Crystal Blu | U/C | 34 st | 119.6 m | Downtown

[Martinsizon]

Crystal Blu start date is April 15th and is currently 75% sold

While Uptown has set a start for May

[Wrk_InProgress]

Crystal Blu start date is April 15th and is currently 75% sold

While Uptown has set a start for May

Crystal Blu has sold really well in a short period of time. I hope this bodes well for the Bazis Group's latest venture with 1BE.

----------
Quite a few "brand new" Uptown suites are available for "re"sale if you check the MLS listings.

[Waterloo_Guy]

I'll be keeping an eye on Crystal Blu as it rises. It will give us an idea of how 1BE will look. I don't know much about this developer, but I hope they aren't cheep-out artists.

[bigcityboy]

the uptown and crystal blu going up literally side by side by different/competing companies is going to be interesting. with space so tight, i wonder if they'll get in crane fights? that would be cool.

[Regan4000]

I can't find any specs on Crystal Blu, can any of you pimps help me out?

[Canuck]

http://www.urbandb.com/canada/ontario/toronto/crystalblu/

[Dino Domingo]

Here a link for proof: http://www.condolifemag.com/showcases/uptown_mar07.pdf

More than 70% sold? Wow, that really proves you shouldn't always believe the negative gossip you hear. Clearly, this one is getting built. Can't wait!

[Regan4000]

http://www.urbandb.com/canada/ontario/toronto/crystalblu/

Thanks Alot

[Dino Domingo]

So both Crystal Blu and Uptown are starting in April? Should be a good month people...

[thryve]

According to an ad in the Globe I saw, CrystalBlu's sales centre is closing on April 15, and construction will be starting soon.

:cheers:

Hurry up, Uptown Residences!

[Dino Domingo]

Really? Woo hoo!

[sudburyboy]

well its april 15th, sales center still arround?

[Jaye101]

...

[zerokarma]

http://www.urbandb.com/canada/ontario/toronto/crystalblu/

:okay:

[G_DOG]

crystal blu is over 80% sold and sales office has moved
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j145/gbelan/100_0024.jpg
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j145/gbelan/100_0025.jpg

[phunky]

Exciting :)

[sudburyboy]

wait is this a proposed project ???
do they usually start sales on projects that arent approved yet, otherwise someone needs to change the thread title...

[phunky]

wait is this a proposed project ???
do they usually start sales on projects that arent approved yet, otherwise someone needs to change the thread title...
We are going through forum changes here in the development forum. Things are not being updated as quickly as possible, but be patient.

[CrazyCanuck]

fixed

[sudburyboy]

right on

[outinleftfield]

Anyone know why Blu was so quick to close the on-site sales office and then sit for a month and a half? Uptown, next to it, closed their spot weeks later, and yet a lot more has happened there in a shorter period of time....

[current]

There is heavy equipment on site demolishing the Crystal Blu presentation center.

[Cryptomnesiac]

They have a notice posted on the hoarding that they want to add two more floors (Bringing the building to 36 storeys, which should also nudge the height over the 400' mark)

[Jasperhouse]

The block on which this building is going up should all be turned into a park. It would open up Yonge and Bloor and provide sunlight for tall buildings on all sides. Indeed, Crystal Blu should be located to the south on the other side of the street. The devlopers should pay for the park. Is anyone in the city councils giving any thought to Toronto as an urban space?

[leaf345]

The devlopers should pay for the park.

huh?? Why would the developers owe Toronto a park?

[Jasperhouse]

huh?? Why would the developers owe Toronto a park?

It's a question of give and take. Even if developers don't 'owe Toronto' anything (a moot point), urban planners could and should make something like a park a quid pro quo for re-zoning density throughout the city -- which is to the developers' distinct advantage. Municipal governments in the better cities throughout the world do this as a matter of course. Why not Toronto?

[Dino Domingo]

The block on which this building is going up should all be turned into a park. It would open up Yonge and Bloor and provide sunlight for tall buildings on all sides. Indeed, Crystal Blu should be located to the south on the other side of the street. The devlopers should pay for the park. Is anyone in the city councils giving any thought to Toronto as an urban space?


What are you smoking? You made another whack remark commenting in the Festival Tower thread too. You want a park at the corner of one of Canada's most impressive business and retail intersections? There are towers all around so a park taking up an entire city block isn't necessary, nor appropriate. You can, however, build towers and include green space between them.

Remember this is downtown Toronto, not the suburbs or the waterfront.

[Jasperhouse]

Hyde Park, Central Park, le Bois de Boulogne, the Chicago waterfront.... Toronto will never be a world-class city without parks. There are no large buildings south of Charles on Yonge. As Toronto becomes denser, planning and foresight need to be in effect to ensure that the urban space is liveable and even impressive. Downtown Toronto needs parks to be built now so that the city can grow around them. The municipal government, however, is so corrupt, mismanaged, and beholden to special interests that its top priority is increased tax revenue before all else. Municipal services are not keeping apace with growth; the city's infrastructure is crumbling. By allowing so much (over)building, the municipal government takes in enough new tax money to avoid carrying out the necessary reform of the municipal structure and thereby perpetuates the rule of the same protected groups. That's the reality behind re-zoning in Toronto today. A park is one less cashcow.

