Re Kitchener (before it fades back into its usual obscurity),this is the one and only spot Downtown that I know of that gives an illusion of urban density. I love the refurbished ramp on the parking garage! The hydro wires are temporary pending utilities work for the LRT project.

http://i40.tinypic.com/14mdpn5.jpg

Pretty cool photo of Saint John, New Brunswick from last month or so.





EDIT: and a cool ominous looking one!

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8263/8...27c618d8_b.jpg
From Blue Rock, With Love by darkharbour, on Flickr

Here is a picture I took of Guelph when I lived there. You are right, nothing much for a Skyline, which is due to laws that prevent anything from being built higher than Our Lady Immaculate downtown. Though, council is starting to allow proposals. When I left an apartment was beginning construction downtown. The downtown has some beautiful density, and an amazing set of historic buildings though.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7008/6...12c81fcd_b.jpg

That's one good thing height restrictions are SOMETIMES good for: improving downtown density. Imagine how much more valuable every parking lot in Canada's major cities would be and how much more likely to be developed at maximum allowed height if you cut every skyscraper off at 10 floors and had to find the extra space.

But it certainly doesn't prevent sprawl. I assume it might even contribute to it.

St John looks great in those shots! (And totally puts my -- bigger -- hometown to shame.)

Why would that improve downtown density? Two 10-floor buildings and one 20-floor building and a parking lot, that's the exact same density. And you have a freebie parking lot in the second case...

Height restrictions are also going to make the difference between some projects being a go or not (too few stories and the business case doesn't fly)... so that means more downtown vacant lots.

I think that the new Guelph Civic Museum incorporates an 1850s convent that's up on the hill with the church. I'm hoping to nip over for a visit next week and reacquaint myself with downtown Guelph. Lots of beautiful 19th century stone buildings, as I recall.

I certainly think there are more spots than just that one but here are a few relating pictures regardless.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7047/8...384c5242_c.jpg
North End by Matt M S, on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8405/8...4f6b4381_c.jpg
Helix by Matt M S, on Flickr

Thunder Bay's north downtown actually has a height limit based on sea level as opposed to building heights, which results in a situation where buildings get taller as you approach the lakes, but the view from lookouts behind downtown is unobstructed by them; all the roofs are near the same height. It has decent density for a city of 5,000 people.

The other downtown has a height limit in place because it is under the airport's flight path, and it's a hell hole.

In terms of historic buildings I personally believe that Guelph rivals if not surpasses any city in Ontario. It really is beautiful, and is one of the reasons that I chose to spend the remainder of my Ontario there. It also reminds me of a miniature Winnipeg, with the historic buildings, the layout and the rivers. The Church did in fact turn the convent into a museum. A reno/resto that turned out quite nice.

The effects of height limits are pretty complicated. They can make parking lots less valuable for example by reducing the return on new construction.

I think they only make sense if they serve a direct purpose in terms of preserving views or sunlight for public property.

Saskatoon, SK

Full photo tour (still) on the way later this summer.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7344/9...ef60e6ee_b.jpg

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3689/9...c0798f9d_b.jpg

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2851/9...ed7b39e6_b.jpg

Bessborough hotel totally makes the 'toon skyline shine.

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3757/9...9492a84a_b.jpg
Monter sur les Plaines... par Etolane, sur Flickr

That's quite the nice fountain!

http://i.imgur.com/w5XUaYj.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/ap7z9Uh.jpg

London's a fine town. Somebody really needs to do a photo tour post haste. Really underrepresented on SSP.

I miss how clean cut London's downtown is. What I don't miss is seeing Farhi's name on absolutely everything.

Absolutely

On the topic of London, betcha few Canadians know its metro area is nearly 500,000. That's bigger than Halifax, Victoria, Regina, Saskatoon, etc. And yet on the national scene, it's almost completely obscure.

Give us a tour already!