[Riseth]

The issue is that the entire Eastern Waterfront is currently too big-boned. The roads are big, the parcels are big, the buildings are big, the parks are big.

There is a desperate lack of the cozy and human-scaled, and anything that can evolve independently on its own beyond handover from the developers.

I totally agree with this.

Compare the East Bayfront to the St. Lawrence neighbourhood immediately to the north and there's no contest. The buildings there are much more human-scaled and the architecture is far more aesthetically pleasing while rich in variety. These mega developments are just condo developers trying to squeeze every last penny out of their investments.

To be fair though, the waterfront promenade and much of the developments south of Queens Quay East have turned out fairly well.

 

[UtakataNoAnnex]

Some of the buildings being constructed now are of a better quality and dynamics. But yeah I agree, too much of taking this Quay in stroad if you ask me.

 

[Sunnyside]

The issue is that the entire Eastern Waterfront is currently too big-boned. The roads are big, the parcels are big, the buildings are big, the parks are big.

There is a desperate lack of the cozy and human-scaled, and anything that can evolve independently on its own beyond handover from the developers.

Not sure how much of a remedy there can be, unfortunately. This is part and parcel for the entire waterfront; big blocks, big roads, etc. The bones were always big. Developers bought big parcels, and want to develop them as such.

You’re essentially asking for a fine-scaled environment in the absolute core of the city, which the central waterfront has shown is not really practical with the intensity of development taking place. Not to say it’s impossible, but you’re not living adjacent to the core- you are in it.

I think it’s a tall order to expect the east waterfront to be intimate and cozy, when there’s both external forces and local conditions that contradict that. The area necessarily must be developed in big chunks. That will limit how it interacts with people, and how much it can evolve going forward.

Still, at grade environments will almost certainly be an improvement over the rest of the waterfront, fwiw.

 

[Midtown Urbanist]

The issue is that the entire Eastern Waterfront is currently too big-boned. The roads are big, the parcels are big, the buildings are big, the parks are big.

There is a desperate lack of the cozy and human-scaled, and anything that can evolve independently on its own beyond handover from the developers.

It will look better with the LRT in the streetscape that is planned for any day now... surely... after thousands of residents have moved in.... right....?

But seriously, from the October WT plans nearer to the planned Cherry and Queens Quay intersection:

This road diet across Queens Quay E would resolve the lack of cozy and human-scale streetscape.

 

[Miscreant]

The issue is that the entire Eastern Waterfront is currently too big-boned. The roads are big, the parcels are big, the buildings are big, the parks are big.

There is a desperate lack of the cozy and human-scaled, and anything that can evolve independently on its own beyond handover from the developers.

I think this is exactly right. I was going to say in one of the waterfront threads that an unfortunate consequence of the development is that the street experience consists of a number of discrete parcels of land with a massive podium for a tower. The result is this strangely empty urban experience, where there is no real street wall and things feel...like you're in Mario Big World. I like the height, but there is very little continuity and warmth at the street level.

 

[Miscreant]

I totally agree with this.

Compare the East Bayfront to the St. Lawrence neighbourhood immediately to the north and there's no contest. The buildings there are much more human-scaled and the architecture is far more aesthetically pleasing while rich in variety. These mega developments are just condo developers trying to squeeze every last penny out of their investments.

To be fair though, the waterfront promenade and much of the developments south of Queens Quay East have turned out fairly well.

Exactly. There's virtually no comparison. IMO, the St. Lawrence nabe is the best of all of downtown. These days are past, but that is exactly where I would have lived had we went the condo route after vacating our small apartment in the Annex after 15 years (). But St. Lawrence is cozy, highly urban, attractive. It's just a beautiful area.

 

[mburrrrr]

This doesn’t look like standard issue.
For lease?
Locked out?
Forgot the key to close up?
Last night

 

[UtakataNoAnnex]

No notice of distress though. Unless that's all done by app these days...

 

[mburrrrr]

Still open today and busy.
per @CityPainter


So concluding ….The barista/unemployed real estate agent must have sold their car yesterday with the store key still on the keyring. Then used their bike lock since it wouldn’t be needed at home. The employee asked the new car owner to return the store key to lockbox in the next 18 hours.

 

[DSCToronto]

Still open today and busy.
per @CityPainter


So concluding ….The barista/unemployed real estate agent must have sold their car yesterday with the store key still on the keyring. Then used their bike lock since it wouldn’t be needed at home. The employee asked the new car owner to return the store key to lockbox in the next 18 hours.

"Lazy Barista" or "Not too smart Barista" ??