Toronto : Then and Now

[matthew]

Images lifted from http://urbantoronto.ca/forum/showthr...oldie-s-Oldies

[short stop]

Ah, another UrbanToronto fan! I'm a huge follower of their Then & Now photo section. http://urbantoronto.ca/forum/showthr...o-Then-amp-Now

[Dr.Manhattan]

They chose some pretty pictures. I noticed that they somehow avoided all of the traffic jams and crowded streets you generally see.

[flameboy182]

Very cool.

Surprising to see how little some parts have changed.

[chimera]

I never knew that site existed! Thanks! Very cool to see the changes, and like it was mentioned, how some things stayed similar.

[SkyRider]

from the pics, looks like some buildings are over 100 years old. with new building codes, were these old buildings refurbished in anyway?

[Baggsy]

from the pics, looks like some buildings are over 100 years old. with new building codes, were these old buildings refurbished in anyway?

I don't think that they use coal to heat them anymore. Look for the sprinkler systems in the ceilings the next time you're in one.

[Flashmonkey]

I never get sick of these.

[00ninja]

Very nice. I'd love to see more.

Cheers!

[matthew]

[short stop]

In the 'before' picture, the large warehouse in the distance is still standing:

[Flashmonkey]

That pic of kennedy and lawrence is freaky. I've driven through there millions of times and its proving difficult for me to picture that place as farmland with little wooden fences.

[knowledge]

lmao even the old pictures have streetcars in them. Just goes to show how great our transit system is

But thanks for sharing, OP. It's interesting as hell.

[Chaos]

I have to say, in some of those pictures, I prefer the 'before'.

Toronto has had is maintaining its architectural history.... we really don't have any. Aside from Old City Hall, there is not much else that stands out as a historical architectual monument in this city.

Furthermore, we're not really developing any architectural gems that can be seen as monumental in 100 years time.

[matthew]

lmao even the old pictures have streetcars in them. Just goes to show how great our transit system is

But thanks for sharing, OP. It's interesting as hell.

The street car system in the 20's and 30's was much more extensive than it is now. Trolley buses were also utilized by the TTC. The transit system has gone backwards in terms of progress.

[short stop]

I have to say, in some of those pictures, I prefer the 'before'.

Toronto has had is maintaining its architectural history.... we really don't have any. Aside from Old City Hall, there is not much else that stands out as a historical architectual monument in this city.

St Lawrence Hall? St James Cathedral? Queen's Park? Many of the U of T buildings? I could go on. Do you know much about Toronto history and architecture? How about mid-century gems like Robarts Library, Toronto City Hall, or the O'Keefe Centre (or whatever its bastardization of a name is)?

Furthermore, we're not really developing any architectural gems that can be seen as monumental in 100 years time.

What in your estimation is an example of worthy architecture? What is at least *one* building that will be treasured 100 years from now?

[S500K]

What in your estimation is an example of worthy architecture? What is at least *one* building that will be treasured 100 years from now?

My House , kidding aside, i don't know. Most will get renovated to look differently?

[short stop]

http://www.toronto.ca/doorsopen/

[Torren]

I have to say, in some of those pictures, I prefer the 'before'.

#1 Toronto has had is maintaining its architectural history.... we really don't have any. Aside from Old City Hall, there is not much else that stands out as a historical architectual monument in this city.

#2
Furthermore, we're not really developing any architectural gems that can be seen as monumental in 100 years time.

#1 - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...res_in_Toronto

There's more then you'd think at first.

#2 - Years ago a family member of mine was director of the works department in the city of Etobicoke. They were building a new pumping substation on the Queensway by the Humber river. Just a small plain formed concrete structure. He wanted to do something to make it look nice, not just like a concrete shed. He had to fight tooth and nail with counsel for months to get the extra ~$3g's for the stone work. The total building and related equipment cost was $500k plus and the city did not want to spend $3k for purely cosmetics. He figured it's going to be there for 100 years so it might as well look decent.

Well he stuck to his guns and today you have this:

http://maps.google.com/?ll=43.632635...,80.34,,0,0.27

Insted of a plain grey box. I think it was money well spent. He hired the same stone mason to do the pumping station at the Old Mill when that one was replaced. Had to fight for that one too.

[Chaos]

#1 - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...res_in_Toronto

There's more then you'd think at first.

I stand corrected. But compared to other cities of relative age, I'd say Toronto has done a poor job maintaining its older properties IMO.