Urban Development and Proposals Discussion

[trtcttc]

Apart from the density, It seems like projects with these elaborate indoor/outdoor courtyard proposals rarely seem to materialize as envisioned. They make for great renderings, but not sure how realistic they are in our climate. I'm sure it would be VE'd down.

They require way too much maintenance where nobody really "owns" the space. Especially when it's not covered. The Well in Toronto has one of these indoor/outdoor malls but most of it is fully covered so it works snow/rain/shine. The renderings will change for sure, the second floor seems to have some sort of balcony? I'd imagine this would become retail or housing units, but unlikely to have a publicly accessible "hangout spot" given the area.

 

[Mountain Man]

I love what TL Housing did with the Bay building in Victoria:
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Blow out the centre and building new around a centre courtyard to reduce the floorplate size to residential. Leave retail at-grade obviously.

They appear to have very similar footprints:
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So using this idea/model here is what I would ideally like to see the Bay building downtown do going residential on the upper floors:
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I'm all for adding more residential to the core, but DON'T TOUCH THE FACADE!!! I'd 100% rather see that building kept as retail if possible, especially give the prominent location on what should be our premier retail street. Add food courts, retail pop ups, restaurants or anything else that fits on Stephen Ave, but do no ruin this building for the love of god!!

 

[Surrealplaces]

I don't know if this has been posted yet but here's a proposal from Mckinley Studios from their instagram that will go on the cowboys/BMO parking.

"A first look at a bold concept for a four-tower mixed-use development centered around a vibrant, community-driven plaza"

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It's definitely better than the empty lot that's there now, though it is a bit on the monolithic side. If this and Stampede Station were to be built the area would be an absolute highrise forest.