The Globe and Mail

A drawback to being an architourist is that one can never stroll blissfully unaware of one's surroundings. As I walk dense urban streets or even spread-out suburban thoroughfares, I'm constantly on the lookout for vintage neon signs, store logos fossilized in terrazzo (both covered in this space before), new infill construction, and old buildings awaiting new life ... or the wrecker's ball. Of particular interest are old buildings that would make for great condominium conversions. For instance, while looking for parking near Queen Street and Broadview Avenue, I turned onto Saulter Street, which dead-ends at the railroad tracks. On the west side are typical Toronto "bay-n-gable" homes; most of the east side, however, is the former home of the Maydwell Manufacturing Co., a wood mouldings fabricator.