What’s Up Tdot?!

Fire at Rowhouses on George Street!

When I woke up this morning and turned the television on to CP24 there was a news story about a fire at 301a George Street which immediately put me in panic mode. Months ago I did a blog post on the houses between 295 and 305, (I have hyper linked the number to lead you there) that have been siting abandoned on George Street and that have been left to decay and fall apart. Today there demise may be a reality as an investigation will look into whether the house needs to be torn down or not due to the fire. Now there is no word on how the fire started, but it could have been done intentionally or accidentally. The abandoned row houses are popular places for squatters to take shelter and house 295 actually had belongings inside, so there is a chance one of the squatters was cold and tried to keep warm. However, the fire could have been intentional as it is also a place where a number of drug users and dealers hang out.  

However, I am placing so much emphasis on this because these are heritage properties that are a century old and the owner will do nothing with the properties. The sad part is these houses are prone to fires and the homes have had regular visits from the fire department for reports of smoke in the last few months. In fact Last year 295 caught on fire.

What is sad is that these abandoned building are inhabitable and some (if not all) could be considers fire hazards. The most depressing part is these houses are absolutely stunning even in their decay. You can still see the detail that made them stunning pieces of architecture. Furthermore, these houses have so much history that relates not only to Toronto; but Canada.

Many of your responses, likes, reblogs (which almost reached 100) and messages following my original 295 to 305 post showed me how much you all care for heritage properties. These buildings are our past and no matter what anyone says they are important to history as well as important pieces of architecture. Compared to the banal and boring homes and structures that are going up today, these homes had so much detail to them. We are losing the fight to save heritage properties which means our children may one day grow up in a city that only has books with illustrations of what Toronto once was.

What can we do to save these properties? That is something I have been asking myself since The Empress Hotel was burnt down by an arsonist and since the Sam The Record Man sign was left in limbo. What can we do to save the history of Toronto? Yes we have had some wins. Maple Leaf Gardens which is the only arena to see the Leafs win a Stanley Cup was reopened as a Loblaws and Ryerson fitness centre with an NHL sized hockey rink. The Old Bank of Commerce on Yonge is about to be restored as the entrance way to a new condo complex. These are recent examples of abandoned buildings/heritage properties that are getting a second chance. However the wins are not even close to the losses of properties that sit abandoned such as the Guild Inn, the Loblaws Warehouse on Bathurst and Lakeshore, The Canada Malting Silos or the Old Bank of Toronto which is right next to the Old Bank of Commerce on Yonge.

So I ask you all. What do we do? What do we do to protect our history?

 

http://live.cbc.ca/Event/CBC_Toronto

Why I Love Toronto Reason #323

The Confederation Life Building

I had an interview yesterday near King Street East and Parliament and afterwards I thought hey I should go to TEC to find a dress shirt for Georgette’s Wedding. However, I had left my interview at around rush hour and did not want to get on a packed TTC car with smelly/ sweaty people. So I decided to walk to Yonge and then walk north. On the way I passed Richmond Street where this old building stood. Now this building is absolutely extraordinary it is beyond belief in terms of the detailing and size of it. Anyways I’ve seen it before and my friend Ariel commented on it once and today I finally got the name of the building – The Confederation Life Building.

The Historical Plaque that sits on the building notes that it was once the grandest office building in the city. It was home to the Confederation Life Association until 1955. The building is a mix of Romanesque and French Gothic and was erected in 1892 by Knox, Elliot and Jarvis who won an international competition. And get this is was one of the tallest buildings in the city! How many times have I said that one! The building has been renovated a number of times once in 1898 and again in 1908. However, a semi-tragedy stuck the building and I say semi because if it was a complete strategy the building wouldn’t be there anymore. Anyways in 1981 a fire engulfed the building, but unlike other heritage buildings that have been consumed by fire the Confederation Life Building was fully restored.

The building almost looks like a castle and is no doubt stunning. The towers are astounding and seem so grand and threatening. You have to love all the triangle and cone shapes that take over the top of the building. There are arches almost in every place you look and it has so many windows I can only imagine the amount of natural light the building receives. There is so much stone crafting at the ends of pillars and so many different shapes. I love the one bay window that is directly on the corner of Yonge and Richmond, I look at it and feel as though the arches were once two large openings in which they decided to build a bay window into to it. I don’t know if I explained that properly, but just look at it, don’t you think it looks kind of funny.

Overall just looking at the building is overwhelming. There is just so much going on with this building, it could make you dizzy. But it is still a beautiful example of a Toronto Heritage building and I think it is amazing that it managed to survive such a devastating fire, yet still be with us today.

