Car-Free Condo


I've posted about the excellent bike culture in Toronto a few times in the past (click here to read one)...and the city still impresses me (on many levels). Anyhow, a reader from Toronto sent me a link to an interesting story. It's regarding the building of a new high-rise condo in the city. It will replace the century old building that currently houses the Royal Canadian Military Institute (pictured above). What is really interesting about the future condo is that the building plans call for no spaces for parked cars...let me say that again only a little differently: a 42 story residential condo and there will be no parking, at least not for cars. What it will have is parking spaces for at least 350 bicycles....there is hope! Click here to read the story. (Thanks Sally.)

Comments

Premodern Bloke said…
Except that they are replacing a beautiful building with yet another high rise condo.
Premodern Bloke said…
And Toronto does not exactly have a history of architectural sensitivity.

http://tinyurl.com/kjtjlj
Joe said…
I'm assuming you've been to the ROM by the link you left...I really know nothing about architecture but I have to disagree with what you're saying about the photo...the new addition of the museum is pretty cool (I think)...they've incorporated both the old and the new together, both inside and out. I do, though, agree (with your other comment) that it is a shame they are tearing down an interesting 100-year-old building to make room for a condo.

The ROM also offers some pretty interesting bike racks, too:

http://citysimplicity.blogspot.com/2009/02/bike-racks.html

Thanks for reading.
Premodern Bloke said…
I think the ROM addition is an architectural train wreck and can only agree with James Howard Kunstler.

http://www.kunstler.com/eyesore_200612.html
Joe said…
Have you seen it in person?
Premodern Bloke said…
No. Are you telling me that it does not look like that?
Joe said…
Jeff--
To answer your question: yes and no. Yes it of course looks like the photos, but no it's not as hideous as the photos make it out to be. In those photos it is segregated from the rest of the vibrant city that surrounds it. In person it is quite impressive...this is simply my personal opinion.

I still admit that I no nothing about architecture...I just know what I like...and normally I don't like stuff like this, I am usually drawn to century-old structures.If you'd like to get a glimpse of some of the old architecture in Buffalo follow this post: http://citysimplicity.blogspot.com/2009/07/sunday-morning-walk-and-beautiful.html

At any rate, if you ever find yourself in Toronto I encourage you to see it (the inside is even more impressive, I think). And thanks, as always, for reading and posting...I always enjoy your comments and input.