Comments | liradralyn: (без темы)

liradralyn

(Untitled)

Feb 22, 2008 04:35

Ok so the rumour going around is that the Queen/Bathurst fire was started by people who were eyeing the land for real estate development purposes. If a lot of Starbucks and condos start going up once the rubble is cleared then we'll know this to be true. If it's true, omg.

Am in San Francisco right now. Still can't believe this has happened.

Comments 7

jeffkahl February 22 2008, 14:17:52 UTC

actually the rumour all over Torontoist is that Home Depot has its eye on the parking lot at the end of that strip of stores. I don't know what's worse: condos or a big box store. six of one half dozen the other really. the worst part about it is that some of the residents have said they were denied tenant insurance cos the insurance companies claimed they were a liability (read: fire trap). either way this is VERY tragic.

liradralyn February 26 2008, 01:19:34 UTC

I'm no fan of condos, but I'd say big box stores have no place on Queen St. (So, I'd say big box is worse.)

Maybe the silver lining to all this is that when they do re-construct the properties presumably they'll build them to code this time and the tenants can at least get insurance...

bassbeast February 22 2008, 17:05:15 UTC

I want to know why the heck you're up so late! Go to bed! It's 1:30 in the morning, and there's only room for one insomniac in this relationship.

On a very serious note, I hadn't heard about this rumour, but the site is designated as a heritage site. Even wen they rebuild, they will be required by law to re-construct the space to be as close as possible to the original.

jeffkahl February 23 2008, 03:12:49 UTC

yeah interesting how they only deemed it a heritage site within the past couple years. and unfortunately the parking lot at the corner of Portland and Queen is not a heritage site so they can do what they wish with it.

as for insomnia: did you stay up till 8am this morning? :P

zoopsoul February 22 2008, 21:16:27 UTC

Terrible rumor. Hope that's false. If it's not, "omg" is about the only thing that sums up that level of villainy.

tacoking101 February 24 2008, 01:41:04 UTC

For the former Torontonian that absolutely loved queen west but has lost his geography....Where abouts at Bathurst and Queen did it happen? I have read several articles about it but it doesn't ring any bells.

liradralyn February 25 2008, 14:02:25 UTC

It's the strip along the south side that includes (or I should say included) Duke's bike shop and the Suspect video store. There's a great set of photos here:

http://torontoist.com/2008/02/phototo_queen_s.php