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Canadian Urbanism Uncovered

14 comments

  1. Poor House of Lancaster II, another victim of a double standard in business development. A city loves a thriving economy and, in turn, thriving businesses. That is, unless it’s the wrong kind of business.

    Wouldn’t it be nice if could have government with our the sanctimony? Pretend it’s a flower shop, let them upgrade their facade and leave them alone.

  2. It is of note that the owner of the House of Lancaster is also the head of the local BIA; a BIA zone that well, has seen better days and is waiting for a turnaround.

    Unfortunately maintaining a strip club there is one of the top reasons that a turnaround is not happening. Whatever one thinks of strip clubs, and despite an attempt to spread some Nuit Blanche respectability on it, the HOL does more to hurt the area than to help it.

    And what about this…was this not the same HOL that was featured in a Globe story a few months ago about how the stripping business is fading and that the club was barely hanging on ? I live near the club and frankly this pisses me off.

  3. scott> How does the HOL hinder the turnaround? This is not a challenge, just wondering how. Some strip joints, like the Brass Rail or that one on King West, sort of blend in and disappear (except for that terrible shooting at the Brass Rail, though that could have been any bar). Is HOL different because it defines the area more, whereas there is a lot more “other stuff” at Yonge and Bloor? How is HOL different than the usual low rent draft joint bars that are all around?

    Bloor and Lansdowne is one of those funny places where the main strip doesn’t match the demographics of the surrounding neighbourhood. Like the Danforth at Greenwood.

  4. Shawn,

    Women in the area don’t like shopping or walking near strip clubs especially at night. This is something that I hear all the time from neighbors and from my wife.

    When women don’t walk and buy then only low rent places can survive.

    HOL is old school porn compared to strip clubs in the burbs or the internet. The owner said so himself in the Globe story. He said it was hanging on.

    Existing store owners and future store owners won’t re-invest or open until women and by default families feel comfortable.

  5. Old school like the metro cinema. They have a certain kind of Midnight Cowboy sleaze to them that makes its presence known more publicly than the cleaned up stuff you mention (burbs, etc): gentrified porn, if there is such a thing.

  6. Actually, this ‘strip’ (pun intended) of Bloor (or ‘Blooor’ reflecting the two BIAs), is the focus of much activity, from the local stakeholders. theBIG (Bloor Improvement Group [see: http://bigonbloor.com/ ] is in the process of planning a huge festival on Bloor from Christie to Lansdowne which is intended to bring attention to this currently dilapidated section of Bloor, in order to highlight the numerous initiatives that have taken place or are being contemplated to revitalize the area [ see: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=8373867075 ]. The BloorDale BIA, and it’s current head Spiro (of HOL fame) is quite active in, and supportive of the festival and other projects in the area.
    My suggestion: come and see for yourself, and reserve judgment untill theBIG – an amalgamation of all the citizens groups, social agencies, councillor’s offices, etc. in this section of Bloor, has had it’s chance to ‘shine’. You may just “get off on Bloor” after all!

  8. Funny that the Sun would on one hand publish an article implying that a strip club is an illegitimate business, while at the same time the Sunshine girl page gives strippers an opportunity to try their hand at modeling.

  9. Its all good. But many women don’t feel a strip club, there are 2 actually, is a healthy part of the solution and I agree.

  10. What a great story “on the right track”.It is about time that technology is used to help industry and commercial intallations to save as much energy as possible.I hope this city begins to install ground source heating as a way to cut back on energy demands.Why they alread associate with zero-footprint.Dr. Dembo a man I admire who is trying to help can help the city make a difference if only we had leaders with Vision.
    I remember installing one of the very first energy computers in a downtown restaurant(movenpick)quite a few years ago when energy efficiency didn’t mean anything.Once installed it saved the restaurant 30% of their electricity consumption.As well the first halogen energy saving fixtures were installed and were considered a novelty(now millions are used).Toronto hydro officials wanted to charge me with meter tampering because they didn’t even realize that it was possible to control consumption in such a manner.You should see their eyes when I explained the system to them.I think they went home wondering why they didn’t think of it first LOLOLOL.Ok people its your turn now.Watch how you use energy,its important and its easy,just flick off!

  11. hey Kevin the neighbors around Jilly wish that it would be transformed into “THE DRAKE II”.The days of the strip clubs are in the past, maybe guys can find another way to get their jollies instead of drinking and hanging at these places.But the city helping out the Lancaster doesn’t surprise me one bit.What were they thinking?Or were they?

  12. I live at Bloor & Lansdowne in view of the HOL. They are not the problem in this neighbourhood. Two bars — “Duffy’s” and the “Kiss Cup” – are huge problems, attracting very sketchy people, drug dealers etc. who hang out on the street in front.

    This neighbourhood needs every penny of investment that council can find.

  13. I think the Coffee Time ends up being an “office” as well…

  14. I’m also concerned about the look of the $12 500 facade. Columns and ceramic tile? This better not be cheesy. To the naysayers, the new facade might make the place more attractive to potential entrepreneurs if the House of Lancaster closes. Provided it doesn’t look cheesy.