Quote:
Originally Posted by OldDartmouthMark
I think that's a valid concern, actually. I've often wondered if the Marriott Hotel is the reason that waterfront pedestrian traffic pretty much stops at the north end of the boardwalk, even though it continues around the perimeter of the building. The hotel feels like a barrier to the pedestrian rather than a continuation of the boardwalk.
That said, there's not much to do beyond there, except to go to the casino (which is more easily accessed through the pedways IMHO). So it may not be blamed entirely on the hotel's layout.
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When the Marriott was built in the early '80s, was there even a boardwalk?
The entire thing is ill-conceived IMO. This is one of my long-standing complaints about the ballyhooed waterfront. The newer sections at the south end are better because they were actually conceived from the start as a boardwalk, but there is little of interest along the way. Once you hit Summit Place there are more points of interest but there are a number of dipsy-doodles you need to take along the way or else you will tumble into the harbour. Then you hit the Ferry Terminal area and Historic Properties and it all falls apart. A narrow passage behind the terminal leads you into a bottleneck behind that little park, then you bang square into the ill-conceived food court building that makes you go inside it to pass through unless you want to go all the way around. Then the former Bluenose slip at Historic Properties requires another detour before you run into the Marriott and pretty much the end of the line. I think the whole thing needs a rethink. Not that it should be a completely straight line but there are a number of changes that are needed to improve flow and make it more welcoming.
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