Comments on: The State of… Downtown Sidestreets (Part 2 of 3)

By: Blake

Blake — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 20:01:33 +0000

Don’t forget Mexicali Rosa’s! Just another restaurant that failed in a building which one has to assume is cursed/haunted.

In recent memory it’s been: Oliver and Smith’s, Allie Lou’s, Johnny Mac’s, The Juice, Mexicali Rosa’s…. I’m sure I’m forgetting at least one.’

Johnny Mac’s did eventually reopen at Peachtree Plaza on Princess.

By: Duke Smythe

Duke Smythe — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 20:02:17 +0000

The old Kingston Police HQ is one that could be included on your list. As to what will happen there depends on how much faith you have in the North Block development. Personally I am fearful that the size, and location of the North Block project may be too much for our slow, and inept council to effectively manage. Rankin Sound is also another closure you missed. It was eventually/recently replaced by the AKA Social Centre.

By: Andy

Andy — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 19:42:08 +0000

The hole certainly has been there for years. I currently live a few blocks further up Bagot St from this location so I walk by here almost daily. From what I last heard there was a deadline set for development to begin or the hole would have to be filled. The land was then sold (if I recall correctly) and the city extended this deadline until sometime in the spring/summer for the new buyer. So if that holds true, by sometime this coming year either construction should begin (or planning should at least ramp up speed) or the hole will be filled in and we will have a nice empty lot for the next couple decades.

By: Kook

Kook — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 14:42:59 +0000

On the topic of Bagot and Queen, that hole has been there for far more than 2years. I used to work in the Artillery Park complex there between 2003-2005 and walked by this repeatedly. It has always been a hole, at least since that time. Rumours I have heard suggest the City has attempted to force the owner to do SOMETHING with that lot, i.e. fill the hole, to no avail.

Agreed – the TD bank needs to go. It is an eyesore. The building really should be torn down and something erected that is in keeping with the historic nature of the downtown. But who has the dollars for that?

By: Harvey Kirkpatrick

Harvey Kirkpatrick — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 13:48:18 +0000

@Andy Thanks for pointing out the hole on Bagot and Queen. Don’t know how I missed mentioning that one, considering how I wrote about it back in Sept ’08. This is a serious blight on the downtown, and it stinks of poor planning.

Otherwise, I agree that the old TD Bank building is considerably out of sorts, considering the architectural company it enjoys. Aside from a bank or related financial institution, what could possibly work at this location?

By: Andy

Andy — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 03:49:24 +0000

Also… wouldn’t it be GREAT if that hideous TD Bank building on Market Square were to be ripped down and replaced by something that fits into the surroundings a little better? I spent some time in this building a couple years ago when it was used to house equipment for the Buskers festival. There is NO WAY this building will ever be leased out in its current layout. There is no real second floor, just a series of strange balconies jutting out into a large foyer-like room. Aside from a few back offices and the walk-in safe there is nothing here. There is no use for this building, and the square footage provided for a building this size is basically nothing.

The only thing I can see happening here is for the building to be gutted and completely remodeled, or (hopefully) torn down and replaced completely. If only the Springer family didn’t have so much money. Few people could sit on property like this as long as they have without making any money from it. If they were strapped for cash something would have happened years ago, but with pockets like theirs…

By: Andy

Andy — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 03:43:04 +0000

The BMO Building at the corner of Wellington and Brock underwent architectural design a few years ago to allow for a high-end restaurant on the main floor, and high-end apartments on the floors above. I saw the designs a couple years ago but have heard nothing since. Perhaps the redevelopment cost was too high (from what I was told there were holes in the floors, walls had fallen in, stuff like that) and that the entire building was to be rebuilt inside.

The Sultan’s Bazaar is an expensive rental given the size and quality of the building. A friend of mine who opened a store just outside the downtown core this year looked into this site, but was able to finance the purchase of a store with rental unit above it for less than the cost of renting this one.

Also do not forget the big hole at the corner of Bagot and Queen. This site was prepared for construction (I forget the exact number, but I think it was a 6 or 8 floor apartment building) before the rug was pulled out. The site has since changed hands and is nearing deadlines for development or it will have to be filled in. I was really excited about this development as it was to feature affordable units for seniors in the downtown core, we will have to see what happens to this site in the next year.