news
Polling Booth: Relocating Historic Architecture
As mentioned in today’s Newsstand, a historic brick structure built in 1869 is set to be moved down the street to make way for a huge condo tower and 388-spot parking garage. The justification is that no similar buildings abut the site, which is partially true: 104 John Street is surrounded by nothing but ugly parking lots already—yet cater-corner from the structure is a row of beautiful historic brick houses, now used primarily as restaurants and clubs. Then again, across the street is a tacky Hooters and an unbecoming Green+Ross garage. Most of the neighbourhood’s former beauty has already been obliterated, and the 104 John Street structure may find a more visually appropriate home, but money talks when it comes to City council and the restaurant sits on prime real estate. A dense condo tower with better streetscape amenities is probably more useful than a plain of parking spots at grade. Still, we can imagine an architecturally interesting plan where a tower is built around it rather than picking up 104 John and dumping it elsewhere. If and when that happens, however, you can count on Torontoist to document the move.