TO Cityscapes

Toronto Through My Lens

Tag: MaitlandSt

Cherry Blossoms

May 7, 2024 / / 4 Comments

You know it’s springtime in Toronto when the cherry blossoms suddenly pop out for their all-too-brief stay.

In Japan, flower viewing is an age-old tradition called hanami. Called sakura in Japan, the cherry blossom trees bloom in Toronto at the end of April to early May. When they bloom the trees look quite stunning, displaying their delicate, fluffy, pink and white flowers.

The first Japanese cherry tree was planted here in 1959; it was a present from the citizens of Tokyo. In High Park, 34 cherry trees were received from the Sakura project. Other cherry trees were also donated to other locations around the city, including Exhibition Place, York University and U of T.

I wasn’t up this year for the full-on urban battle that is High Park cherry blossom viewing, so I opted for a couple of alternate locations which offered a calmer, quieter experience:

103 Maitland Street

Robarts Library, University of Toronto

Trinity College, University of Toronto

Atrocity on Maitland Street!

July 27, 2023 / / 2 Comments

Is no historic building safe!?

Passing these beautiful old brownstones on Maitland Street last week I noticed that a rezoning proposal has been submitted for 36 and 42 Maitland Street. These buildings are known as The Maitlands and managed by Hazelview Properties.

36 & 42 Maitland Street
42 Maitland Street
36 Maitland Street
Building proposal for 34, 36 and 42 Maitland Street… nnnnoooooooo!!!!
Someone else has voiced their comments
Just what we need… another highrise condo to congest the area. Looks like a protester has slapped on a “Squat The Village” sticker in response to the threat.

The building proposal would incorporate the two existing facades, which are Heritage buildings, at 36 and 42 Maitland Street and would look like this:

I find this trend of filling in quieter, charming streets with towering monoliths alarming. I’m no Jane Jacobs or Christopher Hume, but I must say that this type of city development destroys a neighbourhood; it also saddens me. Currently Maitland Street is a quiet, orderly, leafy and calm residential street. If these proposed changes go ahead, Maitland Street will suffer the same fate as Charles Street – a once-beautiful, tree-lined, quiet street, full of character, turned into a major thoroughfare with towering condos every few feet.

But wait, there’s more…

Oh, say it ain’t so… Across the street at 37 Maitland Street, this beautiful building (currently law offices) is also being threatened with a zoning proposal for a 49 storey condo building.

Zoning proposal for this site. At least they will be incorporating the facade into the new complex.

‘Tis a sad day on Maitland Street… 🙁

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