TooBizzy
New Member
I found lots of good resources in the case notes LOL, I think this one was in there
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General Construction Updates
- Thread starter Surrealplaces
- Start date
O-tac
Active Member
With Gresham Block gone the abomination across the street will become even more prominent.
DiscoStu
Active Member
If it won't, I'm sure there will be a fire of convenience not long after.
Can't wait to see what shitbox it will be replaced with.
Mountain Man
Senior Member
Disappointing about Gresham Block, that building looks to be in pretty rough shape though, there really isn't much worth saving. Too bad it was allowed to get to such a state! Every time I went to Silk Road I felt like I was going to fall through the floor lol. Who owns it?
There is absolutely much worth saving (how many new brick buildings of this scale are being built?). Whether anyone wants to pony up the money for it is the question.
In the CBC article there was talk about plumbing leaks and the heating failing, and a lack of AC, but there's no reason that can't all be fixed.
In the CBC article there was talk about plumbing leaks and the heating failing, and a lack of AC, but there's no reason that can't all be fixed.
DiscoStu
Active Member
I get that the current building is in a sad state of affairs so the numbers to maintain in probably don't make sense anymore, but it would be easier to swallow if there was some incentive or desire to rebuild buildings in the same format or aesthetic as the doomed heritage buildings. You see buildings in Europe that were bombarded during war, rebuilt in the same style, and people can't even tell the difference. Do that!
I feel like there's a pretty obvious formula to what makes these historical neighborhoods so likeable and charming...so even if it's just something simple as the mandating/incentivizing the use of brick and stone on the facades of buildings along 9th ave, it would help maintain the atmosphere. The Merlin Block in Inglewood is a decent attempt at this. While a new-ish building (2003) and not a rebuild, they designed the facade to fit into the historical aesthetic of the neighborhood. It's not quite to the same level of craft as before, and yes, it's historicist and "fake"...but it works.
I feel like there's a pretty obvious formula to what makes these historical neighborhoods so likeable and charming...so even if it's just something simple as the mandating/incentivizing the use of brick and stone on the facades of buildings along 9th ave, it would help maintain the atmosphere. The Merlin Block in Inglewood is a decent attempt at this. While a new-ish building (2003) and not a rebuild, they designed the facade to fit into the historical aesthetic of the neighborhood. It's not quite to the same level of craft as before, and yes, it's historicist and "fake"...but it works.
maestro
Senior Member
Refurbished heritage structures should command greater rents than faux heritage fronted stucco boxes. The only reason, in my opinion, to demolish vs refurbishment is the potential of developing a high rise in its place and that's a symptom of heritage zoning. The one exception is imminent collapse which should be able to circumnavigate the permitting process.
BigWoofer
New Member
Agreed. Other cities in Canada do this quite well. Ottawa, for example, has very robust historical protections in its downtown areas which ensure that historically significant buildings are protected, and that new developments fit into the aesthetic of the area. For example, they mandate a lot of red brick as that is a common building material in old buildings in the area. There are also several new developments which incorporate old buildings into the ground level in a very nice way. For example, see The Met.I get that the current building is in a sad state of affairs so the numbers to maintain in probably don't make sense anymore, but it would be easier to swallow if there was some incentive or desire to rebuild buildings in the same format or aesthetic as the doomed heritage buildings. You see buildings in Europe that were bombarded during war, rebuilt in the same style, and people can't even tell the difference. Do that!
I feel like there's a pretty obvious formula to what makes these historical neighborhoods so likeable and charming...so even if it's just something simple as the mandating/incentivizing the use of brick and stone on the facades of buildings along 9th ave, it would help maintain the atmosphere. The Merlin Block in Inglewood is a decent attempt at this. While a new-ish building (2003) and not a rebuild, they designed the facade to fit into the historical aesthetic of the neighborhood. It's not quite to the same level of craft as before, and yes, it's historicist and "fake"...but it works.
I see no reason why Calgary can't do the same.
EDIT: They're also doing a cool one here, with an old brick warehouse.
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maestro
Senior Member
The building wasn't incorporated. It was demolished with only the outside facades retained for use in the new tower. Facades are the public interface so very easy and dangerous to call it preservation or retaining old buildings. In general, these retained facades are structural masonry walls while the Gresham Block is more likely a brick veneer on a wood frame. It would have to disssembled and reassembled.
Red Star
Active Member
There's nothing wrong about being a little bit of a NIMBY. When NIMBYs oppose everything, then it becomes a problem.
NIMBYs in Inglewood stopped Freeway construction into downtown in the 1960s.
O-tac
Active Member
An update from Seton. Driller on site for the 5 story mixed use building next to Long & McQuade. You can also see the other mixed use project in the background topped out. The commercial base is starting to come along. Will have to get shots of it another time.
CallmeCatbread
Active Member
I feel like "Nimbyism" (if you could call it that at this point) can be somewhat justified when it's coming from the perspective of wanting the best outcome for everyone including yourself, your neighbourhood, and future residents. I would feel more sympathetic to Nimbys if they advocated for better design quality, both aesthetically and functionally, rather than just trying to put a stop to everything and anything. I don't care what you build down the street from me whether it be a duplex or a 15 sotrey tower, but if it's butt ugly then I'm becoming a turbo nimby
CalgaryTiger
Senior Member
The Inglewood Freeway NIMBY's had courage to go against the trend of the time to build huge highways through city centre neighbourhoods. I don't see a lot of the people being labelled as NIMBY's now (Glenmore Landing) as having courage, in my opinion that's what they lack. Also interesting that a city councilor wants to look into the targeting of low information people by interest groups, he specifically mentioned Glenmore Landing, that group putting out outrageous renders definitely prayed on vulnerable people.
O-tac
Active Member
Nothing urban, but there is a massive prefab concrete warehouse being built on the corner of 114th and 52nd st. Multiple mobile cranes. Can’t think of another concrete one this size.
retony66
New Member
It's all about preserving the charm. But if people focused on better design rather than just stopping things, it’d be better for everyone. Seton’s looking good with those mixed-use buildings! As for the concrete warehouse, it’s a big change for the area, curious how it'll fit in.