While power-walking through my childhood neighborhood, it became clear to me that soon there will be very little of the original community remaining. This is one of the last remaining 1960s era apartment buildings in the area. This block used to contain dozens of low-rise buildings. Most were removed during the 1980s to build a couple of low-rise office buildings and some high rise residential condominiums. Only three buildings remain. The above photo is one of the three remaining buildings. All three are now undergoing demolition to be replaced by high rise residential condominium buildings.
The houses in the community were originally a mix of small, post-war bungalows, and other styles built during the 1950s through 1960s. By the late 1970s, large homes started popping up. Throughout the 80s and 90s, even larger homes came along. By the 2010s, I would say that two-thirds of the original houses have now been replaced by 6,000 square-foot monster homes. Even the monster homes from the 1980s are starting to be replaced.
The community is no longer one where the middle class can afford to live. Thanks to the influx of over-sized houses and overpriced condominium apartments, the character of the community has changed forever.
One positive that I see is the massive increase in retail. Prior to the major redevelopment, there were shops lining the main street, three open-air strip plazas, and one indoor shopping centre. The main street was not vibrant. On Sundays most stores were closed and hardly anybody could be seen along the main street.
Today, the plazas are gone, but there is far more retail located at the base of the condominiums. There are more restaurants, cafes, and bars than ever before.
There are still many pockets of the big city where virtually no change has occurred. Most of those areas still retain their original charm and memories, but lack street life as there are no vibrant strips of retail and entertainment.
While I lament the loss of my community’s original character, I do enjoy the new vibrancy of our main street. I still enjoy walking and running along the tree-lined side streets reminiscing about the old days. Houses and apartments may be destroyed, but memories last forever.