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Buzz Talk with urbandreamer [INTERVIEW]



BuzzBuzzHome Corp.
July 6, 2011

Who is urbandreamer?

That’s something that everyone who loves Toronto development gossip and news would like to know. The mysterious figure, known only through his Twitter handle @urban__dreamer and his presence on development forums, is a great source of development industry and real estate news and is a true architecture, design and urban issues enthusiast. He also guards his true identity with a Batman-esque zeal.

We still don’t know where he gets all the amazing info that he tweets, but we hope this BuzzTalk will provide some insight into the enigma that is urbandreamer.
Enjoy!

BuzzBuzzHome:Do you work in the development industry?


urbandreamer:No. I’m an outsider.

BBH: Whydoes the development industry interest you — and has it always?

UD:I’ve always been interested in architecture, from 12thcentury English castles to modern office blocks so my interest inthe business starts with aesthetics and ends with lasting legacies. Nothing lasts as long on Earth as a well-crafted building! Architecture runs in my blood—my family history going backcenturies has been practising architects, although the past fewgenerations not so much… I want to continue this legacy…

Eversince I was a child — perhaps aged six or so when I became aware ofmy greater surroundings — I’ve been nuts for new development and bigcity living, starting first playing in my giant sandbox with all mytoys — Lego, Tinkertoy, diggers and dump trucks constructing newroads and buildings; watching houses and barns under construction inthe surrounding countryside — yes even farmers are competitivebuilding ever taller silos, larger barns and storage sheds, new homesto impress their buddies etc; the sense of excitement andanticipation of the big city upon spotting the CN Tower from the 401on trips to Toronto; then as a young teenager watching Vaughan andWaterloo become a sprawling mess — but at the time just naivelyexcited to see builder’s billboards proclaiming the next greatpeaceful suburban dream; later as a keen art student gravitatingtowards drawing cars and buildings rather than people. 
I spent manynights as a teenager pouring over maps then drawing another layerwith planned streets, buildings, subdivisions etc. — what would’ve ledto a career in urban planning had I known such a field existed!

Finally, having moved to Toronto in the mid-90s I spent many nightson long solitary walks from the Annex to Forest Hill, the Bridlepath,or Parkdale and beyond taking in the streetscape, new retail shops,the built form, new developments along the way, the urban decay andimagining what I’d do with the site… To this day, nothing invigorates my passion for good urbandevelopment more than walking the streets of the city findingrelationships between buildings, the street and vacant spacesdreaming of what I’d do with strip plazas, empty lots, even olderbuildings if I was a developer.

BBH: Whyhas your interest never provoked a desire to work in the industry?

UD:I was a very shy child, and I suppose feeling the misunderstoodoutsider, never was surrounded by folks that shared my interest, andthus never knew exactly how to enter the industry. Joiningurbantoronto almost a decade ago opened my eyes to a whole new world,where folks actually thought the things I did, or gasp! made a livingfrom it! But it was easy to play the anonymous critic on thesesites rather than participate in a related career.


AsI get older I’m becoming keenly aware I will one day be in thisbusiness, because nothing else quite frankly interests me! I believeI’m taking steps towards that goal, as you’ll see later… IdeallyI’d love to be a boutique developer, doing innovative small scaledevelopments. Realistically, I love research and the thrill of beingfirst to discover a new project or potential site, so working on theresearch side of the business is a logical first step.

BBH:What are your thoughts, generally, on the Toronto condominium scene?

UD:The condominium scene in Toronto overall is made up of a tightnetwork of insiders, conservative business folk where sadly, only thebottom line seems to matter. There are signs of change though, fromfolks like Brad Lamb or Peter Freed or Symmetry Developments or UrbanCapital’s River City, that good design can be a central part of thebusiness. Nonetheless, even though many eyesores and mediocrebuildings have gone up over the past decade’s boom, the end result isan increasingly vibrant city with more pedestrians, bars, cafes,galleries and such that make life worthwhile, and increasinglyeducated condo buyer willing to buy quality designed projects.


Thereis a danger the city is being overbuilt — I think we’ll see a fairlylarge correction within a few years, as all these new developersstart to launch projects — usually a sign of a market top. Everything is a cycle, so it’s all good for the long term health ofthe business.

BBH:What resources do you use for your research? You seem to knoweverything!

