Dundas Square Gets Uglier.

It seems as though that image is leaving everbody speechless! Look up the firm who's name is on that image though. You'll se that their behind a lot of other crap in teh city.

http://www.kramer-design.com/infotogo.html

This concept has been around for such a long time. Even before they tore down the buildings to make Dundas Square. Why are people so shocked? Have any of the new buildings at Dundas Square been tastefully done?

Mind you, this does take ugly to a spectacular level.

Dear god! Why does Toronto keep trying to emmulate New York City? This is awful, awful, awful.

Maybe we could rename Dundas Square, "Toronto Sun Square" and have giant electronic sunshine girl spots flip like calendar pages!

Spectacular is a fine word, Michael. I think the past 'additions' to Dundas Square have been pretty odd and ridiculous but the aren't so painful to look at as THIS.

The worst is probably the big ad tower/discus holder atop the Gap... and even that is MILD compared to this potential eyesore.

I still think we have room to be shocked!

Yes, this is shocking because this latest incarnation is even more gawdy than the original and subsequent few versions after that. It seems they have tried to take ugly to the max.
I think I'm going to blow chunks.
I tried taking a photo (of the footprints in the snow) at Dundas Sq this evening and I didn't like a single shot because of the disgusting advertising in the background (particularly on the video screens). If City Council thinks this is going to be a big tourist attraction they might want to think it through. Tourists like to take pictures. Who wants a bunch of stupid advertising in your vacation memories??? That's one of the reasons why I avoid Times Square at all costs when I'm in NYC...

I caught that over at 'Urban Toronto' and just had to send the link to Spacing, as I thought they could get the word out a little better. I was amazed at just how disgusting that building is. The last thing this city needs is more gigantic ads in the sky.

I hope atleast most of those ads can still be fought in city council.

*puke*

Crap, now Spacing AND BlogTO have hammered the board. Daily bandwidth limit reached :P

I'm just appalled. I posted this over on the Live Journal "Toronto Community" (CLICK HERE) to try to mobilize folks a bit.

What I cannot believe is the number of responders that had "no problem with it". Some even LIKED it. I'm all for freedom of speech/expression, but not when it impedes on public space/life this much I can't sit quietly. As if we aren't bombarded with corporate advertising enough already, do we need "I'm LOVIN IT!" literally screamed at us from multiple 100 foot billboards?! Maybe it's just because I come from San Francisco, where that sort of proposal would be shut-down by protestors before you could say "SUPERSIZE IT".

I think there are people interested in writing to voice opposition, but might not know just what to say. Tanja, Perhaps blogTO could write a short draft general "position statement" that those in opposition could copy & send in with their signature?

Voices are best heard when they speak enmass.

One interesting comment up on that LiveJournal thread:

"What do you want to bet, come summer, when we're all getting screamed at to turn down our AC so as not to overload the hydro system, that this monstrosity is still lit up and flashing like Las Vegas on steroids?"

I'd put money on that one.

A good about about the 'statement', Beth. Let's see what we can do.

There is also a thread about it over on the Stillepost boards now. A few intelligent comments about city politics & the zoning laws. And more folks talking about how this will impact hydro.

I would imagine the Toronto Public Spacing Committee organizers are going to be all over this (if they aren't already), so I'll be interested to see what they are going to do.

"City Council approved this project in 1998 and it was ratified by the Ontario Municipal Board in the same year. I am thrilled that this project is finally under construction. Although the ads shown in the artist's rendering may change depending on the tenants in the building, the variances to the sign by-law for large outdoor ads were approved along with the rest of the project.

This is a private property development that has long been approved by both Council and the Board and has been fully supported by the downtown business community as part of the revitalization of Yonge and Dundas.

Kyle Rae

City Councillor"

Rick got this reply, and posted on Torontoist.

http://www.torontoist.com/archives/2006/02/desperate_for_t.php#comment-38834

"...has been fully supported by the downtown business community as part of the revitalization of Yonge and Dundas."

You mean the further destruction of Yonge & Dundas, right, Mr. Rae?

Was this the image the public was provided with in "1998"? I doubt it, but even if it was, I'd safely assume that perhaps after seeing the rest of the downhill slide (megabins, etc) we are just more aware now of the gross defacing of our city.

It's difficult to find news of Metropolis' approval in 1998, and renderings of what it would look like on the web.

I did find this picture:

http://www.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2005/09/399957.jpg

The jpg link doesnt appear to work...

