St. John's Photo Odds & Ends

[Architype]

A few images from May-June.
Water Street:
http://www.pbase.com/joecanada/image/80940945/original.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/joecanada/image/80945595/original.jpg
Possibly the most expensive condo building in the city:
http://www.pbase.com/joecanada/image/80945597/original.jpg
Views from Cabot Tower:
http://www.pbase.com/joecanada/image/80945599/original.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/joecanada/image/80541252/original.jpg
This was a good year for icebergs:
http://www.pbase.com/joecanada/image/80540261/original.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/joecanada/image/79646941/original.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/joecanada/image/80645076/original.jpg
New lighting was put on the Basilica last year:
http://www.pbase.com/joecanada/image/80712534/original.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/joecanada/image/79644326/large.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/joecanada/image/80714239/large.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/joecanada/image/80541251/original.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/joecanada/image/80585800/original.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/joecanada/image/80540258/original.jpg
Duckworth Street:
http://www.pbase.com/joecanada/image/80540259/original.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/joecanada/image/80585801/original.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/joecanada/image/80585803/large.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/joecanada/image/80585804.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/joecanada/image/80644176/original.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/joecanada/image/80540262/original.jpg

Capital Theatre Building:
http://www.pbase.com/joecanada/image/80294807/original.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/joecanada/image/80294808/original.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/joecanada/image/80541248.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/joecanada/image/80541250.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/joecanada/image/80540260.jpg
Torbay:
http://www.pbase.com/joecanada/image/80834900/original.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/joecanada/image/80781344/original.jpg
Cape Spear:
http://www.pbase.com/joecanada/image/80199389/original.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/joecanada/image/80378664/original.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/joecanada/image/80491035/original.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/joecanada/image/79998318/original.jpg
Penitentiary & Cemetary, downtown East End in background:
http://www.pbase.com/joecanada/image/80843919.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/joecanada/image/80843917/large.jpg
Newfoundland Hydro Building in the West End:
http://www.pbase.com/joecanada/image/80843914.jpg

Around Quidi Vidi:
http://www.pbase.com/joecanada/image/80843908.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/joecanada/image/80843905.jpg
Circular Road is a street of Victorian mansions:
http://www.pbase.com/joecanada/image/80843902.jpg

[someone123]

That theatre building is interesting. It reminds me of a building in Calgary that I've seen pictures of on the forum. Did you say it was going to be restored..? What kind of work will they be doing to it?

[mmmatt]

beautiful pictures! I went to St Johns a few years back and I loved it, I even climbed this random cliff in front of signal hill lol...and I got lost in this neighbourhood for like 3 hours walking around and ended up at a trail by some apartment buildings which took me over some hills with beautiful cliffs and such and I eventually ended up at signal hill (I was going back on a seperate day and trying a different route lol).

[Architype]

That theatre building is interesting. It reminds me of a building in Calgary that I've seen pictures of on the forum. Did you say it was going to be restored..? What kind of work will they be doing to it?

The Capital theatre is to be restored as a 500 seat venue, to the tune of 3 milliion, with the remaining space devoted to the arts community. The largest downtown theatre venue at present (excluding the stadium) is the 160 seat LSPU Hall. This is a good sign for Art Deco/Nouveau Modern era restoration and the arts community. The theatre entrance is at the upper end (other side) of the building. I hope they do some historically acurate cosmetic restoration to the exterior of the building as well.

http://www.thetelegram.com/index.cfm?sid=34810&sc=82

beautiful pictures! I went to St Johns a few years back and I loved it, I even climbed this random cliff in front of signal hill lol...and I got lost in this neighbourhood for like 3 hours walking around and ended up at a trail by some apartment buildings which took me over some hills with beautiful cliffs and such and I eventually ended up at signal hill (I was going back on a seperate day and trying a different route lol).

Sounds like you were lost somewhere between the Battery and Quidi Vidi Village. That whole area has lots of potential, and will soon be the most expensive real estate in the city. Anything available there now is being developed as speculative townhousing or low rise condos.

[Canasian]

Very nice photos Architype-
It is also interseting looking at a place that is somewhat more familiar then when I got here- and you got the odd looking condo on Quidi Vidi Lake!
There was a Charette which involved the harbourfront last Sat. that alas I missed-
I love the pics, keep posting, and I'm shooting almost daily myself, last weekend I hiked the East Coast trail and hung out with some new friends in Pouch Cove.
I love the dusk shot of Signal Hill Rd!

[Architype]

Thanks - I might add some more to this thread if I find some more interesting ones.

[kwajo]

Fantastic photos, they are making me more and more excited about moving to St. John's! I think I'll be making the trip to The Rock in late July to find a place to live, and I'm really looking forward to seeing the city in person for the first time.

Thanks again for posting these shots, and keep posting new ones! :)

[keninhalifax]

Hey, great pictures! I'm salivating now about my trip in September.

