The Ugly Canada Thread - Page 32

Martin Mtl · #**621** Posted **Dec 19, 2012, 1:12 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chadillaccc

I love this proposal... but that could just be my love for "balls" talking.

I heard that other day that the Calgary tower is expandable by adding another 2 floors and a 70 meter addition to the spire, which would make it the tallest building again. I wonder if, since that is possible, it would be feasible to reclad the entire tower. Hide that hideous concrete behind glass or something? Make it look like a jagged glass shard. I have an idea in my head and it would be pretty darn badass!

I know it's always tempting to imagine what this tower would look like with a makeover, but I can't get over the fact that as it is, the tower is an icon of Calgary, it have its place in the timeline of the town, so maybe it should not be touched. Build another one, taller.

Architype · #**622** Posted **Dec 19, 2012, 1:17 AM**

Source: http://www.heritage.nf.ca/society/slum.html

^ Those houses would probably be all fixed up if it were today, with doctors and lawyers living in them - gotta give the past some credit.

SignalHillHiker · #**623** Posted **Dec 19, 2012, 1:24 AM**

That's true to an extent. The houses on the fringe of the ghetto that survived the bulldozing, for example, this recent pic:

St. John's Grit by Signal Hill Hiker Photography, on Flickr

They're nice enough. But they will never be upper-middle-class homes without extensive renovations.

Marty_Mcfly · #**624** Posted **Dec 19, 2012, 2:09 AM**

^which street is that? Is it near Long's Hill?

matthew6 · #**625** Posted **Dec 19, 2012, 3:07 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Newfoundlander

That's true to an extent. The houses on the fringe of the ghetto that survived the bulldozing, for example, this recent pic:

St. John's Grit by Signal Hill Hiker Photography, on Flickr

Much better than the suburbia found on that Palm tree thread.

jeddy1989 · #**626** Posted **Dec 19, 2012, 3:17 PM**

Got to be honest though .. even the slums (which were propbably just the worse houses that got pictures taken) are still not like third world slums (I've spent much time in third world countries).. you can tell there were just old houses that didnt get maintained and repaired (almost like abandonded houses)

and the ones from today .. are just older houses that need fixing up like the roof done and new siding.

these are real slums:

real Slums are usually large areas too

where people are stacked on top of each other with sewage in the streets etc

but yes we did have a slumish area XD

but those houses that exist now are just old houses that need repairs (slums can be new and in these conditions because its anything for shelter)

MolsonExport · #**627** Posted **Dec 20, 2012, 2:12 PM**

^yeah, that fugliness puts things in perspective. Makes East Hastings look like the Upper East Side (NYC)

niwell · #**628** Posted **Dec 20, 2012, 2:33 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by isaidso

Those buildings weren't very nice the day they were finished, imo. They were blue collar slums back then, and they certainly didn't get any prettier over time. They're a far cry from even middle class Vics/Georgians.

I suppose it depends on what one is accustomed to; we all have different tastes as well. Let's just say that when on Bloor I tend not to venture further east than Sherbourne or further west than St. George. Don't get me started on Yonge.

Architectural style is subjective, but those buildings were never slums. Solid, purpose-built brick structures in an area with similarly solid housing stock do not indicate slums. A look at the whole of the Runnymede area reveals a large proportion (for Toronto) of speculative housing and high percentage of brick structures indicating a solidly middle class (perhaps blue collar) history. There are a few walk-up apartment buildings too which would not have been lower income structures. The area also received city services in 1909 which predates most of the construction.

Here's what the block looked like in 1943:

City of Toronto archives http://www.toronto.ca/archives

And the area directly to the north in 1929

City of Toronto archives http://www.toronto.ca/archives

If you want former slum areas that still exist in part, go up to Earlscourt or Mount Dennis. Though most of the structures have been replaced these areas were owner built over time on what was originally unserviced land.

I would also suggest going west of St George on Bloor - you are missing out on the best newer restaurants/bars/stores on the street. There isn't really much going on between St George and Sherbourne in general really.

isaidso · #**629** Posted **Dec 20, 2012, 3:26 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by niwell

Architectural style is subjective, but those buildings were never slums.

Perhaps, but they were always low brow, modest, and quite grim. I suppose some people will deem them satisfactory, but it's not something I'd ever categorize as attractive .... even when it was new. They make me cringe, tbh.

