TORONTO - The City We Aspire To Be? [Archive] - Dallas Fort Worth Urban Forum

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TexasStar

13 July 2004, 07:41 PM

I just spent a couple of days in Canada's largest city, TORONTO. And I came away very, very impressed with the level of urban development. Of course, it does not have to contend with the same degree of sprawl that Dallas is cursed with, so the downtown core is extremely strong and well-developed. There is always tons of pedestrian activity, stores, restaurants, theatres, and clubs abound.

I found it interesting to note that the Toronto has far more homeless people than Dallas and it doesn't seem to deter city life downtown one iota. (So we can just drop that excuse.)

I'm sorry the weather was dreary and overcast both days, so the pictures don't look so good.

Lots of small shops line the steets around downtown Toronto.
http://pages.sbcglobal.net/samclark/toronto/Toronto_1.jpg

http://pages.sbcglobal.net/samclark/toronto/Toronto_2.jpg

The streets were crowded like this until midnight (on a weeknight!)
http://pages.sbcglobal.net/samclark/toronto/Toronto_3.jpg

http://pages.sbcglobal.net/samclark/toronto/Toronto_4.jpg

Plaza in front of Toronto City Hall
http://pages.sbcglobal.net/samclark/toronto/Toronto_5.jpg

Public transportation includes subways, street cars, and buses.
http://pages.sbcglobal.net/samclark/toronto/Toronto_6.jpg

Toronto's answer to our Old Red Courthouse - only twice as big and twice as old!
http://pages.sbcglobal.net/samclark/toronto/Toronto_7.jpg

Toronto City Hall
http://pages.sbcglobal.net/samclark/toronto/Toronto_8.jpg

http://pages.sbcglobal.net/samclark/toronto/Toronto_9.jpg

http://pages.sbcglobal.net/samclark/toronto/Toronto_10.jpg

http://pages.sbcglobal.net/samclark/toronto/Toronto_11.jpg

http://pages.sbcglobal.net/samclark/toronto/Toronto_12.jpg

Canadian National Tower - technically the tallest buidling in the world.
http://pages.sbcglobal.net/samclark/toronto/Toronto_13.jpg

http://pages.sbcglobal.net/samclark/toronto/Toronto_14.jpg

Try to imagine two Bank of America Towers stacked on atop the other...!!!
http://pages.sbcglobal.net/samclark/toronto/Toronto_15.jpg

Lots of downtown construction activity. Much of it residential!
http://pages.sbcglobal.net/samclark/toronto/Toronto_16.jpg

You haven't lived until you've stood on a glass floor 1,150 feet up!
http://pages.sbcglobal.net/samclark/toronto/Toronto_17.jpg

Toronto appears to be a great blueprint for Dallas to follow.
http://pages.sbcglobal.net/samclark/toronto/Toronto_18.jpg

psukhu

13 July 2004, 07:52 PM

My hometown.

13 July 2004, 07:52 PM

Those are great photos. Toronto looks like a wonderful city.

crescentboi

13 July 2004, 08:13 PM

rantanamo

13 July 2004, 09:15 PM

As much as I have come to dislike some of the Toronto attitude at SSP, yes, that is what we are trying to become. Or perhaps Chicago. I think places like Tokyo or NY are too overwhelming, but these cities are just right.

Lakewooder

13 July 2004, 09:20 PM

The City Hall reminds me of Brasilia. I saw an exhibit on its architect (with models) in Stockholm, in a museum designed by Renzo Piano, I think...maybe it was the glogg...

rantanamo

13 July 2004, 09:49 PM

who can spot the 300C?

bloodandpopcorn

14 July 2004, 12:19 AM

Many of those pictures remind me of Kyoto, except replace the old Eastern aspects with Western ones.

Beautiful city!

psukhu

14 July 2004, 12:33 AM

Ok, now THAT'S a city hall! Love that complex...maybe we could do a tower development like that in Dallas someday!

Now I must say TexasStar, that you have some balls for standing on that glass! I just get anxious looking at the picture!

They call that "new city hall". The original city hall looks like the old Red courthouse in dt Dallas.

crescentboi

14 July 2004, 12:43 AM

who can spot the 300C

9th picture down! I immediately noticed that as well! Love Dallas and all, but the other half of my heart is to cars!

rantanamo

14 July 2004, 01:32 AM

I fell in love with that car the day I saw it at the State Fair last fall. I wouldn't even drive it. Just polish it everyday and look at it.

Geaux Tigers

14 July 2004, 09:18 AM

I've been to Toronto twice and came away both times saying to myself "Now THAT'S a city!" Toronto: think Chicago with no trash and VERY little crime.

One story I've heard is that a movie being filmed there was actually set in New York, so the production company had to IMPORT trash!! Anyway, they finished filming one night and left the set the way it was for the next day's filming. When they arrived the next day to begin work, a Toronto garbage crew had come through in the night and cleaned the set. So, the production company had to import more trash and hire a security crew to guard the trash!!

TexasStar

14 July 2004, 11:27 AM

9th picture down! I immediately noticed that as well! Love Dallas and all, but the other half of my heart is to cars!
Cars are tools of the Devil! ;)

drycreek

14 July 2004, 02:30 PM

Ok, now THAT'S a city hall! Love that complex...maybe we could do a tower development like that in Dallas someday!

I couldn't agree more. Toronto looks like an incredible city. That city hall is freagin' awesome.

As much as I have come to dislike some of the Toronto attitude at SSP, yes, that is what we are trying to become. Or perhaps Chicago. I think places like Tokyo or NY are too overwhelming, but these cities are just right.

exactly...