canada building considered heritage - or at least the facade? Just curious.
On the Bay Parkade site, so does Hudson Bay not own it? Do they have any say in whether it gets redeveloped? It's fine with me if they don't, but it's hard for me to imagine a huge department store just saying, "Sure, shut down our parking garage for a few years. No worries." IF they have any say in the matter.
One thing that struck me on seeing the view cone open house this weekend is it seems pretty clear to me they were "guiding" the public towards an answer they'd like to get. All the initial panels talked about the importance of view cones and acknowledged the public's overwhelming support for them in the initial stages of the study. But then each panel started offering "options" for modifying or shifting the view cones in some fashion, and asking for feedback on those specific considerations. Then near the end, they suddenly threw up these four "hypothetical" situations of buildings, all of which would be landmarks totally ignoring the existing or even suggested modifications of the view cones. The whole last third of the presentation was about the hypothetical buildings, which sort of ignored everything that led up to them. It was like they were basically asking, "We know the public really likes the view-cones. But here are some options for changing them anyhow. And what about buildings that ignore them completely . . . would they be ok?"
I actually found it sort of funny. I gave my honest opinions on the scenarios they showed, some positive and some only lukewarm. But I hate public forums like that generally. It's almost like push-polling in my mind.
The funny thing about the Bay Parkade site is it literally sits in the middle of three of the largest view-cones. It's not even on the edge of them. I think there is a lot of potential there. I hope whatever gets built there is a bit more creative than the rectangular blob they showed in their conceptual shots. maybe something with a bit more style and panache would be ok, but I hope they wouldn't squander a landmark opportunity with a new millennium version of the ScotiaBank tower
. Maybe a couple of buildings - one 450 ft, one 650 ft with some type of cool plaza between them? Offset to the grid even?
I'd have a ringside seat to whatever they build so I just want it to be cool when and if it happens
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