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I came in TO in the middle oughts and there were patches of the city still having that artsy, edgy and unkempt vibe, and even the commercial Yonge strip from Bl

I came in TO in the middle oughts and there were patches of the city still having that artsy, edgy and unkempt vibe, and even the commercial Yonge strip from Bloor down to Queen was atmospheric. All got lost to the glass condo towers, and the faux hipster hoods are souless and uninteresting. I feel Toronto became a victim of its own success, great economic progress does not equal vibrant and livable city!

52-6F-62 7y ago
Absolutely. I came here in 2006 for a few years and there were still plenty of spaces, though the old ones were lost. Came back in 2010 and things had moved a little further west again. Found a bit of a haven in and around Bloor/Dufferin to Lansdowne and up to Dupont, but all of my old spots there have nearly shut down and further extraordinarily large developments are planned. Used to play semi-regularly at The Silver Dollar (RIP). Grimey, but fun. Parkdale still has its moments but even it is being hit now and Little Tibet is feeling that sting. There's constant [sad/angry] joking about every block consisting of Shopper's Drug Mart, Rexall, Starbucks, and bubble tea. It's not at all that bad yet, but it's also not as much of a satire as it sounds, sadly. These days my partner and I have been strongly considering a move to Hamilton if we can sort it out with our work.
TimPC 7y ago
As a resident of Toronto I feel less bad about the visual display of the city and worse about the outflux of artistic talent. So many artists I knew a decade ago are living far out in the burbs, where it is harder to find events and develop talent. There are new artists but the artistic communities are becoming a mix of young people and people with corporate jobs. Very few people pursuing their craft full time are making a viable wage in Toronto and this bodes ill for future generations of art in the city.
- ivankolev 7y ago
  Case in point, close to where my humble abode is, there is a newly built artscape center, a supposed hub of a condo tower with spaces for installations and happenings. Well, since it is a newly built unit, it falls outside of rental control bylaws, thanks to the boneheaded legislature introduced by the wrecking ball that is Doug Ford, and the rents there promptly went up 20% or so at the end of the initial one year leases, so all the struggling artists that this artscape hub was supposed to provide home to, started leaving in droves.

52-6F-62 7y ago

Absolutely. I came here in 2006 for a few years and there were still plenty of spaces, though the old ones were lost. Came back in 2010 and things had moved a little further west again. Found a bit of a haven in and around Bloor/Dufferin to Lansdowne and up to Dupont, but all of my old spots there have nearly shut down and further extraordinarily large developments are planned. Used to play semi-regularly at The Silver Dollar (RIP). Grimey, but fun. Parkdale still has its moments but even it is being hit now and Little Tibet is feeling that sting. There's constant [sad/angry] joking about every block consisting of Shopper's Drug Mart, Rexall, Starbucks, and bubble tea. It's not at all that bad yet, but it's also not as much of a satire as it sounds, sadly. These days my partner and I have been strongly considering a move to Hamilton if we can sort it out with our work.

TimPC 7y ago

As a resident of Toronto I feel less bad about the visual display of the city and worse about the outflux of artistic talent. So many artists I knew a decade ago are living far out in the burbs, where it is harder to find events and develop talent. There are new artists but the artistic communities are becoming a mix of young people and people with corporate jobs. Very few people pursuing their craft full time are making a viable wage in Toronto and this bodes ill for future generations of art in the city.

ivankolev 7y ago
Case in point, close to where my humble abode is, there is a newly built artscape center, a supposed hub of a condo tower with spaces for installations and happenings. Well, since it is a newly built unit, it falls outside of rental control bylaws, thanks to the boneheaded legislature introduced by the wrecking ball that is Doug Ford, and the rents there promptly went up 20% or so at the end of the initial one year leases, so all the struggling artists that this artscape hub was supposed to provide home to, started leaving in droves.