That is Why I Love Toronto.

http://tayloronhistory.com/2012/04/10/enjoying-torontos-architectural-gems-1890s-confederation-life-building/

http://torontoplaques.com/Pages_ABC/Confederation_Life_Building.html

Why I Love Toronto Reason #276

Churches Being Turned into Condos/ Lofts

Yes I know Toronto’s Condo/ Loft market is getting out of hand. I mean they have condos popping up right next to the Gardiner expressway – so close that if a car ran into and broke the median you would have a car in your living room or from another perspective you could jump onto the highway from your balcony.  Now I will do a post on my favorite condominium buildings in the near future, but today I want to do Churches that have been turned into condominiums/ lofts. This is definitely becoming a huge craze in our city and I think it may be a tad sacrilegious.

I have to say though it is a cool concept. I mean church attendance is declining which means more churches are joining together. Instead of demolishing these abandoned Churches they are being converted and allowing people to live in the some of the most beautiful historical building this city has to offer.  So even though it may not be the right place for vampire to live because the faucets might spew out holy water and there may be some hidden crosses somewhere, I think these homes are perfect for those who love architecture and history. Below I’m going to give you my top 4 church converted condo/ lofts and briefly give you a history and some of their selling features.  

     Abby Church Lofts

Located in the High Park Area this church has some pretty awesome selling features. Get this - vaulted wood ceilings, original stained glass windows, exposed stone and brick walls, plus it has a look out from the bell tower and twisting staircases!! – I’m having an architectural orgasm right now – I’m not sure if that’s weird to say considering I’m talking about a church, but to I am. Anyways the church was built in 1910 and is absolutely stunning it almost looks like you could be living in a castle. Did I mention THE ORIGINAL STAINED GLASS?

    The Church Lofts

This neo-gothic gem was built in 1906 and is located at 701 Dovercourt and also has its original stained glass. What I love are the squished in balconies and the wood patio on top of the church which brings you a stunning view. It boasts to a restoration of the masonry, limestone, wood doors, and period light fixture.  It has this amazing quad that beams in sunlight from the most beautiful skylight I have ever seen.

     The Channel Club

Everyone has seen this church condo and they probably still thinks it is a church - I know I did until now. This condo is right on the corner of College and Bathurst and I mean right on the corner. If you ever get off the 511 streetcar at college it drops you off right in front. I just thought I’d mention that one because I always thought it was just a cool church in Little Italy.  

      St. George On Sheldrake Lofts

Once the Eglinton United Church, this 1923 building by Horwood and White (they also worked with Edmund Burke) was turned into lofts in 2001. The exterior is said to be a tribute to Oxford University’s Keeble College and has units as big as 4000 square feet.  The building welcomes you with these noteworthy dark coloured doors as well as intense brickwork. Of course it also has cathedral ceilings.

More and more Church Condo/Lofts are popping up in the tdot and I’m really excited that architects are bringing the old and placing a modern twist on it. Remember my Heritage Modernization Theory – not demolishing old building but converting them to the modern world. It is happening Toronto and these condo/ lofts are some of the nicest condo/ loft buildings in the city. Now the question if you live in an old church do church rules still apply? Like no swearing? All question that will be answered in time.

That is why I Love Toronto. 

http://www.torontolife.com/daily/informer/gimme-shelter/2011/12/02/condomonium-384-sunnyside-avenue-unit-309/attachment/dec11hotwsunnyside_23/

http://www.gracecondos.com/Listing.aspx?lid=20860&areaid=44

http://www.torontolofts.ca/loft254_church203.html

http://www.mrloft.ca/Loft-Buildings/Church-Lofts-701-Dovercourt-Rd-Toronto

Why I Love Toronto Because of Doors Open Toronto Reason #268

Montgomery’s Inn

Now I am an Etobicoke boy born and raised, gosh I was growing up when Etobicoke was still a city and Doug Holyday was the mayor and I was 8 when it became apart of Toronto. Anyways, when we think of Doors Open Toronto we think downtown core not Etobicoke, but the west end has some cool Doors Open events as well and Montgomery’s inn is one of them.  Built in 1830 it is said to be one of the best examples of either Loyalist or late Georgian architecture because of its symmetrical balance.

