Month: September 2023

The Tip Top Lofts

September 8, 2023 / Marvin Job / 2 Comments

At 637 Lakeshore Blvd. West just west of Bathurst Street sits the Tip Top Lofts. Just behind it lies Lake Ontario. This building has a long and prominent history in Toronto. Formerly known as the Tip Top Tailors Building, it was constructed in 1929 and housed the manufacturing, warehousing, retail and office operations of Tip Top Tailors Ltd., a menswear clothing retailer founded in 1909 by Polish-Jewish immigrant David Dunkelman.

The building was designed by Bishop and Miller architects, incorporating the Art Deco style. In 1972, the building was designated as a heritage structure by the City of Toronto.

In spring 2002, Dylex (the company owning the building) sold the property to Context Development, who converted it into condominium lofts. The conversion was designed by architects Alliance of Toronto. The conversion included the addition of six stories on the roof. The neon Tip Top Tailors rooftop sign was retained and given a slant. Inside, there are 256 beautifully renovated lofts.

A few notes on the interior lofts courtesy of the website condos.ca:

Offering “hard” and “soft” lofts: When the building was converted into lofts in the early 2000’s, Context Developments was smart-thinking to create both hard and soft lofts. What that means is that Tip Top Lofts offers both the classic, exposed brick and woodbeam “hard loft” style, as well as more modern “soft loft” styles that will feel like a contemporary condo.

A Few Historical Photos

Courtesy of the City of Toronto Archives and torontolofts.ca, here are a few photos tracing the history of this magnificent Art Deco building:

**1980**: Tip Top Tailors building in the background with a Joy Gas Station in front

Wilson Heights, Part 3: Yorkdale Murals

September 6, 2023 / Marvin Job / 0 Comments

This is the third and last instalment of a 3-part post focusing on some of the murals and artwork in the Wilson Heights area of the city. Here, we visit some community artwork just outside of Yorkdale Mall.

These murals were created several years ago and I’m afraid that time and tide have taken a toll on many of them as they are quite faded and fragmented. The murals can be found on the outside of the north subway entrance into Yorkdale Mall.

I couldn’t find too much information on this particular Art Start project; the listed website on the murals is no longer active. I did, however, source some information on the Art Starts organization in general, courtesy of their website.

Art Starts is a program benefiting thousands of people living in marginalized Toronto neighbourhoods by providing a safe, supportive and inclusive environment for self-expression and creative collaboration.

The organization affords opportunities for vulnerable people of all ages to contribute to the creative ecology of their neighbourhoods, using the arts to help end the negative cycles associated with marginalization and poverty.

Art Starts nurtures local talent, beautifies public spaces and provides safe, inclusive environments for self-expression and collaboration.

I believe many of the subjects in these murals were the actual artists from the neighbourhood.

Wilson Heights, Part 2: Wilson Station South Exit

September 4, 2023 / Marvin Job / 0 Comments

This is the second instalment of a 3-part post focusing on some of the murals and artwork in the Wilson Heights area of the city.

There is a newly developed area on the south side of Wilson Avenue called – strangely enough – Southside. This area has a very colourful subway station entrance and tunnel.

South entrance of Wilson subway station, west side

Artwork created by street artist Shalak Attack, the same artist who created the Allen Road underpass art on Wilson Avenue

Murals in the South Entrance of Wilson Subway Station

South entrance of Wilson subway station, east side

Next post: Wilson Heights, Part 3: Yorkdale Murals

Wilson Heights, Part 1: Wilson Station Exit to Wilson Avenue

September 1, 2023 / Marvin Job / 1 Comment

This is a 3-part post focusing on some of the murals and artwork in the Wilson Heights area of the city.

First up are the Wilson subway station murals. These murals are located on Wilson Avenue under the Allen Road underpass, at the south exit of the Wilson subway station. There are 40 pillars of artwork, created by street artist Shalak Attack and her collaborator Bruno Smoky. The colour of the artwork certainly gives a lift to an otherwise drab, depressing part of the city.