[leaf345]

For some reason I don't think a park on the Crystal Blu lot would compare with the likes of Central Park.

[valantino]

Hyde Park, Central Park, le Bois de Boulogne, the Chicago waterfront.... Toronto will never be a world-class city without parks. There are no large buildings south of Charles on Yonge. As Toronto becomes denser, planning and foresight need to be in effect to ensure that the urban space is liveable and even impressive. Downtown Toronto needs parks to be built now so that the city can grow around them. The municipal government, however, is so corrupt, mismanaged, and beholden to special interests that its top priority is increased tax revenue before all else. Municipal services are not keeping apace with growth; the city's infrastructure is crumbling. By allowing so much (over)building, the municipal government takes in enough new tax money to avoid carrying out the necessary reform of the municipal structure and thereby perpetuates the rule of the same protected groups. That's the reality behind re-zoning in Toronto today. A park is one less cashcow.

Living in a bubble? There have been at least a dozen parkettes built around the downtown area along with several larger parks during the last decade - many of them conceived while working with developers


P.S. Chicago's waterfront is so overrated but I guess it pretty typical of people to be blinded by shiny objects

[Taller, Better]

P.S. Chicago's waterfront is so overrated but I guess it pretty typical of people to be blinded by shiny objects

I could not agree with this more. It has become the poster child of every insecure Torontonian hell bent on proving this city is a miserable failure. I post this photo of the Chicago waterfront to jog a few braincells.

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j251/dawnd_01/Chicagowaterfront.jpg

There are wonderful parts to Chicago's waterfront, and absolutely destroyed, horrible parts too. And parts you wouldn't dream of going to after dark unless you really like danger. I do wish anyone using it as the glowing example of success would actually visit Chicago first. When I was at Doors Open in the boardroom of the TD tower, a middle aged woman beside me kept sniping at the local city councillor who was giving a little lecture about the waterfront. This woman told me that we should be like Chicago and not have allowed any highrises to have been built on the waterfront. I laughed in her face and told her to go to Chicago and see for herself.

"World Class". Surprising how many people here fret that we are not "world class".

[Dream Brother]

I could not agree with this more. It has become the poster child of every insecure Torontonian hell bent on proving this city is a miserable failure. I post this photo of the Chicago waterfront to jog a few braincells.

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j251/dawnd_01/Chicagowaterfront.jpg

There are wonderful parts to Chicago's waterfront, and absolutely destroyed, horrible parts too. And parts you wouldn't dream of going to after dark unless you really like danger. I do wish anyone using it as the glowing example of success would actually visit Chicago first. When I was at Doors Open in the boardroom of the TD tower, a middle aged woman beside me kept sniping at the local city councillor who was giving a little lecture about the waterfront. This woman told me that we should be like Chicago and not have allowed any highrises to have been built on the waterfront. I laughed in her face and told her to go to Chicago and see for herself.

"World Class". Surprising how many people here fret that we are not "world class".

Then she put you in a rear naked choke and tapped you out?

[Taller, Better]

I think she wanted to.. .because I definitely did not give her the support she was wanting from me!! LOL!

Hyde Park, Central Park, le Bois de Boulogne, the Chicago waterfront.... Toronto will never be a world-class city without parks. There are no large buildings south of Charles on Yonge. As Toronto becomes denser, planning and foresight need to be in effect to ensure that the urban space is liveable and even impressive. Downtown Toronto needs parks to be built now so that the city can grow around them. The municipal government, however, is so corrupt, mismanaged, and beholden to special interests that its top priority is increased tax revenue before all else. Municipal services are not keeping apace with growth; the city's infrastructure is crumbling. By allowing so much (over)building, the municipal government takes in enough new tax money to avoid carrying out the necessary reform of the municipal structure and thereby perpetuates the rule of the same protected groups. That's the reality behind re-zoning in Toronto today. A park is one less cashcow.

Toronto does extremely well when it comes to having preserved its greenspace. Here are some partial views of a massive park stretching north throughout the entire city. The pictures were taken at Bloor and Church. You may not consider this to be a "World Class" park because only Mother Nature planted it, and it contains no statues, no reflecting ponds, no zoos, no buskers, no crepe vendors, nor wrought-iron gates, etc..., but if you can find a better example of Parkland from London or Paris I would be interested in seeing it!

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j251/dawnd_01/IMGP4544-1.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j251/dawnd_01/IMGP4543.jpg

[Mike in TO]

The block on which this building is going up should all be turned into a park. It would open up Yonge and Bloor and provide sunlight for tall buildings on all sides. Indeed, Crystal Blu should be located to the south on the other side of the street. The devlopers should pay for the park. Is anyone in the city councils giving any thought to Toronto as an urban space?

Parkland dedication or cash-in-lieu of parkland is already a significant financial/land contribution paid for by developers to the city.

If the city wanted a big park at Yonge and Bloor the city should pay the market price for the land and put in a park. Why on earth should private individuals have turn their land into a big park?

Where exactly are you suggesting Crystal Blu should go? The site is extremely small and the structure takes up virtually the entire site... you can't pick up towers and move them to properties that are owned by someone else. Development is not like simcity where you can just put things whereever you want at no cost with no thoughts towards land ownership.

