Great cities recycle buildings, by Christopher Hume (Toronto ...

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Indeed, there are many examples of heritage properties having been adapted to new uses and becoming wildly successful in the process. Generally, the only limits are those of imagination, a quality in short supply in this city. Despite all the brave talk about Toronto, Creative City, we tend to be anything but. Developers and architects are much happier dealing with an empty site than having to figure how to rework an existing building. Owners live in fear that their properties will be designated as heritage buildings, which might lower the value.

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At the same time, the heritage preservation community is often unwilling to compromise, to allow changes lest the integrity of the original be lost.

However honourable its intentions, the fact remains that the best, in fact, the only way to ensure the survival of heritage buildings is to keep them in use.

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Countless old factories and warehouses find new life as lofts, offices, art galleries or restaurants. Who's complaining?

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