Quote:
Originally Posted by Trans Canada
With hindsight, demolishing neighbourhoods is seen as urban decay, and thankfully we have learned that lesson. However demolishing neighbourhoods to build parking lots was at the time not urban decay but urban renewal. They were a tool to support office towers, stampede grounds, etc. Back in the day towers were THE thing, and brick buildings were out, so it made perfect sense to demolish the outdated (and run down) buildings to support the new.
|
Yes in hindsight I would agree, but I think we have to put in perspective. Maybe I thinking about urban decay on a much larger scale.
At the time of the boom, people weren't using the words urban renewal. It was just plain a boom and our city centre was getting rebuilt in the process.
I associate urban decay with whole centre being burnt out and everyone fleeing to the suburbs. And people were always lining up to put money into projects in our urban centre. The bust just delayed everything. There was a lot of loss, but that we due to the idea it was all going to be replaced with shiny new building. People had no idea the bust would come crashing down like it did.
Have we learned that lesson entirely... about clearing for parking lots before developing... not 100% sure. We will know in 20 years after the current boom.