[Taller, Better]

We had another (or so we are told...... ) member suggesting not long ago that our city was not world class because we have no central park downtown like the massive old ones in Boston and that we should get off our butts and create one. Casting aside the fact we do have lovely parks like Queen's Park, unless a city established a huge central park back in the 1700's or earlier when the city was new and basically open fields and woods, it is not going to be established now that the city is built up. Probably the nicest park on the waterfront in Chicago was built well over 100 years ago. Had it not been, it would not be constructed today. Central Park in New York was once a flattened empty field, as was almost all of Manhattan. Fortunately Central Park was planned and planted at that time and has remained unscathed(more or less) til today. Had it not, I can guarantee you it would not be made today.

[phunky]

Not to mention Toronto is "renovating" all of it's parks over the next several years. And creating more new ones. Lake Ontario park?

[rbt]

Downsview Park will be central and just outside of downtown in 100 years, so we did just create a large new park, just like Boston and New York.

Now we wait for the city to grow around it.

[bar1967]

Hyde Park, Central Park, le Bois de Boulogne, the Chicago waterfront.... Toronto will never be a world-class city without parks. There are no large buildings south of Charles on Yonge. As Toronto becomes denser, planning and foresight need to be in effect to ensure that the urban space is liveable and even impressive. Downtown Toronto needs parks to be built now so that the city can grow around them. The municipal government, however, is so corrupt, mismanaged, and beholden to special interests that its top priority is increased tax revenue before all else. Municipal services are not keeping apace with growth; the city's infrastructure is crumbling. By allowing so much (over)building, the municipal government takes in enough new tax money to avoid carrying out the necessary reform of the municipal structure and thereby perpetuates the rule of the same protected groups. That's the reality behind re-zoning in Toronto today. A park is one less cashcow.

Where do these people come from that post stuff like this? Every visitor I have come visit (US, overseas) comments on how GREEN Toronto is. Something quite frankly I think we all take for granted. Sure, there could be more parks but there aren't but with that said we aren’t doing too bad!! No, there is no ‘iconic’ park in the middle of Toronto like a Stanley Park or a Central Park.

Parks as a % of city area is approximately 21% (based on 1999 data) for Toronto. Comparing this to other cities (ranked highest to lowest -> NYC 25.7%, San Fran 19.8, Washington D.C 19.1, Minneapolis 16.2%, Boston 15.7%, etc.. Chicago 8% - all of this is based on 2000.

I also agree with Taller Better about Chicago waterfront park. Nice but it isnt't the cat's meow. People read one article about Chicago's waterfront then suddenly everyone becomes a uninformed critic of Toronto's.

http://www.torontovitalsigns.com/vitalsigns2001/toronto_greenspace.pdf

[yyzhyd]

I could not agree with this more. It has become the poster child of every insecure Torontonian hell bent on proving this city is a miserable failure. I post this photo of the Chicago waterfront to jog a few braincells.

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j251/dawnd_01/Chicagowaterfront.jpg

There are wonderful parts to Chicago's waterfront, and absolutely destroyed, horrible parts too. And parts you wouldn't dream of going to after dark unless you really like danger. I do wish anyone using it as the glowing example of success would actually visit Chicago first. When I was at Doors Open in the boardroom of the TD tower, a middle aged woman beside me kept sniping at the local city councillor who was giving a little lecture about the waterfront. This woman told me that we should be like Chicago and not have allowed any highrises to have been built on the waterfront. I laughed in her face and told her to go to Chicago and see for herself.

"World Class". Surprising how many people here fret that we are not "world class".

Couldn't have said it better myself!
I lived in Chicago for a few years and have been visiting since in 1978 approx. 2-3 times a year. Yes Chicago Grant Park and the immediate area around Buckingham Fountain plus the grand architecture of the Field Museum look wonderful on postcards.
But public transit to the site is not great, parking is a pain. Not to mention you have the 10 lane Lakeshore boulevard on the east which is more expressway than boulevard (with no parking) and the 6 lane Columbus Dr. on the west side. It's not quite the serene relaxing escape from the big city as one would expect.
Don't get me wrong I'd love to have certain elements of the park on our waterfront but I'd rather see the gardiner come down instead.

[Taller, Better]

Someone please tell that to Christopher Hume and the vast majority of people in this city that are under this delusion about the entire Chicago waterfront. A couple of years ago the City of Toronto invited(and probably paid for) the mayor of Chicago to come here and give us all a condescending drubbing at what idiots we are and how successful Chicago has been with its waterfront. One time this past year a certain opinionated local journalist wrote a typical article whingeing about how Toronto has failed with its waterfront and Chicago is the glowing example. I emailed the picture above to the newspaper and asked them to thumbtack it to her opinionated forehead. They did not respond, and I sincerely doubt it did any good. I think it has become part of local folktale lore.

[elliot]

^ ditto

[kettal]

No, there is no ‘iconic’ park in the middle of Toronto like a Stanley Park or a Central Park.

I consider Centre Island to be this.

[KGB]

Toronto has more green space, of more kinds, of varying sizes (with larger ones than anybody else), more evenly distributed throughout the entire city, than probably any major city on the planet. It also has more people and civic will dedicated to it's well being and improvement (hell, I just attended TWO grand openings of very interesting new urban parks in the last few weeks...HTo & Ireland Park).

