Dramatic makeover at Yonge and Queen streets now underway
While Toronto's recently installed sky bridge isall the buzzright know, it's not the only upgrade in store at Yonge and Queen streets. In fact, it's really only the first step in what will be amore dramatic makeoverof the bustling intersection that serves as a gateway for the Eaton Centre.
大楼西北角的埋葬ection is in the early stages of what will be a stunning heritage makeover that will finally reveal the entirety of its brick facade, much of which has been covered for over 50 years.
Going back to the late 19th century, this curved structure was home to thePhilip Jamieson Clothing Company, though most will remember it as the longstanding home to Woolworth's flagship Toronto location.
Early photos reveal just how nice this building once was, but at some point in the late 1960s, it was encased in off-white cladding that completely obscured its heritage elements.
It would remain that way until the early 1990s, when part of the historic facade was revealed and the remainder of the building was encased in new metal siding. This is the way most of us have seen the building as it changed hands from Royal Bank to Tower Records and the eventually to Atmosphere, an outdoor equipment store.
Now all the siding is coming off. Crews recently started work pulling back the aluminum casing that's hidden away most of the south- and east-facing sides of 2 Queen Street West. It doesn't look pretty right now, but there are big plans in store.
Already you can see hints of the original building coming into view — including the "P. J." marking the first occupant — but the brick is in rough shape and will need plenty of care to bring it back to stature promised by the previously restored section at the front of the building.
When it's all said and done, the makeover calls for a complete restoration of the historical facade plus a three-storey glass addition at the top that will ultimately be home to a restaurant space.
The whole thing is quite reminiscent of the work that was done onthe Dineen Buildinga few years back. Design work here is byZeidler Partnership Architects(who also helped with the fancy new pedestrian bridge), the original designers of the Eaton Centre. Heritage input will come fromERA Architects.
It'll be fascinating to see this one shape up. Ever sincethe original Eaton's complex was demolishedthis portion of Yonge St. hasn't felt quite properly integrated with streetscape at large. This could go some way towards changing that.
Derek Flack
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