The home was that of Thomas Montgomery an Irish Man who came to Canada at the age of 25 and his wife Margaret.  The two ran an inn which was so successful a bar, ballroom and second kitchen needed to be added. The inn had its best success during the wave of Irish immigrants that came to the city during the potato famine. The Montgomery’s had a huge chunk of property in Etobicoke from Bloor to Dundas Street and from Kipling to Royal York. Only operating as an inn for around 25 years it closed after Margaret passed in 1855. After her death the inn was used as a tenant for farmers, Presbyterian Church and community centre. In 1975 it became a museum and was restored. The restoration was a big task because when the inn served as the church the interior was greatly altered and the restorers had to model it back to the way it was when the Montgomery’s were there. This included rebuilding the main staircase. Last year new documents and records were found and the building was supposed to go through a re-restoration – but I’m not sure if that occurred because of the city’s budget.  Like most buildings in this city there was once a plan to demolish the inn and last year the Inn was under threat when the city of Toronto proposed closing it to balance the books.

Now inside the artifacts are not those of the Montgomery’s but they reflect the time era.  The sign of the building is actually the original sign and was found at a local woman’s house after she took the sign home after finding it in the garbage.

So I know we all love Toronto and the downtown core, but we should show some love to the burbs. So if you get a chance, I suggest coming down to Etobicoke and checking out the inn. I’ve been there not only for doors open, but on field trips as well as it is one of the hottest field trip spots for us Etobicoke school children.

That Is Why I Love Toronto

Why I Love Toronto Because Of Doors Open Toronto Reason #266

401 Richmond Street

I won’t lie – for every art like event whether it is Nuit Blanche, Doors Open and I believe even for one CONTACT I am always at this building. I remember for Nuit being there watching films in the courtyard, for Doors Open it was exploring the building and for CONTACT to see photography (mind you I could have been there to see photography for an event that wasn’t CONTACT, but I can’t remember).

This building once housed the MacDonald Manufacturing Company which was commended for making the finest lithography on tinware. The building was built in 1899 and between 1903 and 1923 expanded four storeys.  Apparently an aerial view of the building makes it look like an A and after looking at an illustration of the building I can kind of see that. 

Anyways the Macdonald Manufacturing Company (MMC) occupied the site until 1944 when the building was purchased by Continental Can of Canada (CCC) who were the occupants until 1967. After being thrown around from owner to owner the building fell into bankruptcy and was ready for demolition. However Margaret Zeidler purchased the building.  Ms./ Mrs. Zeidler has turned the old industrial factory into a downtown centre of the arts. It is meant to be an affordable workspace for artists in the downtown core, which let’s be honest the word affordable and downtown are almost a bigger contradiction than living dead and starburst.  The website notes it is home to artists, designers, milliners, architects, filmmakers, galleries, musicians, magazines and art organizations.

Many applaud the building for being maintained and restored back to many of its original features. Many note the double hung wood and metal frame windows, wood floor, original brickwork which were found underneath carpets and drywall that were installed when the building became offices. There are also more modern additions that are noteworthy such as the observation elevator (which is amazing because you see not only each floor but he courtyard), a court yard with an external staircase (where I watched silent films during Nuit Blanche), and a garden rooftop.  

These are the stories I love of about Toronto, secrets being hidden away and then being discovered. It makes you hate the people who ruin the historical factor of a building, but makes you love those who brought the building back to its former glory. Even though they have galleries on occasion here in which you can visit the building I say check it for Doors Open it’s a nice little treat.

That is Why I Love Toronto.

Why I Love Toronto Reason #255

Trinity Bellwoods Park

When I finished work yesterday the plan was to go for a bike a ride until Dasha called and asked if I wanted to hang out with her and Ariel. I went and met up with the pair at Sneaky Dee for some nachos and alcohol. Afterwards we felt spontaneous and decided to go for a walk which took us to Dolce Gelato and then to Trinity Bellwoods Park. We were walking when Ariel heard the sound of Gypsy Music and said “let’s follow it guys!” After going down a big hill we reached a stage like area in the middle of this bowl like area where a band was playing. Surrounding them were a ton of people on ground level and people sitting on the hill. Plus there were dogs running around everywhere! We even made friends with this adorable pug! Anyways as we listened to this band play, dogs were running around, children were trying to pet the dogs and a homeless man got to close for comfort. We stayed for a while and all in all Trinity Bellwoods Park was a beautiful park and as a matter of fact has a lot of history.

Of course the park was partly named after U of T’s Trinity College because the original Trinity was located on the property from 1852 until 1956 (the actual college moved to U of T St. George Campus in 1912 while the old building remained until 1956). Now I won’t get into the history of Trinity College, if you want an in-depth post about it click here! The current building is actually an almost exact replica of the original building which was torn down. However, the college gates (that you if you are on Queen Street) and the retirement home (which used to be St, Hilda’s) still remain.  When Trinity left the property a lot of rumours circulated about what should go there. Some rumours included a baseball stadium, museum or soldiers residence, but in the end they just tore down the building and now it’s a park. The chapel actually lies beneath the tennis court!  