So to use this as a platform to wage your gripe about Toronto is foolish. Gripe if you wish...but try and find one a little less absurd. There's nothing wrong with keeping the bar high and striving to be better, but to use the kind of tactics Jasperhouse is trying to lay on us, actually does more harm than good, which is why I would question the motives behind his posts.





KGB

[Taller, Better]

No, there is no ‘iconic’ park in the middle of Toronto like a Stanley Park or a Central Park.


Stanley Park is no more in the "middle" of Vancouver than the massive ravine park north of Bloor is, or has been mentioned, the Toronto Islands. If you are referring to a planned and planted park like Central Park, we have Queen's Park, which is on a smaller scale, but extremely beautiful. Also Allan Gardens is a beautiful old planned park. Also we have the magnificent grounds of the University of Toronto.

I do sometimes think people forget about what we have here in our own city....

to use the kind of tactics Jasperhouse is trying to lay on us, actually does more harm than good, which is why I would question the motives behind his posts.
KGB

Bingo... and I think we know the motives...

[leaf345]

We need to build a pedestrian bridge to the Toronto Islands to make it easier to get there, but I suppose that would require the airport to disappear. Or we could build it from the portlands.

[KGB]

Building a land-link to the Islands would certainly make getting there more convenient...but, having to take a boat there is what gives it it's "refuge" feeling...and kinda the whole point. It's completely unique, and the only one we have...with all the different type of parks we have in the city that are walk-in access, why would we want to screw around with this one?

Although I always tinkered with the idea that it would be interesting to build a streetcar tunnel under the Western Gap, travel olpng a ROW along the length of Centre Island, and under another tunnel under the Eastern Gap to the Portands, on a giant circle route using Queen's Quay.





KGB

[Taller, Better]

I agree half the fun of the Islands is their inaccessibility.., and a walkway would cut into the ferry service (running non stop since 1835). I am happy not to have a walkway to the Islands.
I am surprised no one has made a thread on the latest TTC proposal for high speed commuter ferry service along the lakeshore to downtown.

[phunky]

I don't see why they don't build a walkway a la Skywalk to the Islands at the Airport side. Instead they got an expensive ferry that takes all of 1 minute to cross lol.

[KGB]

I don't see why they don't build a walkway a la Skywalk to the Islands at the Airport side.


Where were you during Miller's first mayoral race?

Besides, what good would it do having access to the airport...you can't access the rest of the islands from it.




KGB

[valantino]

Where were you during Miller's first mayoral race?

the phunky monkey had yet to descend from the heavens to bring order to the self proclaimed anarchy that is the Toronto forums

[KGB]

Really? I thought it was something a bit less exotic...as in he was in grade 4 ?




KGB

[yin_yang]

I don't see why they don't build a walkway a la Skywalk to the Islands at the Airport side. Instead they got an expensive ferry that takes all of 1 minute to cross lol.

haha, move to europe if you want efficiency and fairness...such is life in canada brah. it doesn't make sense sometimes, we know...but we're here. better than a lot of countries nevertheless...

[Taller, Better]

You think all the old cities of Europe are about efficiency? Sort of like they might build a high speed glass elevator on the side of the Eiffel Tower to get people up and down faster? Or replace the sidewalks on the Champs Elysées with high speed people movers? LOL! If anything they are more about retaining that link to the past, and maintaining quaintness when they can. And the Toronto Islands with their 170 year old ferry service are about as idyllic and quaint as they come here.

[valantino]

^ heck staples like central air, drinkable water from your faucet, elevators, modern sewers (you think Front Street smells - try Paris during a heat wave), etc.

[Taller, Better]

Keeping the Toronto Islands "inefficient" has been one of the greatest accomplishments of urban Canada, and ranks right up there with Stanley Park and Mount Royal.

[elliot]

... repetitious I know but... ^ ditto...

[Waterloo_Guy]

Keeping the Toronto Islands "inefficient" has been one of the greatest accomplishments of urban Canada, and ranks right up there with Stanley Park and Mount Royal.

Agreed. The last thing I would want to see is a road to the island or anything like it. The island is what it is precisely because you can't drive there. It is appealing because it's not like the rest of the city. Lets keep it that way.

[phunky]

I love the ferries, and would not want to see them replaced. But surely some sort of walkway between the airport channel could be built instead of having a ferry there.

[InTheBeach]

Let's not forget that until recently, the islands were attached to the mainland.

It was a storm that created them by washing out the sandbar link. AND then we got out the dredgers to dig up the harbour, and cleared the way for the two gaps.

Let's not get too romantic about the islands. I love them too, and don't think we should introduce cars or bridges, but they are not untouchable IMO. I'm all for replacing the airport with high density housing (with underground parking that goes under the western gap, and streetcar service). Now that would be unique. Who needs another soccer field, especially when you need to take a boat to get there?

[phunky]

High Density housing would be really awesome where the airport is, as long as it was LEFT to only that area.

[Taller, Better]

Let's not forget that until recently, the islands were attached to the mainland.

It was a storm that created them by washing out the sandbar link. AND then we got out the dredgers to dig up the harbour, and cleared the way for the two gaps.

