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Originally Posted by someone123
It's still not entirely clear but the Roy might turn out to be one of a relatively small number of net positive developments that involved demolishing heritage buildings. I could see the Bank of Canada being like this too; I liked the old building, but I'll probably like the new building a lot more. Barrington and George on the other hand was the opposite since nothing was built there. The Dennis Building could easily be a net loss too unless something decent with a similar amount of architectural interest and quality is built in that location.
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Agreed about the Roy, which is why even though in my ideal world it would've been renovated into lofts or startup office space or something, I'm not too upset about what's happening. The excellent renderings and Starfish's good work elsewhere on Barrington also give me a good feeling.
As for the Dennis, it was always superior to the Roy architecturally, and I'm pretty obstinate that whatever happens, the integrity of the building envelope has to be retained. Whether that involves restoration or dismantling and reconstructing is immaterial, but I think losing this buiing for good would be a really huge blow, architecturally, to the area. Even a great new construction wouldn't soften the blow much, for me at least: there are lots of sites for something great and new. This is the only Dennis, and the only building of its heft in town.
Anyway, me and some others met with Kousoulis this week, and he suggested he's pursuing an aggressive timeline, hoping to have a plan for the future of the site/reconstruction by fall.
we got no promises as far as what they were going to do, but the strong suggestion was IF the government decides they need the land for offices, they'll construct something, hopefully a reconstruction. (I would strongly hope it's not just sticking the facade around a large building; the architectural integrity would be ruined.)
Also, the bricks on the top three storeys won't be preserved--Kousoulis implied they were just bricks so could be replaced easily. Not sure about that (period appropriate masonry and all) but anyway, the granite and I believe the decorative bits will be preserved and stored in preparation for...something. Everyone at the meeting with me was pretty strong that it should be a rebuild of the structure as it previously appeared. Minister seemed very open to that, but again, no promises either way. It's all VERY up in the air for now. The minister seems to value the heritage/appearance of the building, but I think other factors, including cost, are at least at important. (There was also a real unwillingness to consider engaging he private sector, even in the event the government decides they don't need the site--didn't really understand why.)
One nice tho to hear was that they plan to restore Province House to its original appearance, with landscaped grounds, and are looking at removing the parking. There was a suggestion that if the Dennis is taken down, they'll replace that parking with an underground facility on the Dennis site before they rebuild.