Yeah, I just reloaded it, and now it's telling me it is 'Forbidden'.

This link should be better, it doesn't directly go to the image:

http://www.emporis.com/en/il/im/?id=399957

It's exactly what I expected. These things are rarely beautiful.

My concern isn't so much by the ad-covered look (as we've known it would be that way for 10 years now), but more the finishings they decide to use. If Pen-Equity cheaps-out again (like they did with Olympic Spirit) than the buildings surrounding what is actually a pretty tastefully done square will mostly be a joke.

This project is really old. It always looked this ugly, like a Picadilly Circus on roids. Even back in 1998. We probably should have tried to stop it back then when it was in the approval stage but, like Thom Yorke says, we haven't been paying attention.

Anyway, according to Kyle Rae, this is private property, but then why does PCL, the contractor, list the City Of Toronto as one of the owners???

Go Here:

http://canada.pcl.com/projects/Active/0900342/index.aspx

Dare I say this: I'm looking forward to this structure to finally take shape at the NE corner of Yonge / Dundas.

Times Square in New York City is still a massive tourist spot - as is all of Las Vegas. To me, there's nothing wrong with having an area of Toronto devoted to overblown, larger than life billboards / advertisements / structures.

I'd rather have one massive concentrated area (ala Times Square), and leave the rest of the city alone. Now if we could just convince the city to get rid of the plastering of subway stations, streetcar stops (which is a safety hazard), and the disturbing Megabin project - we'd be set.

Leave Yonge and Dundas alone - it's already well on its way to becoming our 'Times Square'. Just give it 20-30 years. And if you don't like it? Head to the Annex (or another less overwhelming hangout of your choosing).

IDEALLY, but the reality is far from ideal. Remind yourself times square has been boom central (of the glowing lights kind) because it is the theatre centre of the world. our square will never have that history 'cause we don't foster any substance. Dundas Sq was artificially created so that there would be billboard space to sell. it has no meaning, no life, no draw. but hey, pull up a chair and watch the pretty CTV commercials run...

I don't really agree, Tanja. Companies aren't spending loads of dollars to advertise there just becuase the space is available. It's because there are a lot of people there. The draw here is not theatre, its retail. While that may not be the most romantic reason to have a glittery square, it is still a legitimate one. When people stop going shopping at the Eaton Centre then the ads will probably go with them. Same goes for Times Square.

It may not be pretty, but do you remember how thugged out that area used to be? I think the change was good. Young street was a disaster before the new Square was implemented. And as ugly as it may seem, it is way less hideous than the stupid OCAD building. Architects worldwide have made fun of Toronto for that building. Can you believe that you can actually own one of the black squares on that garbage??

This is the best thing to happen to Toronto in a long time. This is was big city's do...bigger and brighter puts Toronto on the map. Sure it's a bunch of ads, but it's beautiful. Way to go Toronto, I can't wait until it's finished.

I think it's great. The architecture of the building itself could be a little more daring, but as far as the huge billboards and lights go, I'm happy. Like Johnny said, bigger and brighter is better - at least in some places. Toronto needs a Times Square.

I think it's awesome, the hell with those hippie tree huggers. Toronto NEEDS this. I can't wait till it's finished!

This is ganna look great when finished. CAN'T WAIT!! Haha you guys need to get out a little.

Using a phrase like "hippie tree huggers" to describe people who are concerned about wasteful use of energy resources does nothing but reveal yourself as totally out of sync with contemporary society and modern day reality. You need trees far more than trees need you, believe me.

Such negative nellies. This new development is going to be a major tourist attraction and I'm willing to bet that Torontonians themselves might just enter its doors.

Toronto, you should be ashamed; deeply ashamed - I have just moved to London - and if the brainless baffoons who designed this building think it has any of the class of Piccadilly Circus, or Times Sq (in NYC), they are terribly wrong! Toronto should be innovative enough to define its own identity - not up up with something so appaling!

Totally Kyoto-phobic and with all the aesthetic appeal of my dog's sphincter.

Umm is it me or is toronto trying to become NYC? after looking at this picture makes me think that we are. I went to NYC and believe me our downtown is NOTHING like theres!.
Almost every intersection had a billboard or some type of advertisement. If you ask me, we're just catching up to them now!...

and instead of making dundas square the only hot spot, i think they should start to shape up other streets like that
(queen st, gerrard & yonge, etc)