Sometimes a comparison puts things into perspective:

Ugly

Beautiful

Courtesy of androiduk

isaidso · #**630** Posted **Dec 20, 2012, 3:52 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Architect

I prefer that stuff over the expanses of glass and nothing else in Southcore. That area is in desperate need of some stone. At least that stretch has some character.

I agree about the sterility of Southcore, but exchanging soul sucking modernity for an eclectic eye sore isn't a solution, imo.

O-tacular · #**631** Posted **Dec 20, 2012, 4:01 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by isaidso

Perhaps, but they were always low brow, modest, and quite grim. I suppose some people will deem them satisfactory, but it's not something I'd ever categorize as attractive .... even when it was new. They make me cringe, tbh.

Sometimes a comparison puts things into perspective:

Ugly

Is every place called the Cecil a dive?

kwoldtimer · #**632** Posted **Dec 20, 2012, 6:05 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by O-tacular

Is every place called the Cecil a dive?

Certainly not in this case. It's a third-generation family run men's wear store. They still sell Canadian-made suits, according to their website. The kind of place I'd shop in exclusively, if there were still more of them around, rather than in the rancid, soul-destroying multinationals that sell foreign rags nowadays.

O-tacular · #**633** Posted **Dec 20, 2012, 6:14 PM**

^^^ Interesting it's on such a supposedly ghetto block then. I was just reminded of Calgary's infamous bar / hotel. I thinkt here was also one in Van that got closed down.

Calgary's Cecil. Now closed and pending demolition or re-use.

kwoldtimer · #**634** Posted **Dec 20, 2012, 6:30 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by O-tacular

^^^ Interesting it's on such a supposedly ghetto block then. .............

I'll have to defer to the Toronto residents since I so seldom go there anymore, but not remotely a "ghetto" to the best of my understanding.

niwell · #**635** Posted **Dec 20, 2012, 6:32 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by O-tacular

^^^ Interesting it's on such a supposedly ghetto block then. I was just reminded of Calgary's infamous bar / hotel. I thinkt here was also one in Van that got closed down.
[/IMG]

It's not a ghetto block at all - isaidso just hates the architecture (rightly or wrongly). It's the western edge of Bloor West Village which is fairly upscale - despite the uncoordinated signage on those storefronts, there is nothing remotely sketchy there. A semi-detached house will run you $500k minimum. I can't think of anything analogous in Calgary, maybe Kensington with an older crowd?

I didn't realize the Cecil was gone! Never been inside (thankfully) but it always seemed dodgy as hell going by. There are some taverny type places on Gerrard East in Toronto that seem similar. Which I would also not go in...

Maple Leaf Tavern (sadly closed)

http://goo.gl/maps/LdKdU

Ulster Arms Tavern (definitely not closed, despite appearances)

http://goo.gl/maps/3vkOl

someone123 · #**636** Posted **Dec 20, 2012, 6:36 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by isaidso

Beautiful

Courtesy of androiduk

That looks great. The corner building used to be in bad condition:

http://goo.gl/maps/Xn0oR

MTLskyline · #**637** Posted **Dec 20, 2012, 7:01 PM**

Wow, what an improvement!! The owners of this building deserve a medal! I'm especially impressed that they put a somewhat Italianate crown molding around the top (and made it look reasonably authentic).

MolsonExport · #**638** Posted **Dec 20, 2012, 7:21 PM**

Haha, the Cecil!

Something about names and stereotypes. Here is the Hotel Cecil in Vancouver.

SSP

Saw Ms. Penthouse pet of the year there during my reckless youth.

O-tacular · #**639** Posted **Dec 20, 2012, 9:50 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

Haha, the Cecil!

Something about names and stereotypes. Here is the Hotel Cecil in Vancouver.

SSP

Saw Ms. Penthouse pet of the year there during my reckless youth.

That's right! Now that I see the image I remember why it came to mind. There's a stripclub in the back my buddy took me to a few years ago.

kwoldtimer · #**640** Posted **Dec 21, 2012, 1:58 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MTLskyline

Wow, what an improvement!! The owners of this building deserve a medal! I'm especially impressed that they put a somewhat Italianate crown molding around the top (and made it look reasonably authentic).

I don't know, but I suspect that they put a cornice BACK onto the building after it was lost at some point in the past. Either way, it does look quite good.