Mistake by the Lake

Bad Buildings wants to be clear: This thing, released this week, ain't bad at all -- at least as far as condos go in this architecturally backwater burgh (and Christ knows, in terms of badness, Toronto condos define a new extreme).

We mean, hey -- it's nicely proportioned, it respects its site, it has an inspired balance of built and open green space. All very cool, if it were the model for the godforsaken disaster that is (barf) Cityplace (more on that one later; but seriously, motherfucking Montage? For a condo building? You pricks ever pick up a dictionary, or does meaning not actually matter? Wait, don't answer that. We already know.)

But Bad Buildings doesn't mean to digress. See, thing is, this baby would be a welcome replacement for Montage, or Luna, or Dancing Gary's Happy Palace or whatever the fuck else Cityplace calls its dog's-breakfast mixed bag of truly offensive architecture. But it ain't. It's just another barrier between city and lake, parked at the foot of Yonge Street -- yes, the city's identity-bearing north-south artery -- on one of the last, best waterfront sites. The project, on old Marine Terminal 27, will be a pretty solid barrier from the water -- like we don't have enough of those already -- and be a significant step in further divorcing most Torontonians from the waterfront. Correct us if we're wrong, but hasn't the current administration whined incessantly -- nay, campaigned on the idea -- that waterfront access is the right of every citizen?

Bullshit. Mr. Mayor Miller, he of the waterfront development "vision," won't even weigh in on this disaster, but his councillors have -- mostly with a shrug. Nothing we can do, they say.

The hell there isn't. We never thought we'd say it, but this town has to be a little more like Vancouver (bleh, we think we just puked in our mouth a little). At least sleepyland by the sea has some standards in place these days; they treat property development in their pretty town, and on its scant few vacant acres, as a privelege. Toronto developers think development is their right. Big, big difference.

When will this town stand up to these bullies who are ruining our city? But then, what does it matter? It may already be too late.