Sorry but I’m going to have to call baloney on both of these.
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Originally Posted by someone123
That is an interesting point. One thing that has changed is that the quantity of new construction has gone way up. I think the nicest new projects like Queen's Marque would have stacked up well quality-wise against any private projects of the preceding 1-2 decades. Also, construction has spread to more affordable parts of town that in the past might have had no buildings at all. I think a good basis for comparison of recent construction in the North End is buildings like those 1980's Highfield Park specials or early 2000's buildings like the one at the corner of Falkland and Gottingen, not the central library or TD tower.
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The North End does see a more motley mix of buildings compared to the downtown, but that doesn’t condemn the area to bad buildings. That 2000s building on Falkland/Gottingen actually has some rhythm and style compared to this site. Saying the north End should expect recent construction to resemble Highland Park specials is ridiculous considering new constructions in Fairview and Clayton Park outshine these old buildings by a mile.
Isleville, Maynard and the Hydrostone area have seen plenty of better thought out buildings than this. Yes, those are smaller, yet even POINT NORTH compares favourably to the trinity site if we consider the podium and consistency of the design. Gladstone ridge offers no pedestrian experience but at least the buildings look nicer. 1920 Across the street from this site offers something nicer in all regards. The Vuze and Margaretta are glaring examples of how the South End and Spring Garden aren’t immune to horrible design either despite being a short walk to the library.
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Originally Posted by someone123
I've always thought of these old approvals as plans from another era that could have been inherited either in building or in approval form. I would guess that this is nicer than what would have been built in the past on that site given that approval. There's a fixed supply of these pre-approved sites but I have no idea how many exist. I think it's unrealistic to expect developers to go through with the new site plan approval process when it would add to costs and maybe reduce revenues. Maybe that would create better buildings but I don't think they will do it. They will use up the old approvals and land will be priced according to the approvals in place.
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As others pointed out, they had options under the old process and made their choice. They chose
“Maritime Centre: Residential Edition”. Who knows, maybe some urban romantics will appreciate this unconventional aesthetic and come from all over to visit the “Great Wall of Cogswell”.