How could the Keskus be in any perceptible better shape by TEPP not accepting the *mutually agreed upon* settlement?

The sale of this property will probably net somewhere in the $12 million range. The construction cost is well north of $40 million (and rising).

Wake up and smell the coffee...

This article is probably the most useless I’ve ever seen. Hahahahahahahahahah!!!!!!

Hey "Silent majority":

I see that your memory is deficient (or selective). I resigned bc I realized at the time that the deal had big problems. To make it clear to lunkheads like you, I put all my reasons in writing that were published at EWR and Eesti Elu. Remember that?

"While the role of historical architecture is well understood, buildings …that help tell the story of our past, are also very important for their historical context… It is important to know where the heritage value of the historic place lies, along with its condition, evolution, and past and current importance to communities. The traditional practices associated with the historic place and the interrelationship between the historic place and its context should also be considered."


https://www.toronto.ca/city-go...

Here is a tour, with many heritage plaques, of an era that overlaps with but differs from the sociohistorical era of Estonian House, and the Councillor is clear about Chester School as a nearby cultural heritage site:

https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs...

https://www.heritagetrust.on.c...

The Councillor cannot be faulted for not knowing what the “addition” was in the back of the Estonian House – or that the Estonian House was so much more than a “tomb” for Chester Public School! The Councillor celebrates the cultural heritage of the Chester School. I’m not sure a significant group understands the concept so it’s worth looking at the example closely, as Eesti Elu / Estonian Life finally refused to do when an article turned its gaze on the pursuit of economic and political power and the writing of history (arguably forsaking professional duties to deny reach through print); that refusal may be repeated of late in regards to public debate and discussion, a well-informed community, and critical decision-making about the Columbarium and St. Peter’s Church.

“Chester School, built in 1981, sic [1890-1891) is the oldest surviving school of the former municipality of East York and is valued for its 135 year association with the historic villages of Chester and Todmorden, East York and the current Broadview-Danforth neighbourhood….

The school closed in 1959 and was purchased by Estonian House who undertook a series of additions. In 1963 an addition was added to the back of the school and in the 1970's one was added to the front essentially concealing the heritage building from view. Fortunately, the original school building retains its integrity…”

The Councillor is referring foremost to a cultural heritage, from an industrial era before the post-war waves of immigrants and refugees who established multicultural urban communities. They are known to heritage architects who have argued for the preservation of places of “ethnic” cultural heritage before they’re all gone in the pressure to intensify building, regardless of whether they constitute recognized architectural heritage, as many do, and whether they have achieved widely recognized distinction yet or not. “Modern Scandinavian” only appeared as a category in the very latest Toronto Architecture: A City Guide, and not yet in 1975, the year of the second addition to Estonian House incorporating that style, nor a revised edition in 1989.

“A well-designed forecourt public park designed in accordance with City design guidelines in front of the proposed redevelopment could serve as an ideal location for a heritage plaque commemorating the oldest surviving school in former East York….”

For comparison, look at the lead photo of the Globe and Mail article on Estonian architecture in Toronto. It’s a photo of St. Peter’s Church. Know that our academic colleagues and friends at Tartu College displayed to the "Architourist" journalist, invited guests and all visitors to their historical architectural exhibit, false information about the architect of the Grand Hall (the Councillor’s “addition”) at Estonian House, thereby concealing, and literally effacing the historical record, had this gone unnoticed, of the renowned connection (one and the same architect) that should have garnered attention and facilitated debate and discussion over the fate of Estonian House in all its historic and developing aspects as a hybrid cultural and architectural heritage site.

https://www.theglobeandmail.co...

Perhaps the Councillor knows what they’ve done, and not done, and is speaking ironically, without hiding her feelings about this community and its reputation. “Fortunately”, she writes, “the original school building retains its integrity”. Yet this is an unfortunate gloss, as this does not happen by itself. The architects and engineers at Estonian House “retained [the] integrity” of the original school building; and built valuable additions. Faced with decisions involving demolition and annihilation, (with at least some knowledge of history) the architects of KESKUS have chosen to look the other way. Why? Because they were asked to work on another project?

How long before the community who’ve been courted in the Madison neighbourhood get tired of looking at a construction ghost site? Another issue of rules and purpose:
https://www.blogto.com/city/20...

If there is no need to spend time regretting past mistakes, it is because in the years to come, you can still try to get things done and not let regrets and mistakes happen again.