Quote:
Originally Posted by Simplicity
Exactly. It's also worth mentioning in light of this year's incredible snow dump how unsuited the city is to any further development requiring back lanes. As soon as you rid yourself of front drives by relaxing setbacks in suburban communities, you're forced to pave and maintain a back lane for access. They're currently doing this in Waterford Green and they're going to live to regret it. Yes, it gives the streets a more neighbourhood feel - though, I'd argue River Heights is no more 'walkable' even with this configuration than say, East. Ft Garry with its driveways here and there - it contributes to the larger problem of managing future infrastructure.
It's an interesting dichotomy. Front drives push houses back, but they're the owner's problem at the very least...
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I think the bolded section of this quote could be removed and it would still be valid. This is similar to
the conjunction fallacy. As for statements on walkability and neighbourhood feel, I don't think adding a sidewalk that isn't cut by driveways makes a place any more or less walkable. You still won't have anywhere to walk. This is also the reason that I get mad when sidewalks that are heavily used get cut by driveways (see Hargrave parkade, hotel proposal at the creswin lot).
This is the reason I find "active transportation routes" kinda silly as well. Sure, people in EK can walk/run along the active transportation route along CPT extension... But where will they go?
These active transportation corridors are
exercise corridors, not for transportation.
Quote:
Originally Posted by rypinion
Actually, steveosnyder and I took a lengthy drive through Bridgwater on Saturday. While it is still mostly single family homes, it is a fair bit "better" than other suburbs in terms of the types of things this board usually appreciates. Front yards are small, houses aren't spread out at all, and lots of multi family. Houses were quite varied in appearance, and there was very little stucco.
Steve O may have more to say about it.
My opinion is that it'll come down to how Bridgwater Centre and Kenaston works out to decide how nice the development is.
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While I think the density of the neighbourhood wasn't too bad, density doesn't equate to anything. I think I mentioned it on the drive -- if the people who live in the neighbourhood still have to drive everywhere then the majority of their time will be spend in the car.
You can't have relationships with your neighbour if they are in their car all the time.
EDIT: Back to the topic -- winnipeg village area. Big alluded to the fact that the businesses there are sustained by the people who live there mostly. Does anyone know the actual numbers for this?