Much depends on one's definition of "recently".... the storm happened in 1858, which is a bit before my time! ;)

[look@round]

Hyde Park, Central Park, le Bois de Boulogne, the Chicago waterfront.... Toronto will never be a world-class city without parks
Ahhh, again this concept of "world class city"... And so what are the criteria to be a "world-class city"??
And is it that important for TO to be considered a "world-class city"??


Originally Posted by bar1967
No, there is no ‘iconic’ park in the middle of Toronto like a Stanley Park or a Central Park.

Stanley Park is no more in the "middle" of Vancouver than the massive ravine park north of Bloor is, or has been mentioned, the Toronto Islands. If you are referring to a planned and planted park like Central Park, we have Queen's Park, which is on a smaller scale, but extremely beautiful. Also Allan Gardens is a beautiful old planned park. Also we have the magnificent grounds of the University of Toronto.
I do sometimes think people forget about what we have here in our own city....

Well, Toronto isn't so famous for its park... and even if I love the city, I wouldn't qualify Queen's park as "extremely beautiful", nor Allan Gardens, nor UoT grounds. The only 2 parks I know which are worth seeing are Toronto islands and High park (maybe there are some other ones, but I don't know them). But they aren't downtown. So I totally agree, Toronto miss a park downtown.
For me, a great place for a park would have been to make 'Roundhouse park' bigger (on the East side, until Air Canada center) instead of building some 'not so nice' condos or building like Tellus tower there. And a real park, because I don't consider 'Roundhouse park' a real park...


We need to build a pedestrian bridge to the Toronto Islands to make it easier to get there, but I suppose that would require the airport to disappear. Or we could build it from the portlands.
I've never understood why there's an airport on the islands... So close from downtown... What is it used for? Small jets? National air link?
Destroying it wouldn't bother me at all...

[addisonwesley]

Central Park is in midtown. You'd be hard pressed to find a single location in Toronto were a park of its size could be surrounded by skyscrapers along most of its periphery. That is, in my opinion, one of the reasons Central Park is so iconic- a massive park surrounded by a high-rise metropolis (and a good looking one at that too).

Anyways, I think Toronto has enough parks and ravines to mitigate any need for a large central park.

[CrazyCanuck]

Any news on excavation? I haven't been to the site in a while.

[Taller, Better]

Well, Toronto isn't so famous for its park... and even if I love the city, I wouldn't qualify Queen's park as "extremely beautiful", nor Allan Gardens, nor UoT grounds. ..

Coming from France, your eye might be more accustomed to the exquisitely manicured, intricate and highly maintained parks of France and Italy. Parks based on the British style have more of a "wild" look, but make no mistake about it, Queen's Park was a true "planned" park in the style of 1850's England, and not just a field where a few trees were spared from the woodcutter's axe. Each and every one of the beautiful old trees was chosen, planned, and planted for a purpose. The only thing lacking is a central pond, and it would be better if it were twice or three times the size. The statue of King Edward acts as the focal point.
This style of park lacks the beautiful artifice of French parks, but it was hoped that beauty would be seen in the more natural style. Other colonial parks such as Central Park in NYC, or the Boston Common were designed in a similar way. Central Park in NYC was built at exactly the same time as Queen's Park.
In the same vein, I see beauty in the grounds of the U of T and Allan Gardens (druggies and bums aside), and High Park (which is a much, much larger park that has the obvious advantage of being on the shore of Grenadier Pond). Nothing can touch the natural beauty and setting of the Toronto Islands, however.. no amount of manmade fussy artifice can touch that.

However, I have heard a surprising number of people say that Toronto has no parks, or that Queen's Park is unattractive... and even seem blissfully unaware of the huge ravine park spreading north through the city. So, I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

[InTheBeach]

Much depends on one's definition of "recently".... the storm happened in 1858, which is a bit before my time! ;)

But you just made my point. :)

Ferry service since 1835, when they weren't even islands. You could walk there in 1857, 22 years after ferry service started.

A link is not going to kill the ferry service. The link would be across one of the gaps. Have you ever walked from one of the gaps to the Centre Island Ferry? It takes forever. And you know that they are never going to put a link at Ward's Island.

The worst that would happen is that the Hanlan's Point Ferry service stops, and maybe not even.

Anyway, I am not pushing for a bridge. A tunnel makes more sense IMO.

[Northern Lotus]

Keeping the Toronto Islands "inefficient" has been one of the greatest accomplishments of urban Canada, and ranks right up there with Stanley Park and Mount Royal.

I cannot agree more. It is the best thing Toronto has to offer. Taking a ferry ride across is like being out of the city for a holiday.

[valantino]

Ferry service since 1835, when they weren't even islands. You could walk there in 1857, 22 years after ferry service started

you sure you could walk there as AFAIK the portlands at the time was a marshy wasteland (definitely couldn't park the car at one of cherry beach's many parking spots and walk on over)

[look@round]

Coming from France, your eye might be more accustomed to the exquisitely manicured, intricate and highly maintained parks of France and Italy. Parks based on the British style have more of a "wild" look, but make no mistake about it, Queen's Park was a true "planned" park in the style of 1850's England, and not just a field where a few trees were spared from the woodcutter's axe. Each and every one of the beautiful old trees was chosen, planned, and planted for a purpose. The only thing lacking is a central pond, and it would be better if it were twice or three times the size. The statue of King Edward acts as the focal point.
This style of park lacks the beautiful artifice of French parks, but it was hoped that beauty would be seen in the more natural style. Other colonial parks such as Central Park in NYC, or the Boston Common were designed in a similar way. Central Park in NYC was built at exactly the same time as Queen's Park.
In the same vein, I see beauty in the grounds of the U of T and Allan Gardens (druggies and bums aside), and High Park (which is a much, much larger park that has the obvious advantage of being on the shore of Grenadier Pond). Nothing can touch the natural beauty and setting of the Toronto Islands, however.. no amount of manmade fussy artifice can touch that.