It also had the Crawford Street Bridge which was built in 1914 to go overtop the ravine that was created by the Garrison Creek which apparently still runs underneath the park. When the Bloor-Danforth line was being built all the rubble from the excavation was dumped underneath the bridge as well. The north part closest to Dundas were actually flattened to the level of the street and that is why we have the Dog Bowl! Plus the bridge is buried under the North West corner of the park.

Today it is known for its hills which in the winter are one of the go to sledding hills in the city and of course there is the dog bowl which is a leash free zone. It also known for its hipsters and old Portuguese couples who walk around during the day. Plus check out the view of the CN! Also Treble Charger wrote a song about the park which is on their first album.  

Last night was a great night; we made a pug friend and walked through a part of history.

That is what I Love Toronto

http://www.canada.com/cityguides/toronto/story.html?id=f21666dd-d0ae-4346-918b-2943be545b20

http://torontoist.com/2008/05/historicist_buried_under_bellwoods/

Why I Love Toronto Reason #250

80 Bell Estate  (Thornbeck-Bell House)

Today followers we’re going over to Scarborough to talk about another abandoned building. Now 80 Bell Estate is an example of an early farmhouse in Scarborough and dates back to 1828 when 100 acres of land was bought by the Thornbeck family who built a home on the property. The home was completed in 1830 in which the four bedrooms home housed Mr. and Mrs. Thornbeck, their 6 children and the Mr.’s widowed mom. The home was later acquired by William Bell in 1832 who gave the house to his son George. The home had to be rebuilt after a fire in which the Bell’s added a second addition. Eventually the last Bell’s to occupy the home were Ella and Ethel Bell. After Ethel passed away a clause in her will was discovered stating that the building could not be demolished for 25 years after her death (which would have been in 1988). It also stated that the sale of the property must direct all proceeds to a charity. For a while the home functioned as a community centre for seniors and today it is abandoned and boarded up.

Heritage lover notes the homes Georgian style, with elements of Gothic Revival (when Bell added the second storey).  An official report by the city notes these styles can be found in the exterior walls, roof, west addition, and interior. Furthermore the report notes the window openings with their stone lintels, sills and louvered window shutters, gable roof with end chimneys as well as the basement fireplace with the adjoining bake oven as heritage attributes!

The plans for the property as of right now are a proposal of an 11 townhouse condo complex on the eastern part of the property. The back of the home will also be demolished and turned into housing two units.

Ethel clearly saw something special in the house that she decided to include a specific clause in her will. Well I think she was right. There is something special about this home, and its history in the former township of Scarborough. I mean Etobicoke has a historical farmhouse as well! Some of these building are the last connection our former townships/ areas had before being sucked in to a massive metropolitan. We need to keep these last bits of history for they are the last reminders many of these neighbourhoods have of the past.

That Is Why I Love Toronto

 http://scarboroughhistorical.ca/?p=5162 

http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2011/sc/bgrd/backgroundfile-41571.pdf

http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2007/sc/bgrd/backgroundfile-4491.pdf

Why I Love Toronto Reason #240

The Bloor/Gladstone Library Branch

My drunken self is always amazed whenever I pass this library on the vomit comet. It is the perfect blend of modern and old and is a perfect example of my heritage modernization theory. Originally designed by Alfred H. Chapman and Robert B. McGiffen construction for the branch began on April 30th 1912 (making Monday 100 years since construction began). Officially opening in 1913 it was the first library branch in Toronto that was financed by the city. The building was a Beaux Arts adaptation of Italian Renaissance style. It is noted for its brickwork, stone, terracotta detailing, the arches inside and round arched windows. It was originally named the Dovercourt Branch until 1938 when it got its current name.

In 1975 it was closed for renovations by Howard Walker and Howard Chapman (son of Alfred Chapman) and reopened in April of 1976. In 1993 Toronto named it a heritage site. It wasn’t until 2006 that the branch closed for 3 years in order for it to be restored, renovated and expanded. In 2009 the library reopened. Now I’m a big fan of arches and roofing styles, but there is something about the simplicity of this big glass box that makes amazing. Passing it a night its like a big light box that shines. At night you can see inside and these light fixtures that look like dandelions that just hang in the middle.

I love this library and I really don’t know why. Maybe it’s because when you pass it you see this old historical building and then are greeted by this big glass box. Maybe it’s the simplicity or the fact that it is a library. I’m not sure, but there is something that is captivating about the fusion of the old and the new which makes me love this branch and makes it a reason

Why I Love Toronto.