During the Ward 5 by-election, many candidates are talking about the former Federal Building which used to serve us as the post office and customs house. The building is owned by a private developer with plans to preserve the facade of the historic structure while building a 7-storey residential tower behind it.
If residents are concerned about what the Gruesome-Twosome might do, they only need to consider what has been done with one of Newmarket's other historic buildings, the Old Town Hall. Built in 1883, the Old Town Hall was designated an historic building in 1999.
The 1883 building is quite beautiful with its bell tower and high narrow windows. Unfortunately, the ravages of time combined the willful neglect and lack of building maintenance under the Van Bynen/ Taylor led Council were causing the foundation to crumble. A significant portion of the over $10 million that was invested in the Old Town Hall renovations were quite frankly sunk into the building's foundation.
The character of this historic building has been lost due to the erratic modern architecture that comprises the remainder of the renovations. Glass, concrete, and glaring lights are inconsistent with the regeneration of the original structure.
It looks very, very ugly.
Would the Gruesome-Twosome repeat the same mistake with the former Federal Building on Main Street? Based on the type of architecture they seem to approve of - the Old Town Hall, the Magna Centre, and Belinda's Place - the answer is almost assuredly a resounding, Yes.
The Gruesome-Twosome have terrible track record against aesthetically pleasing architecture. All major projects approved by the Van Bynen/ Taylor led Council have been unsightly and misshapen messes.
CTV News, photo of the glass and concrete addition to the historic Old Town Hall building
