City
Can public square proposal save Postal Station K?
Eglinton-Lawrence councillor Karen Stintz hopes making the area in front of the historic Postal Station "K" building at Yonge and Eglinton a public square will reassure the local community that the art-deco icon will remain safe for the future.
The motion, seconded by councillor John Parker and set to be considered at council next week, would give the facade of the building on the west side of Yonge new protection in the event it is redeveloped for condos, as rumored.
"What it does is provide some assurances to the community that that space in front of the building will be protected as open space," Stintz said this morning. "At the point the building is sold, if it is sold, we will then take the steps to designate it as a heritage building and work with any new owner to make sure that space is protected."
Stintz says she isn't necessarily against condos for the site providing they "fit with the community" and are "consistent with what the zoning is and consistent with neighbourhood."
Local MPP Mike Colle, however, has been vocal in his opposition to the project, holding a series of public meetings on the subject. A final, last ditch meeting is planned for next Tuesday at the Anne Johnston Health Station amid "strong rumors" a sale has been arranged in principal.
According to Colle's press release, Canada Post has avoided all local community events on the subject. A recent petition against the sale attracted thousands of signatures.
Postal Station "K" stands on the former site of Montgomery's Tavern, the site of a key battle in the suppressed Upper Canada Rebellion of 1837. It was here that a group of armed militants angry at British rule made a desperate last stand against loyalist soldiers. Since then, the land had been home to a hotel, a masonic lodge, and council offices.
The current building arrived in 1936. Among its many unique design features is the rare royal cypher EVIIIR, short for Edward VIII Rex, inscribed above the door. Edward VIII was king of Canada for less than a year and few buildings bear his crest.
Do you think Postal Station "K" can be saved as is? What would you like to see done with the site? Do you think the negative sentiment surrounding the project might put developers off?
Photos (in order) from the Toronto Archives and Wikimedia Commons.
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Money talks.
And what is our consolation for these lost public spaces? A blocked off Orchard View Blvd in the summer, with tables and chairs that are stacked/locked up at 8pm. What garbage.
Lets rename our current period "Developer Brutalism".
I truly wish for there to be a bubble burst on this whole condo building frenzy, so that we can get back to the normal-sized apartments we used to have.
Go to Chicago and see the stunning buildings they've preserved and return here to see green sh*itbox condos. And Chicago even does new condo projects better than here.
Surprised Casa Loma hasnt' seen a wrecking ball so it can become a parking lot/Tim Hortons...
The best solution can be found in Radio City down on the Jarvis Memorial Freeway, where the old CBC/Havergal building was nicely preserved while a sleek condo popped up behind and around it. Brilliantly designed, much lauded.
Look at the satellite maps for Station K -- there is plenty of room for a tall condo on the postal parking lot and rear of the building while preserving the historically interesting front section. There is no point trying to preserve the use, and I don't see a condo lobby as any worse than retail -- probably better (look what Chapters and then Future Shop did to lovely old Parkwood motors, visible in the lead photo). The Y-E center is a freaking brutalist eyesore which a tower here would go a long way towards hiding. And it's Yonge St, close to one of the city's major (and few) interchanges. This really is a good location for a high-end condo, one that can afford to restore (the current windows are not original, and hideous) and incorporate the postal hall out front.
Seriously, go look at Radio City. That is the best way forward here.
Though I'd have to offer that it isn't completely "typical Toronto" myopia at play here: as a Federal property, unfortunately, it cannot be municipally designated under provincial law (though it can be listed). Yeah, it's an unfortunate loophole; but, so it is. Indeed, in the event that the Feds unload it without obstructive "conditions", I can definitely see the City (esp. now, w/the outcry) jumping ASAP to have the place designated--no doubt w/the support of Councillor Stintz. So, aside from the ambiguity of *how* things might actually be done (y'know, the condo-podium scaremongering, etc), I'm not as concerned as some.
Now, *once* the Feds offload it, *then* is the time to scream--happily enough, neighbourhood groups and Stintz are already doing some preemptive screaming...