Natika33
Active Member
High praise! I'll take it.
|
|
|
nightstreak
Active Member
I would argue the leading public realm problem in the interior of TMU's campus is this:
The problem w/tearing it down is of course than the 'The Tenor' is partially built on top of it, in particular, the cinemas.
Still, demo'ing this hulking piece of....... is surely a key to making the public space here work better.
This isn't much of a problem at all. The Tenor is built completely around the parking garage. If you go to the top level, you'll see that no pillars go through the garage. It straddles it completely. You'll notice the same thing inside the theatres, including the lobby. Look Ma, no pillars! The place is ugly but it's kind of an engineering marvel at the same time.
It could be torn down without affecting The Tenor at all. A three story building could be assembled on the existing parking garage foundations without digging down and disturbing the nearby Tenor pillars. It's essentially a house. Demolish the garage, then assemble an iron frame in situ, add cladding and you have 3 stories of new classrooms in the heart of the main campus.
Then of course, they should just demolish this hunk of junk and build something properly but I don't see that happening in our lifetimes unless TMU managed to purchase The Tenor outright and had the entire block to start from scratch. Maybe if the movie theatre industry completes its obsolescence, Cineplex pulls out and the Tenor goes bankrupt.
When TMU inevitably runs out of nearby properties willing to be acquired, the Tenor parking garage is going to become increasingly attractive to redevelop.
RGB_11
Active Member
Uh by the looks of things, any "redevelop" of any sort is going to go to TMU first. They seem to love claiming as much as they can in that area. City/Omni is now gone, so yup, TMU (AKA Ryerson) has claimed that building.
Any chance they can get, TMU seems to want to expand. (excluding the "mini mall & theatre")
Heck, even Dundas subway station is about to be renamed TMU station!
drum118
Superstar
I am in favour of tearing the whole block down like I have call for years as this sucker got built over 15 years and is a waste of space.
Have no issues if TMU has some use of the site like they do today as you can put 3 towers on the site along with a good podium alone the lines like it is today. One tower could be for students with a number of floors in the podium for lectures classes along the lines that is used today for the movie theater.
When the sucker is torn down, it would be a good opportune to enlarge TTC Dundas Station to widen the platform as well build a walkway to TMU that been talked about over a decade or two.. I would put in the same amount of parking that exists today, but all underground as it will not interfere with TTC subway line north the station.
Tearing this sucker down would mean TMU would have to find space elsewhere for classes currently held in the movie theater if it still taking place. All the screens will be lost from the square while the site is being redeveloped.
Have no issues if TMU has some use of the site like they do today as you can put 3 towers on the site along with a good podium alone the lines like it is today. One tower could be for students with a number of floors in the podium for lectures classes along the lines that is used today for the movie theater.
When the sucker is torn down, it would be a good opportune to enlarge TTC Dundas Station to widen the platform as well build a walkway to TMU that been talked about over a decade or two.. I would put in the same amount of parking that exists today, but all underground as it will not interfere with TTC subway line north the station.
Tearing this sucker down would mean TMU would have to find space elsewhere for classes currently held in the movie theater if it still taking place. All the screens will be lost from the square while the site is being redeveloped.
RGB_11
Active Member
The "Mini mall" isn't going anywhere. They just managed to get a bowling/restaurant entertainment place in.
Something "new" surely came with at least a 5 year lease, possibly longer, and no demolition clause either.
To demolish would mean paying the businesses to relocate.
Although, one does have to wonder what the heck is going on with Hard Rock...when does that officially open???
nightstreak
Active Member
I just don't think it's going to happen. The Ball Room and Hard Rock Cafe just signed long term leases. We're looking at something next decade at best. Cineplex has an even longer lease, so unless they decide to go, the Tenor is here for decades.
Meanwhile, they're finally getting the formula right with entertainment. This place was never meant for retail, it was never going to compete with the Eaton Centre kitty corner. If they find the right tenant for Winners, then the space will come together. Another big restaurant/bar would be best, maybe an arcade — that seems to be coming back in fashion.
The entrance floor should revert to box offices with movie posters and the marquee that wraps from outside to inside should list the films playing. They're using the marquee for their name, perhaps because they weren't able to sell the space to Cineplex. Give it to them for free, the theatres are what draws patrons in from the square. They should embrace it.
RGB_11
Active Member
Bang on for the movie listings! It would be great to simply be riding the streetcar, or maybe just driving by and seeing what's playing.
People who might not have normally gone to see a movie might suddenly have some interest.
You know what might work? A store selling clothing that is movie related...it doesn't have to take up the whole Winners space, but it might be smart to stick it somewhere in the building.