Tuesday, January 10, 2012

West Queen West


This shot of a sunny West Queen West street scape gives you an idea of the variety of businesses and architecture in the neighbourhood. The original cool part of Queen St West (to the east from here) has been taken over by chain stores like the Gap & Nike and upscale boutiques, forcing the artists further west to this area. The same thing is starting to happen here - Starbucks has opened and the rents are rising but it is still an interesting area to wander about in. Meanwhile the artists and galleries are heading a bit further west - a textbook example of the cycle of gentrification!

19 comments:

Lúcia said...

What a beautiful winter day!
Cool building! ;-)

Unknown said...

Really nice brick façades.

Jack said...

This looks like a neighborhood I would enjoy. Especially since a Starbucks is now there!

Yes, Lyme Disease was first identified in Lyme, Connecticut. One has to be careful in the woods in Connecticut.

Anonymous said...

This so much looks like a street in Amsterdam Red Pat!
Wow..specially the light fall on the houses with the stores underneath!

hamilton said...

I like how the rooflines of each building are just slightly higher or lower than their neighbour.

Halcyon said...

It's still one of my favorite areas to walk around in. Nice light here too!

jennyfreckles said...

It's interesting how places change over time - become more (or less) 'fashionable'. This looks like a street where it's worth looking up as well as at the shops.

ArtandArchitecture-SF.com said...

I have such mixed feelings about gentrification. It really does work in the favor of most everyone, but shoving artists out to the fringes always gets my goat. Looks like a wonderful place to explore.

Paul in Powell River said...

You're bringing back memories of my time in Ontario!

Regina K said...

Wonderful old buildings, my kind of area. I like how the height of each building gradually increases to the center. Great capture!

Melbourne Australia Photos said...

Lovely photo of these grand old buildings. Gentrification has a lot to answer for if the artists are forced to move on...

Lowell said...

I would love to spend a few days wandering about that neighborhood! I find it very attractive!

Randy said...

I really like that building!

Anonymous said...

I know this cycle all too well.

Anonymous said...

Like a lot of the buildings in Llandudno, indeed, lots of towns... the upper floors look just as they did when they were first built. But the ground floor facades are in complete contrast with their advertising hoardings, to what stands gloriously above.

PerthDailyPhoto said...

Hopefully not TOO far west for the galleries Red, progress is a strange and not always wonderful thing!

VioletSky said...

I am glad to see that Romni Wools is still around!

EG CameraGirl said...

Yeah, the little people make something trendy and then the BIG people take over. Doesn't seem fair!

Chrissy Brand said...

Artists lead and the chains follow-West Queen West looks a nice area.

Chrissy at Manchester: a photo a day at Mancunian Wave