Centre Mall -> The Centre on Barton

[raisethehammer]

Originally Posted by Jon Dalton

If it's anything like the new pseudo-street-fronting big box they're building near my work, the windows facing the street will be painted black and the walls will be covered with pipes and electrical meters.

Good times are coming....

there are NO windows. It's blank walls and steel rear doors.

[adam]

I'm going to try to do a good portion of holiday shopping on December 6th at James North Maker's Market.

[raisethehammer]

sounds awesome...i'll be out of town, but wish I could attend.
James North is slowly getting to the point where you can make a day out of it - good food, art, shopping, cafes etc.....

[Jon Dalton]

Originally Posted by raisethehammer

there are NO windows. It's blank walls and steel rear doors.

You're kidding. No windows along Barton Street?

[raisethehammer]

not that I can see. it literally is the BACK of the box stores. just like they look in the Meadowlands...only facing Barton.

[adam]

So we tore down a mall with useable indoor public space and replaced it with a huge parking lot and stores on the periphery of the parking lot? This doesn't sound like progress to me.

[ryan_mcgreal]

Originally Posted by raisethehammer

there are NO windows. It's blank walls and steel rear doors.

Any photos available yet?

[markbarbera]

Originally Posted by adam

So we tore down a mall with useable indoor public space and replaced it with a huge parking lot and stores on the periphery of the parking lot? This doesn't sound like progress to me.

The parking lot will actually be smaller than when it was an indoor shopping mall. There's also indoor public space in the food court building.

[adam]

How big is the new public indoor space?

[markbarbera]

big enough to seat 350

[markbarbera]

Originally Posted by ryan_mcgreal

Any photos available yet?

I found this photo posted on Flickr by flickr user Big Daddy 72:



Interesting to note that the mature trees lining Barton Street were kept intact.

Here's a shot of roughly the same stretch of Barton before construction, but from within the parking lot (Barton Street would be behind the photographer), so the perspective is slightly different (photo also by Big Daddy 72 of flickr)



Which makes a better streetwall for Barton?

[crhayes]

Originally Posted by markbarbera

Which makes a better streetwall for Barton?

Yeah that particular building seems to be very close to the street...I haven't been down there in a while but I know the bank was also fairly close.

I should go down soon and check it out!

[flar]

Well, it's certainly a wall. Along a street.

That doesn't make it a streetwall though. Having buildings built right up to the street is just the first step. The other ingredient is having entrances into the buildings, window displays and other things that create and inviting atmosphere and encourage street activity. This is no more effective in that regard than having a giant fence along Barton.

[crhayes]

Originally Posted by flar

Well, it's certainly a wall. Along a street.

That doesn't make it a streetwall though. Having buildings built right up to the street is just the first step. The other ingredient is having entrances into the buildings, window displays and other things that create and inviting atmosphere and encourage street activity. This is no more effective in that regard than having a giant fence along Barton.

Well it looks like there are plenty of entrances, but you are right about the displays....they would have been so easy to add too...

I think the reason the big box stores probably don't have displays like that is people generally go there knowing what they are looking for. Further, people generally know the types of items they sell, so they really don't have a HUGE reason to display their products (however, that doesn't mean they can't do it, and they should do it).

[markbarbera]

The doors along Barton are most likely service entrances. The plans show the public walkways and main entrances for that particular building to be along its north wall.

[MsMe]

Large walls is also an invitation for graffiti artists.

[flar]

All the entrances on Barton will say "Please use door on other side of building". As for windows, big box stores don't want to pay their employees to decorate windows. They're bare bones operations.

[markbarbera]

True, but the tenants of the buildings running along Barton Street are not big box stores per se. The bog box stores are lining the northern border of the property, abutting the CN rail.

[Jon Dalton]

That's a Hamilton Convention Centre style streetwall.

[raisethehammer]

Originally Posted by markbarbera

I found this photo posted on Flickr by flickr user Big Daddy 72:



Interesting to note that the mature trees lining Barton Street were kept intact.

Here's a shot of roughly the same stretch of Barton before construction, but from within the parking lot (Barton Street would be behind the photographer), so the perspective is slightly different (photo also by Big Daddy 72 of flickr)



Which makes a better streetwall for Barton?

neither. Dofasco has warehouses along ottawa st north. That doesn't mean it's a 'streetwall'.
It's shed along a street.