One Project That Could Transform Your City...

[aastra]

Sounds like a certain mayor doesn't know shit. Toronto's waterfront used to be a giant rail-yard and parking lots.

I figured as much. Thanks for the info!

Edit: So what do Torontonians makes of the assessment by the "Project for Public Spaces" (www.pps.org)? They claim "development led by private investment threatens to turn Toronto's great waterfront into a tourist spectacle worthy of the Hall of Shame."

Exactly when were the railyards and parking lots turned into "Toronto's great waterfront"? I'd be interested in knowing when the rehab started and whether or not it's been one continuous process of redevelopment. PPS.org makes it sound like the waterfront had been redeveloped into a gem already; they seem to object to the ongoing development??

Private development has resulted in a barrier of condo high-rises, which blocks the view of the water from the rest of Toronto and creates a psychological barrier for the general public. While the stores and amenities that are being installed on the first floor of these developments increases mixed-use of the area, chain stores and franchise establishments detract from any sort of local character.

[Boris2k7]

Originally Posted by MonkeyRonin

20 bucks says Calgary is next in line for a Cityplace.

But what about those 4 huge lots to the northwest of the CBD, whats planned for there? Looks like it could be prime real estate.

One of them has Centennial Place going up on them (the Southeastern lot, just west of Canterra).

[CCF]

Railyard removal linking downtown to the Warehouse district, allowng both areas to develop together. As well, in its place how about a new home for the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

[raggedy13]

Personally, and I'm sure I'm not alone, I think there are already a ton of great projects going on in Vancouver that will and are in the process of transforming the city (and over a very short timeframe), especially when considering them collectively, including...

1) New Skytrain line (with another merely awaiting funding to commence construction and a third currently a very high priority)
2) Streetcar network
3) Three new tallests
4) Convention centre expansion
5) New stadium (Whitecaps)
6) Several significant new hotels
7) Port expansion
8) Airport expansion
9) Downtown Eastside redevelopment
10) Southeast False Creek (Olympic Village) neighbourhood development
11) New "Cultural Precinct"
12) New Vancouver Art Gallery facility (part of Cult. Prec.)
13) Hosting Olympic Games and related venues
14) Probably something else I forgot

The only thing I can really think of that would help to round out that list would be a couple new architecturally significant/tall office towers downtown.

[WaterlooInvestor]

Originally Posted by Cambridgite

Hmm, light rail transit.
http://transitea.region.waterloo.on.ca/

I agree. Waterloo's LRT will really transform the city

[GreatTallNorth2]

Did I not say ONE project?

I agree with you. Instead of doing several projects, put the whole amount of them in my Bank account. This will be the best project for my city to me.

[MTLskyline]

- Redevelopment of the port/harbour front (something done about Silo No. 5), and integrate Old Montreal and Griffintown better with downtown.

[Wooster]

Originally Posted by MonkeyRonin

20 bucks says Calgary is next in line for a Cityplace.

But what about those 4 huge lots to the northwest of the CBD, whats planned for there? Looks like it could be prime real estate.

Actually, rumor has it that Concord Pacific bought the plot of land where the third phase of the Princeton project was supposed to go, right near those four big parking lots in Eau Claire. I'm hoping that Oxford, who owns that that land sells the two closest to the river to concord to develop. Who knows.

[borgo100]

Toronto Waterfront Viaduct

http://www.toviaduct.com/Solution.htm

and in Barrie, to lift the highrise restrictions

[HomeInMyShoes]

Originally Posted by CCF

Railyard removal linking downtown to the Warehouse district, allowng both areas to develop together. As well, in its place how about a new home for the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

I'd go one further and do the whole rail line relocation like they planned decades ago to get rid of the railyard and the lines. What a sweet area that could be created between the CBD and the warehouse area.

[WHISTLERINMUSKOKA]

Originally Posted by josh white

Actually, rumor has it that Concord Pacific bought the plot of land where the third phase of the Princeton project was supposed to go, right near those four big parking lots in Eau Claire. I'm hoping that Oxford, who owns that that land sells the two closest to the river to concord to develop. Who knows.