However, I have heard a surprising number of people say that Toronto has no parks, or that Queen's Park is unattractive... and even seem blissfully unaware of the huge ravine park spreading north through the city. So, I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Well, I went through Queen's park tonight, and I'm still not convinced by its "beauty" :tongue3: I don't have any problem with these kinds of British style parks (I really appreciate Central Park in NYC or Grant Park in Chicago for example), but this one is really too small for me, and as you say, no fountain or "central pound"! It's better than nothing, but still... :wink2:


Any news on excavation? I haven't been to the site in a while.

To come back to the subject of the thread, no, no excavation so far. Neither for Crystalblue nor for it's neighbour Uptown.

[Taller, Better]

But you just made my point. :)

Ferry service since 1835, when they weren't even islands. You could walk there in 1857, 22 years after ferry service started.

A link is not going to kill the ferry service. The link would be across one of the gaps. Have you ever walked from one of the gaps to the Centre Island Ferry? It takes forever. And you know that they are never going to put a link at Ward's Island.

The worst that would happen is that the Hanlan's Point Ferry service stops, and maybe not even.

Anyway, I am not pushing for a bridge. A tunnel makes more sense IMO.

Is there a need for a bridge or a tunnel?
I am no expert, but I believe that everything that gets built out into the water affects the current flow along the shoreline, and can affect erosion. The shoreline has been diddled with so many times and it has created so many changes in the natural flow patterns. Even something like the Leslie St Spit caused changes.
Do the people living on the Islands want a fixed link?

[rbt]

The worst that would happen is that the Hanlan's Point Ferry service stops, and maybe not even.
How would you run a bridge to Hanlan's Point? They're not going to let you run across the runway or anything like that.

The bridge to the airport would only have gotten you to the airport. No further. Not to any other part of the islands.

[InTheBeach]

you sure you could walk there as AFAIK the portlands at the time was a marshy wasteland (definitely couldn't park the car at one of cherry beach's many parking spots and walk on over)

I guess I enjoy an adventure more than most. But that was a long time ago, when men were men, and women were men.

[InTheBeach]

How would you run a bridge to Hanlan's Point? They're not going to let you run across the runway or anything like that.

The bridge to the airport would only have gotten you to the airport. No further. Not to any other part of the islands.

As I said, I am not pushing for a bridge.

My point here was that people going over or under the western gap could walk to Hanlan's Point (so they might stop taking that ferry). And this assumes that we have gotten rid of that thing they call an airport.

Only joggers and bikers would go further along to Center Island or Ward.

[InTheBeach]

Is there a need for a bridge or a tunnel?
I am no expert, but I believe that everything that gets built out into the water affects the current flow along the shoreline, and can affect erosion. The shoreline has been diddled with so many times and it has created so many changes in the natural flow patterns. Even something like the Leslie St Spit caused changes.
Do the people living on the Islands want a fixed link?

Not sure I get your point here TB.

If you believe in the chaos theory, a bridge to the island could cause a tornado in Australia. :)

Preventing erosion along the bluffs has killed the major sand supply for all our beaches. Nobody complains about that, but is has a massive impact on our "natural" shoreline (both along the bluffs, and in their erosion shadow). I would prefer that the odd house falls over the edge.

Man, we sure got off topic.

[Jackhammer]

Is there a need for a bridge or a tunnel?
I am no expert, but I believe that everything that gets built out into the water affects the current flow along the shoreline, and can affect erosion. The shoreline has been diddled with so many times and it has created so many changes in the natural flow patterns. Even something like the Leslie St Spit caused changes.
Do the people living on the Islands want a fixed link?
Yes ... I would not be surprised to see Dubai hauling sand from the desert to maintain their natural beaches.

[Taller, Better]

Not sure I get your point here TB.

If you believe in the chaos theory, a bridge to the island could cause a tornado in Australia. :)

Preventing erosion along the bluffs has killed the major sand supply for all our beaches. Nobody complains about that, but is has a massive impact on our "natural" shoreline (both along the bluffs, and in their erosion shadow). I would prefer that the odd house falls over the edge.

Man, we sure got off topic.

I'm just wondering if a bridge is even necessary or wanted. I guess I don't see iit as efficient or beneficial to connect the Islands to the mainland.