UD:Google! Seriously though, almost everything is online, although someof it is worth paying for! There’s still some expensive material outthere that one day I’d love to subscribe to as an industryprofessional — Loopnet, Urbanation, NRU and other urban issuespublications.


BBH:If you were to lead a condominium project somewhere in the GTA wherewould it be and what would it include feature and amenity-wise?

UD:I’d like to lead a multi-phased-project featuring an architect Ilove — Peter Clewes or Montreal’s Saucier+Perotte — using a materialthis city was built with — red brick — with appropriate scale — 8-10sis perfect — filling in a dreary, but accessible hole in the urbanfabric, ideally creating a continuous streetwall. One such street indire need of change is Bathurst Street, really anywhere south ofSteeles would do, but why not start around Bathurst and Bloor to QueenStreet West…? Those rundown rooming houses along that strip make thevibrancy of Spadina and East instantly forgettable… depressing so itneeds to change!


Thebest feature of a project should be design, meaning exterioraesthetic considerations. The exterior must be classicallybeautiful, able to withstand decades and hopefully centuries ofchange. Well-designed units — meaning the standard rectanglefloorplan of classic 1960s slab towers as a basic template — withaccessible retail at the bottom of each building with easy transitaccess is ideal. The neighbouring community should provide the bestamenities money can buy! Cafes, attractive parks and public squares,grocery stores, pubs, libraries etc.

BBH:In your opinion how has the dominance of the condominium in downtownToronto changed the city both aesthetically and in terms of acommunity?

UD:While many of these buildings have inferior architecture — LibertyVillage area in particular stands out — what anembarrassment! — overall the vibrancy of downtown has changedconsiderably over the years with all these new folks moving intocondos. The city has come alive, and can only increase in vitality! 


Even the much-derided City Place has a purpose — it’s like taking a stroll through Coal Harbour or Yaletown without the view! I think the main downsides of all these condos is 1) the disconnect between condo dwellers and traditional single family housing owners and 2) the overall poor street level integration with large driveways taking up so much space, cheap landscaping, inferior retail spaces and large pointless lobbies. The added density has brought demand for new public spaces, libraries, better transit, and as the market matures with larger units suitable for raising families, modern schools.

BBH: You invented the term ‘render porn’. What does it mean and how do you decide which one is designated centre-spread of the week?


UD:Ishould clarify. I have seen the term renderporn used for a number ofyears on real estate/condo forums such as SkyscraperCity, SkyscraperPage and UrbanToronto, and can’t claim to have invented it! Geeky online forummembers have sometimes referred to conceptual renderings of largeprojects as renderporn — yeah a form of porn ha!

However,beginning April 2011, I created the@RenderPornStar concept, melding the idea of thehot new condo rendering with great architecture and thus making it aRenderPornStar! Every Monday I pick a RenderPornStar of the Weekbased on my elitist (ha!) view of great architecture, and at the endof the year, I shall have the RenderPornStar of the Year!

I’manticipating having an annual awards show, probably the last Mondayin December, at any event space, gallery or pub willing to tolerate abunch of architecture snobs and developers, architects and renderartists associated with my weekly picks! Thus a RenderPornStarstarts not with a great render but rather with great architecture! It’s my contribution to the development industry — good design andquality renderings need to be promoted!


BBH:What area of Toronto do you call home?

UD:I live in BLAH — that’s Bloor and High Park area, yeah it’s kindablah! But it’s close to two subway stops, decent bus and streetcarconnections, my job, vibrant and trendy areas like Bloor WestVillage, Roncesvalles, the Junction, Blansdowne and has an upcomingproject I rather like by Daniels, and the Address at High Park isdecent infill too! It feels removed from the city —which I bothlove and loathe — but I’ve got a great city view to remind me where Iam!


BBH:Will you always remain anonymous on the web?

UD:This is a tough one. On the one hand, the mystery is intriguing forthe audience, but on the other, does it set back my careeraspirations in the real estate/development world?

IfI decide to openly pursue a career in real estate, I’m open to beingexposed!

Thanks to urbandreamer for taking the time to BuzzTalk with us! If you’re curious, he didn’t reveal his true identity to us, so don’t bother asking :)

Posted on July 6, 2011 | buzzhomeblog Posted in Uncategorized |