154 replies to this topic

[aastra]

Methinks this maison may soon be finished:

 

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[Nparker]

It's not bad looking. Certainly a lot better than the prisons recently erected as housing at UVic.

[lanforod]

It's not bad looking. Certainly a lot better than the prisons recently erected as housing at UVic.

sure, but why is that even remotely a comparison here?

[Nparker]

sure, but why is that even remotely a comparison here?

Just comparing 2 variations on dense, presumably small unit housing.

[aastra]

This development seems amicable for the neighbourhood, but I'm not so sure about the next phase planned for the Ashgrove Street side of the block. Eliminating a surface parking lot is one thing, but eliminating at least two neighbourhood character houses is something else. I'm still wondering about the modern new house on the Ashgrove Street side (now destined for demolition at the ripe old age of ~3 years old) and why its style/materials would seem to resemble the seniors' residence. Was that just a coincidence? Must have been, but it seems odd to me.

 

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Rendering of future Ashgrove Street phase from developer's submission logged over at the CoV's development tracker:

 

Edited by aastra, 13 November 2023 - 09:40 PM.

[aastra]

Although I do like the fact that the second phase would differ slightly from the first phase both in appearance and height. These seem to be great projects.

[Nparker]

I think the era of even feigned concern for heritage residences in the CoV died with the passing of the MMHI.

[Brighton]

Attached Images

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Edited by Brighton, 06 December 2023 - 03:58 PM.

[aastra]

Regarding the white panels on the top floor corner, an astute forumer was wondering the following back in July, 2018:
 

 

I wonder how much of that seeming glass coverage will actually be glass?

The 5th floor corner on the Fort Street end there, you expect that to be a glass corner, don't you? At least for one more window unit, if not for the entire corner? But it looks like it will be solid wall. I know we've talked about this to death on the Encore thread, but it can be amazing how just a tiny bit more glass can make a huge difference.

Anyway, it looks good. Better than I expected.

[aastra]

Too many panels or no, I nevertheless agree that the overall result looks good, and much better than I expected when this redevelopment was first announced.

[Nparker]

No one will accuse them of a monolithic cladding design.

[aastra]

You don't have to be Einstein to figure that out.

[aastra]

Clever and hilarious plays-on-words aside, methinks the best aspects of this building would have translated very well as a sharp highrise.

[Nparker]

You don't have to be Einstein to figure that out.

How about Eisenstein?

[aastra]

I'm not going to touch that.

[aastra]

^Battleship Potemkin, The Untouchables... jokes are funnier when you explain them in full

[aastra]

I don't think I ever made a reference to the Untouchables on this board before but now I've made like three references in just a few days.

 

For the purposes of review before VV's winter exams, the other hilarious references can be found here.

Edited by aastra, 06 December 2023 - 08:12 PM.

[Mike K.]

Oh, that image from Brighton looks different than I would have imagined the finished product to look.

[aastra]

The sidewalk is open along the front of the building (but not the corner).

 

Let me just say, there are abundant large windows that you can actually see through. It's such a darned pleasant little stroll. And even though the rooms and spaces are all furnished and ready to go, there's no actual activity yet. Just imagine what it will be like when there are some actual goings-on going on in there. I also give them a bonus point for the townhouses.

 

Methinks these are the rewards of new development that downtown isn't reaping anywhere near to the degree that it should be, because of everything we've talked about in recent years. I mean, seriously: there are clear and unobstructed windows. Light and life. It's such a pleasant vibe. Who woulda thunk it?

Edited by aastra, 08 December 2023 - 05:18 PM.

[aastra]

Maybe Sparky can get off his duff and snap a few pics to confirm my report.