LOL! it is not an obscure theory...it is very easily demonstrated with models. When you build something like Cherry Street spit, it vastly changes the flow of water, and causes erosion problems to the east.. but having said that, the natural shoreline has been gone for a century, and we just have to deal with the fallout of that.
I am just saying before we build more roads out, we should do a study to see how it will affect erosion. Wouldn't want this to happen to your house in the Beach, would we? :D

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j251/dawnd_01/Bluffshome.jpg

[valantino]

LOL! it is not an obscure theory...it is very easily demonstrated with models. When you build something like Cherry Street spit, it vastly changes the flow of water, and causes erosion problems to the east

you're a little confused there little buddy - the current along the shore travels east to west

Preventing erosion along the bluffs has killed the major sand supply for all our beaches. Nobody complains about that, but is has a massive impact on our "natural" shoreline (both along the bluffs, and in their erosion shadow). I would prefer that the odd house falls over the edge

take, take, take but no give? Ashbridge's Bay allows nothing to go further west (probably 5 times the size as when Iwas a child)


Yes ... I would not be surprised to see Dubai hauling sand from the desert to maintain their natural beaches

desert sand mixed with water becomes quick sand - their beach sand comes from the ocean bottom

[Jasperhouse]

Motives? Reads rather cryptically. Concern for the public space is about all. I've lived in many cities throughout the world and I can't help but notice, upon returning home, that Toronto is, from an aesthetic perspective, a rather large dump (by Western standards, of course). It's just very upsetting. Toronto is clean, safe, comfortable, and there are some wonderful neighbourhoods -- Rosedale, Forest Hill, etc. -- if you've got the money. And if you're middle-class, Mississauga puts the average London suburb to shame. But for the five to six million people who live in the GTA, downtown Toronto has very little to show for it except a few of the newer Yorkville buildings. Bay Street has turned into a highrise suburb, the financial district is non-descript, University Avenue is a row of glass-and-steel cigarette boxes.... I'm sure we could have done better and probably still can. That's all I mean to imply. And by the by, Queen's Park used to be around three times bigger than it is today.

[KGB]

Toronto is, from an aesthetic perspective, a rather large dump (by Western standards, of course). It's just very upsetting.


Then I would say you have a rather warped perspective. Of course there are cities in the world with lovely preserved antiquity, but cities are more than museums...they need to be adaptive, mixed-use and highly livable and dynamic. Most cities do not fall into those catagories, regardles of how "pretty" you seem to think they are.

If Yorkville, Rosedale and Forest Hill are the only areas that you find appealing, then you have a very myopic view of what looks good.





KGB

[Taller, Better]

Motives? Reads rather cryptically. Concern for the public space is about all. I've lived in many cities throughout the world and I can't help but notice, upon returning home, that Toronto is, from an aesthetic perspective, a rather large dump (by Western standards, of course). It's just very upsetting. Toronto is clean, safe, comfortable, and there are some wonderful neighbourhoods -- Rosedale, Forest Hill, etc. -- if you've got the money. And if you're middle-class, Mississauga puts the average London suburb to shame. But for the five to six million people who live in the GTA, downtown Toronto has very little to show for it except a few of the newer Yorkville buildings. Bay Street has turned into a highrise suburb, the financial district is non-descript, University Avenue is a row of glass-and-steel cigarette boxes.... I'm sure we could have done better and probably still can. That's all I mean to imply. And by the by, Queen's Park used to be around three times bigger than it is today.

So painfully obvious who you are.


you're a little confused there little buddy - the current along the shore travels east to west


Are you certain about that? I was sure I saw a model showing the water flowing Eastward around Cherry St spit, and curving sharply back toward shore.. causing need for the waterbreaks to be installed.

[phunky]

There is probably more than one direction of water flow in Lake Ontario. You have the flow immediately along the shore, and a different flow 5 km out.

[valantino]

I was sure I saw a model showing the water flowing Eastward around Cherry St spit, and curving sharply back toward shore.. causing need for the waterbreaks to be installed.

okay...maybe I'm confused as that does make sense

So painfully obvious who you are.



landlord?

[Taller, Better]

Grief! Totally forgot about landlord.. and what was the other? realestatejunkie! LOL! No, was thinking of someone closer to home.

Pretty sure I saw a model showing the changes in the waterfront, and how each one caused the flow to alter, and the Leslie Street Spit causes quite a violent whiplash effect back onto Scarborough's beaches.

[KGB]

Pretty sure I saw a model showing the changes in the waterfront, and how each one caused the flow to alter, and the Leslie Street Spit causes quite a violent whiplash effect back onto Scarborough's beaches.

No...he's correct.

From the city's website............

The Toronto Islands were not always islands but actually a series of continuously moving sand-bars, or littoral drift deposits, originating from the Scarborough Bluffs and carried westward by Lake Ontario currents. By the early 1800s, the longest of these bars extended nearly 9 kilometres south-west from Woodbine Avenue, through Ashbridge's Bay and the marshes of the lower Don River, forming a natural harbour between the lake and the mainland.




KGB

[InTheBeach]

take, take, take but no give? Ashbridge's Bay allows nothing to go further west (probably 5 times the size as when Iwas a child)



Stand with your feet in the water at the foot of Balsam Ave and you will be standing on rocks. It was not that way ten years ago.

I love skipping rocks, so I'm at peace with it. I guess all the sand is moving towards Woodbine beach.

[InTheBeach]

landlord?

I'm going with redhotsportscar, our buddy Tony Wrong.

[InTheBeach]

The current does flow from east to west, which is counter-intuitive for some since the net water flow is from west to east.

Only when we have a strong weather system flowing from SW to NW have I seen the current change.

