I saw this first thing yesterday and it hit me pretty hard. I've spent a lot of time on Queen West. When I was younger, I used to go there to shop at the Black Market, South Pacific and Bakka. When I was older I used to go to the Big Bop, the Bovine Sex Club and work at the Gap. Later I worked at Richmond and Spadina and spent much of my lunch hours wandering the strip between John and Bathurst.
The stretch that burned down was directly across from The Bovine. I had a close connection to Suspect Video and Dukes. The area was a bit run down, but in a good way. When I think what the area around City TV used to be like back in the 80s, and I look at it now, it makes me wince. Much of it's soul has been sucked out by chain stores and gentrification.
My worry for this razed block is what will come in its place. I don't have a problem with new. I have a problem with milquetoast or crappy new. And given the track record of development in Toronto, I will not be surprised to see shitty structures offered up as replacements.
When I have some more time, I will link in some photos.
How it looked before.
Here is a panorama of the whole block.
Some shots of the fire:
Images from:
BlogTO.com and the
Torontoist