[Architype]

A few more;

Harbour from Battery:
http://www.pbase.com/joecanada/image/81166428/original.jpg
Battery Road:
http://www.pbase.com/joecanada/image/81166355/original.jpg
Hospital & Memorial University from Mt.Scio:
http://www.pbase.com/joecanada/image/81166357/original.jpg
Signal Hill:
http://www.pbase.com/joecanada/image/81166424/original.jpg

[Architype]

Battery:
http://www.pbase.com/joecanada/image/81383653/original.jpg
Signal Hill:
http://www.pbase.com/joecanada/image/81383365/original.jpg
From Signal Hill:
http://www.pbase.com/joecanada/image/81385733/original.jpg
From Mt. Scio:
http://www.pbase.com/joecanada/image/81385734/original.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/joecanada/image/81501915/original.jpg

[kwajo]

Looking for help here from the Newfoundlanders on the board. I've never visited St. John's, but I'm heading to Grad school at MUN in September and I need some advice about finding a place to live in the city. I'm wondering what you can tell me about neighbourhoods in St. John's, where the nicer places are, what places to avoid, maybe some personal favourites, etc. Also, any additional information you want to throw in would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

[Architype]

Looking for help here from the Newfoundlanders on the board. I've never visited St. John's, but I'm heading to Grad school at MUN in September and I need some advice about finding a place to live in the city. I'm wondering what you can tell me about neighbourhoods in St. John's, where the nicer places are, what places to avoid, maybe some personal favourites, etc. Also, any additional information you want to throw in would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!
If you don't have a car, it's best to live close to MUN, as public transit is not great - the surrounding neighbourhoods are mostly from the 50's & 60's, and many of the houses are rented privately to students. If you want a character neighbourhood, they are between MUN and the downtown, it would be about a 20 - 30 minute walk. There are only a few apartment buildings within walking distance. Also, the nicest areas adjacent are to the East and Southeast of the University (that's geographically Northeast and East).

[worldlyhaligonian]

Very nice pictures, its the second best city (besides Halifax) east of Montreal for sure. What kind of $$ does a victorian mansion go for?

[gatt]

nice photos.

[Architype]

Very nice pictures, its the second best city (besides Halifax) east of Montreal for sure. What kind of $$ does a victorian mansion go for?

Maybe +-$500,000.

[someone123]

Very nice pictures, its the second best city (besides Halifax) east of Montreal for sure. What kind of $$ does a victorian mansion go for?

Well, there's also Quebec City.

St. John's looks much better off than either Moncton or Saint John, probably because it is relatively isolated and the only city in Newfoundland. Amenities and investment that are spread over three cities in NB are concentrated in one city Newfoundland.

One thing I have noticed about St. John's is that it is very town-like. Even the central area has a lot of smaller scale wooden structures. This is not the case in Saint John, where the Victorian-era buildings were 4-6 storey brick blocks and where there have been some taller buildings constructed since. Saint John used to be a significantly larger city but has grown less quickly so it is smaller today and its heritage buildings stock is in worse shape.

[kwajo]

If you don't have a car, it's best to live close to MUN, as public transit is not great - the surrounding neighbourhoods are mostly from the 50's & 60's, and many of the houses are rented privately to students. If you want a character neighbourhood, they are between MUN and the downtown, it would be about a 20 - 30 minute walk. There are only a few apartment buildings within walking distance. Also, the nicest areas adjacent are to the East and Southeast of the University (that's geographically Northeast and East).
Thanks! I think I'll see what I can find in the area in-between the university and downtown, so I be in the heart of the city. I'm sure I'll get a better feel for things when I fly to St. John's at the beginning of August.

I probably won't have a car, so your comment on public transit interests me. Do you feel the system is at least on par for a city on its size, or is noticeably lacking? Here in Saint John, though we have a decent system, I find I end up walking or biking everywhere and I'd like to continue to do so.

[Architype]

Well, there's also Quebec City.

St. John's looks much better off than either Moncton or Saint John, probably because it is relatively isolated and the only city in Newfoundland. Amenities and investment that are spread over three cities in NB are concentrated in one city Newfoundland.

One thing I have noticed about St. John's is that it is very town-like. Even the central area has a lot of smaller scale wooden structures. This is not the case in Saint John, where the Victorian-era buildings were 4-6 storey brick blocks and where there have been some taller buildings constructed since. Saint John used to be a significantly larger city but has grown less quickly so it is smaller today and its heritage buildings stock is in worse shape.
St. John's was never planned (in a grid) the way Halifax or Saint john were, and that, along with the many hills, accounts for it having a very different picturesque and interesting feel, the downtown is spread out in a linear fashion along the steep slopes which didn't leave much room for easy development. I think for the size of the city it is ok - if all the largest buildings were grouped together as in most cities, it would feel more urban like. There are areas near downtown, which I don't have many pictures of which are really nice, with lots of trees and well kept upper middle class homes. Some parts of downtown do feel more like a city than a town though.

@Kwajo - the transportation system serves the University from different directions, but if you want to use it you should make sure you live near a bus route where no transfering is required - that's my take on it. The bus routes don't seem to follow a very intuitive pattern, as the absence of a grid street pattern makes it that way. If you want to appreciate the character of the city, just stay away from any areas built after 1949. :)

[skyscraper_1]

Omg! A mini 1901 Hollis!

http://www.pbase.com/joecanada/image/80644176/original.jpg


Great pictures, I would love to go to St John's. It is has some very unique neighborhoods!

[wisla_krakow]

Beautiful city.
I loved both threads.

[Canasian]

Awesome!!! You captured my workplace- Confederation Bldg westblock!!! And all it's 1980's beauty! (Or late 70's?)
Nice pics Architype!!

[mylesmalley]

Great shots. I've always liked how haphazard St John's looks in photos.

[Smevo]

A late reply is better than no reply. Great shots Architype. I always enjoy your St. John's threads.