[valantino]

Stand with your feet in the water at the foot of Balsam Ave and you will be standing on rocks.

ummm ... no thanks

saw a dog take a mighty dump in the waters off Balsam Ave when I was 8 - it might still be there - size of an armour stone I kid you not!

[valantino]

The Toronto Islands were not always islands but actually a series of continuously moving sand-bars, or littoral drift deposits, originating from the Scarborough Bluffs and carried westward by Lake Ontario currents. By the early 1800s, the longest of these bars extended nearly 9 kilometres south-west from Woodbine Avenue, through Ashbridge's Bay and the marshes of the lower Don River, forming a natural harbour between the lake and the mainland.

what Taller described does make sense for the drift localized around the spit

[Taller, Better]

I'm completely confused about it all... I was sure that the drift patterns around the spit happened west to east, but it was rather a long time ago that I saw it. Maybe I am dyslexic. In any case, the point was that things like spits, etc... can negatively affect the flow. In hindsight, the spit seems useless.

[casaguy]

I'm curious if anyone in Crystal Blu is going to have a view. To the south is that god awful brown rental building... to the north will be the Uptown... to the west is the Manulife Centre. This building will be literally sandwiched right between with maybe only a few feet separating them. Just wondering who would buy these units if they know they'll be looking right into someone else's apartment?

[valantino]

maybe for the same reason people spend millions for a closet in Manhattan? BTW, Crystal Blu is probably over two times as tall as the slab apartment building

[phunky]

I'd live in Crystal Blu just because of the location alone. The views will be proper "city" views.

[monkeyronin]

Interesting how "casaguy" has to point out the faults of this similar tower nearby the one of his namesake. ;)

But most suites will still have decent views regardless. The north will be blocked by Uptown, but to the east are low rises, the apartment to the south is pretty short, and manulife hardly blocks the western view. You'd still be able to easily see around it.

[casaguy]

I'm not at all trying to make my own "tower-to-be" seem better than any other. I'm just curious as to everyone else's thought process. I truly love Toronto and want all new developments to be the best they can be. Why on earth shouldn't we expect above-par projects when plunking down a big pile of money? I think Crystal Blu and the Uptown are stunning projects and want to be able to admire them and be proud of their success. Who WOULDN'T want to live within minutes of the Manulife Centre? Personally, I'm just curious to know why anyone would spend $400,000+ to live in a high rise with a minimal view (for those on the lower floors). That's all.

[monkeyronin]

Name me another condo with nice views from the lower levels. Its a city, and in a city, there are buildings, and sometimes "views" might be blocked.

[valantino]

For me, I don't understand how anyone would want to pay a premium to live above 25 storeys even if the views are better

[casaguy]

Here's where they're at on the shared construction site with Uptown.

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z133/markus919/upsite2.jpg

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z133/markus919/upsite1.jpg

[Marco Polo]

Thanks for the photos!!

[Taller, Better]

Sales orifice on Yonge Street:

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j251/dawnd_01/Summer%20Part%20Two/IMGP8997.JPG.jpg

[CrazyCanuck]

Sales orifice, lol.

[ericeric]

Sales orifice on Yonge Street:

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j251/dawnd_01/Summer%20Part%20Two/IMGP8997.JPG.jpg


I always thought it was sort of cool that Crystal Blu had a sales office right on Yonge st.

[Taller, Better]

It is quite striking looking....

[casaguy]

Whenever I see that sales ad with the guy staring confusedly up to the sky I always think he's thinking: "Why? Oh God, why did I spend so much for a box with no view?"

[Taller, Better]

Obstructed views are a way of life for big city dwellers. I got used to that years ago. No highrise exists in a vacuum unless it is right on the lakeshore and you are facing south.

[casaguy]

I understand that, but unfortunately Crystal Blu is sandwiched right in between Uptown and that ugly rental to the south. Except for the east side, most of the windows will be just a few feet away from either a wall or other window.

[Taller, Better]

A very common occurrence in large cities; expect more of it in the future. Are you hoping your view at Casa will be eternally unrestricted?

[casaguy]

Of course I'm hoping my view from Casa will be eternally unabstructed.

I'll be on one of the top floors with 1 Bloor eventually dominating my northern view... but unless they build somthing taller where Sanctuary is and the park (unlikely, I think) then I expect to always have an awesome view of downtown. I guess it's not as important to some people, but for me it was the most important feature.

[Taller, Better]

My view of downtown is being obstructed by the buildings being built a few blocks south. Construction doesn't have to be right next door to obliterate your downtown view! ;)

[Dino Domingo]

They have been prepping excavation for like months now. Are they gonna start digging already?!

[valantino]

I expect to always have an awesome view of downtown.

until fat Aura gets built

[416MGT]

anyone have a rendering of this?

[416MGT]

nvm i found one
http://i4.tinypic.com/54nicfa.jpg

[Mollywood]

I always thought it was sort of cool that Crystal Blu had a sales office right on Yonge st.

Is that Phill Collins buying a condo at Crystal Blu? :lol:

[yin_yang]

haha...sorta, if he looked like phil collins...i'd say he looks more like a greasy italian.

[Taller, Better]

Perhaps Tony Soprano! ;)

I actually remember the scenario. Sometimes when you are kneeling down to take a photo, a passerby in front of you stops to gawk up at what you are taking a picture of. Eventually they realize they are standing and blocking your photo, and they move. LOL!