(no subject)

[chickenfeet]

Our neighbourhood is interesting. Twenty five years ago it was derelict industrial land which became the site of a huge social engineering experiment. The city, province and feds funded a redevelopment that mixed social, market rent and condo housing supported by schools, parks and rec facilities. Much more recently, the old Gooderham and Wort's distillery was revamped into a complex of galleries, retail, eating and performance spaces with a bunch of condo towers around it. Despite these developments, much of the land to the east and south east of here is still wasteland or low grade industrial. They are just starting to develop some of it though exactly what the plans are I'm not sure. Anyway, today I went for a walk with the camera to record some of the renovated/restored areas and some of what's left to do.

Chez chickenfeet2003, though in fact we live around the other side.

Looking west over the neighbourhood to the downtown core

The Distillery complex from the west

and from the southeast

and across the road on the east side

A derelict silo south of the Gardiner expressway, from the north

More derelict land close by

looking east to the Don river

The silos from the east

Looking from the railway northwest towards the Distillery

New condos at the Distillery from across the railway

Looking east from the Distillery. Construction is just beginning.

A local landmark, the Canary Restaurant, is now surrounded by cleared land. I'm wondering how it fits into the overall schemme of things.

This is our local police station which until recently was a derelict and roofless Toronto Hydro building.

The cop shop from another angle.

In the foreground, the Porsche dealership stands on what is probably the site of Upper Canada's first Parliament buildings. Not one of our finer heritage moments. In the background is a really good conversion of former industrial to create a rehearsal space for the Canadian Opera Company.