Urban Then and Now 🍁

Yonge and Gould, #Toronto. On the right is Sam the Record Man, iconic symbol of Toronto's music scene until the early 2000s. Sam's spinning neon discs can now be found at @YDSquare. Sam was replaced by @TorontoMet after closing in 2007. 1/2

Unfortunately, it was dismantled in 1943 after the movie theatre at its base caught fire. Local citizens banded together after WWII to build a new 108m tower in 1956, restoring the iconic landmark of the Shinsekai neighbourhood. (2/2) #japan #history

The original 75m @Tsutenkaku (通天閣) Tower in Ōsaka was Japan's tallest building when it was built in 1912, inspired by the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe. (1/2)

Dundas and Richmond, London, Canada // 1941 and 2023 Remembrance Day more than 80 years apart. #LdnOnt #RemembranceDay

Avant / Après Rue Jacques Hillairet dans le 12ème arrondissement de Paris

Dickens Street, Toxteth, 1911 and 2023 Taken from between Pickwick Street and Dombey Street

@XavierDStickler @PBOTinfo @bondy_bradley Was very cool to see this on my visit last week!

I'm so proud to announce that after several months of advocacy, the Oak St. slip lane downtown is officially closed and been turned into Pod Plaza!!! Thank you so much to @PBOTinfo for listening to the community, and @bondy_bradley for giving me the idea.

King W and Crawford, #Toronto, Canada // 1986 and 2023 #history #thenandnow

Banff, Alberta, Canada // c. 1925 and 2023 Looking north towards Cascade Mountain from Banff Avenue. #history #banff

@chafinhog @CarHelmets Yes, trucks drive on the road, but there are a far greater number of pedestrians stuck by motor vehicles than by smaller machines such as scooters and bikes.

@CarHelmets This personally without more reasoning is an odd argument as one of them, to my knowledge, is used on the road, while the other is used in pedestrian walkways. Meaning the likelihood of one hitting and injuring people is a bit more plausible for the scooter.

You can legally drive this 14,500 lb vehicle in every city in the US that has banned 35 lb e-scooters for "safety reasons" with the same exact license you received in high school. This country is consistently "exceptional" l in the worse sense of the word.

Whyte and 102nd, #Edmonton, Canada // 1977 and 2023

Milwaukee, 1975 & 2023 1500 households were evicted and their homes destroyed to clear the right of way for the Park West freeway through the city’s north side. Despite local opposition successfully stopping freeway construction, the area has never fully recovered.

White Ox Inn, London, Canada This building began life as an inn in 1854 thanks to G. Pegler's purchase of a farm plot. It also served as a cholera hospital for a short time. It was demolished in 1982 after multiple generations of ownership by the Butterworths. #ldnont #history

D A N G E R

Mineral Wells, Texas, then and now. Hollowed out by parking and high speed roads so drivers can get to big box stores at the edge of town. Entered into the "We Ruined Our Own Cities" file. 1/5

Correction: The historical photo was likely taken c. 1920, not c. 1945. The incorrect date was taken from the archival description.

Portage and Hargrave, #Winnipeg, Manitoba // c. 1945 and 2023

King survived but suffered head injuries from Kelley's shotgun. Kelley died the next day from his injury, and two men were arrested in connection with the robbery. #history 2/2

Bank of Toronto, Dundas and Ossington //1944 and 2023 Two men attempted to rob this Bank of #Toronto on this day in 1944. Accountant D.S. King was able to stop them in a duel, injuring one and scaring both off. 1/2