That would be awesome! You need more residential along the river, and Concord for the most part does an alright job.

[MistyMountainHop]

A good right winger to play with the Sedins.



500th post!

[SFUVancouver]

A Greater Vancouver regional passenger ferry system

A regional passenger ferry system would be a game-changing addition to the regional transportation network. Nearly every major employment and population centre in the region has river or harbour frontage or is on a SkyTrain corridor that connects with the water at several points. We have rivers and harbours connecting the entire region and yet the only waterborne form of public transit is the SeaBus, a pair of catamaran ferries than connect North Vancouver with the downtown Vancouver waterfront across Burrard Inlet. The SeaBus has been at capacity since the late 70s and only now is the construction of a third vessel on the books.

Imagine what this region could be like if you could take passenger ferries like the SeaBus from Deep Cove to Port Moody, from Park Royal to the foot of Burrard Street, from Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows to New Westminster and on to Richmond and YVR, from Tswassan to Steveston and Richmond YVR. More seaworthy vessels could connect Squamish, Lions Bay and Park Royal with downtown Vancouver.

[Kevin_foster]

Century Park
OR
Jasper East

Both are realities....

[DC83]

for Hamilton, it would be an LRT System from McMaster University (to the west) out to Eastgate Square (in Stoney Creek, east of the city).

This would get people on public transit and intensify the enitre lower (below the mountain) inner-city! *prays to Allah for an LRT System*

Originally Posted by DC83

for Hamilton, it would be an LRT System from McMaster University (to the west) out to Eastgate Square (in Stoney Creek, east of the city).

This would get people on public transit and intensify the enitre lower (below the mountain) inner-city! *prays to Allah for an LRT System*

I could really see an LRT system doing wonders for the Hammer. Hamilton has a built form that's quite dense and grid-oriented. In all honesty, it's built form is probably more transit-supportive than KW's. At the same time, there's more vacant land and underutilized properties as well. I would love to see Hamilton get LRT, as long as it doesn't steal funding from Waterloo Region . I could see some awesome mixed-use corridors evolving along King and James Streets and continuing for quite a distance each way. Has this idea or any similar ones been discussed by politicians?

[DC83]

Originally Posted by Cambridgite

I could really see an LRT system doing wonders for the Hammer. Hamilton has a built form that's quite dense and grid-oriented. In all honesty, it's built form is probably more transit-supportive than KW's. At the same time, there's more vacant land and underutilized properties as well. I would love to see Hamilton get LRT, as long as it doesn't steal funding from Waterloo Region . I could see some awesome mixed-use corridors evolving along King and James Streets and continuing for quite a distance each way. Has this idea or any similar ones been discussed by politicians?

They've JUST established a commitee for BRT. But that BS! We need LRT NOW!! At least through the East-West corridor.

BRT is fine for North-South, especially up the mountain along Upper James to the Airport!

[Coldrsx]

Originally Posted by josh white

Actually, rumor has it that Concord Pacific bought the plot of land where the third phase of the Princeton project was supposed to go, right near those four big parking lots in Eau Claire. I'm hoping that Oxford, who owns that that land sells the two closest to the river to concord to develop. Who knows.

i had heard that a while back...but had it dispelled from the source.

I wish concord would buy up all East Jasper

[DizzyEdge]

Originally Posted by Bassic Lab

....Of course that might count as more than one project, so there is something I'd like to see on a smaller scale, that while not really transforming the city would atleast transform a neighborhood. That would be the moving ACAD to the former Molson Brewery site with dorms biult over student galleries (and other services) along 9th ave. It would solve the issue of finally providing ACAD with its own space, really make Inglewood alive, and fill the brutal holes in 9th aves street scape. I already mentioned this idea, I think it was in the last thread we had about choosing one thing to change your city.
....

Now that would be cool