evandyk
Senior Member
The summer of 2000 I worked a summer job downtown and lived with a friend in Mississauga, so was on the GO trains all the time. I ate at that Harveys a lot!
GameOnBrad
Active Member
When I look at that boarded up space and how narrow it is, I imagine large glass display cases housing a linear history of Union Station with pictures, sketches, renderings, models, and old blueprints.
Kinda like a casual museum of Union Station that everyone passing through could enjoy.
Personally, I think that would be a wonderful use of that space.
Kinda like a casual museum of Union Station that everyone passing through could enjoy.
Personally, I think that would be a wonderful use of that space.
Richard White
Senior Member
That is what the vitrines are to be used for I believe.
The usage of the space has been somewhat determined since the days of USRPAG.
DSCToronto
Superstar
That is what I though "they" were using the "display windows' on the VIA level for - though some were still papered over last time I ventured there.
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nightstreak
Active Member
That's how I was imagining it. I picture a SUD Forno or Dineen (or the like) bar facing into the Great Hall with bar seating, and stairs on one side leading up to the balcony for seating. The enclosed areas on either side are large enough for a kitchen and staff/operations on one side and interior "family style" communal table on the other.
I just wish something could be done to connect it to this space:
The ground level in the Great Hall are the windows above the ramp railing so you couldn't really connect the cafe/bakery/wine bar to the outside unless the ramp was eliminated and brought level with the Great Hall. Then you'd have a beautiful collonade patio that could work all year round, even in the winter with heat lamps.
Either way, as @C-mac said, I can't see any reason why this needs to be boarded up for a decade. If there's nothing in the space, keep it empty. The larger question is that if it's gone unleased all this time, the asking price is clearly too high. Lower it so Union at least gets some revenue out of this instead of having it boarded up.
DSCToronto
Superstar
If I understand the "Head lease" the City has with Osmington, the City ARE getting some rent from all the areas leased to Osmington but these payments go up to a % of the actual rent paid after Osmington finds tenants.
generalcanada
Senior Member
According to this article USEP isnt going to be finished until 2029 JFC
www.thetrillium.ca
How Metrolinx’s plan to deliver European-style train service went off the rails
GO Expansion will still transform Greater Golden Horseshoe transit — but likely won’t be as ambitious as what was planned just three years ago
www.thetrillium.ca
daptive
Senior Member
According to this article USEP isnt going to be finished until 2029 JFC
View attachment 657772How Metrolinx’s plan to deliver European-style train service went off the rails
GO Expansion will still transform Greater Golden Horseshoe transit — but likely won’t be as ambitious as what was planned just three years ago
I love Canadian projects. In the Venn diagram of cheap, quick, and well built/designed we choose none!
UtakataNoAnnex
Senior Member
Or Metrolinx, Ford didn't want to listen to the Germans probably because they meant real and meaningful change. Change they refused to invest in and facilitate. And here we are...
A galley kitchen on a train can be accomplished in only ¾ of the width of a train car (similar in a plane) so this is somewhat wider than that, so they can build a restaurant there, yes!
Here's what I have from a retail leasing brochure from the before times in 2016:
The lower bit of yellow above actually represents the upper level. All in all, the leasable space is wider than the area where the walls are, allowing whomever sets up a resto bar there to spill one bistro table's width into the Great Hall... which would finally make it great once those chandeliers are in too. Oh yeah, here's a 2019 rendering of them, which Willybru21 likely used to create his rendering:
Here's hoping they can light up those upside down trees for Xmas 2026
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Richard White
Senior Member
There is a difference between a train with limited menus and a restaurant. Is it possible? Yes, but all the required equipment and BoH spaces may make it impractical.
Don't forget, Public Health requires spaces for proper washing, fire code requires proper fire suppression (ansul), hood vents, etc. You also have grills, ovens, etc. There is a reason full sized restaurants aren't without small kitchens.
That said, a cafe or other such space would work here akin to Arabica.
AlvinofDiaspar
Moderator
You might be able to do it with an off-site kitchen, with only minor warming and plating on site.
AoD
I believe that Osmington know what they are doing, and they are looking for a bar/restaurant here, not just a coffee shop. If they say a resto/bar can be done... somehow I trust them to know both what Public Health demands and the hospitality industry needs. Is it your average space? No, certainly not. Could it be a very cool new place for a meal? Sure thing, once the lighting is fixed in the hall!
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AlvinofDiaspar
Moderator
And the marble floor of the Great Hall - I can't imagine any restaurant would want to open there before everything is fixed up.
AoD
nightstreak
Active Member
Whether they know what they're doing or not, the reality is that I can walk over to that space and see with my own eyes that it's still boarded up and has been for what, 15 years? So yes, I'm second guessing their competence. What space stays boarded up for over a decade before you realize you need to rethink your pitch, market and lease price expectations?
Maybe their long term plans aim for a grand two floor restaurant but that didn't preclude leasing the space in the interim to a wine bar or a bakery or splitting the space in two on a 5–10 year lease before proceeding to their ultimate goal for the space.