Gore Park

[flar]

^^those guys are always there. The only people who purposely walk by them are people looking for weed.

[Millstone]

Is that randomly-placed computer shop down there any good?

[omro]

Originally Posted by Millstone

Is that randomly-placed computer shop down there any good?

Alliance Computers? That's where I went. It had lots of little parts that you can't normally find except in speciality shops. To be honest I hadn't expected to find a shop like that here without having to buy the parts online and wait for delivery. I might even have had to do that in London, if I weren't willing to head to the speciality stores on Tottenham Court Road (a 30min commute by tube from my home). I needed a DVI-to-VGA converter and a current Serial ATA power to IDE style power converter.

The chap inside was very friendly and helpful. As to their prices, I don't know how much the parts would have cost in the UK for a comparison. However, they were certainly higher than eBay, but I'd have had to wait for the parts to be delivered from China and I needed them now. I must admit I didn't have much time to browse for the other stuff.

Overall impressions, a nice shop, I'd happily go back when I move here - if they indeed proved to be competitively priced.

[raisethehammer]

Originally Posted by crhayes

Yes that is true. I think that if they move the buses out of Gore and turn it into a pedestrian only area it will be a start. However they NEED something in Gore park to attract people there. We need something magnificent, like a big waterfall statue or a big Ferris Wheel or something. Another idea I had it if they built a lookout tower in Gore Park...something tall and beautiful that would allow people to go up and look over the city.

http://web.downtownvan.com/index.asp?p=11
-Obviously not built in this fashion, but you get the idea.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:London_Eye_Twilight_April_2006.jpg

I am not suggesting a ferris wheel to copy other cities - lol. But we need something crazy - and not just a cheap immitation - in order to be an icon for downtown.

I agree with this completely. Heck, I even like the idea of a ferris wheel. Who cares if other cities have done it?
Someone responded to my one-way streets comment above and had the usual, tired refrain of "on it's own that won't fix downtown". No kidding. Nobody said it would.
but it's a HUGE part of the problem.
Imagine LRT, two-way streets, some pedestrian zones for markets/shops/buskers/music and some attractions as you've mentioned here. Downtown could become 1,000 better than it currently is and a natural result of more people down there would be more shops.
Just find a council with big enough balls to rid us of the bloody highways and then we can start adding in the people-oriented programming/attractions.
A lookout tower would be awesome!! Imagine if it was built next to the Pigott building. Make it 750-1,000 feet high with restaurant/cafe on the top. THAT would be sweet.

[adam]

Originally Posted by Jon Dalton

Dude, this shit happens, I've seen it myself, and it isn't always in the paper. Let's give up pointless denial. You are right in that the problems in Gore Park are exaggerated, but you can't deny that there is a problem.

I also walk around all times of the night and haven't been assaulted. Not everyone has such luck.

Lets get real here. You have a much higher risk of being hit and killed by a speeding SUV than you do of getting attacked or robbed in Hamilton. And yet we promote this by having roads wider than the 403 going right through the F$#&ing downtown!!

[raisethehammer]

so true. someone dug up some crime stats earlier. I'd love someone to pull up the murder vs. vehicle death stats. It's not even close.

[BCTed]

Originally Posted by Jon Dalton

Let's give up pointless denial. You are right in that the problems in Gore Park are exaggerated, but you can't deny that there is a problem.

He can deny that there is a problem and he has been denying it for several pages.

[BCTed]

Originally Posted by raisethehammer

so true. someone dug up some crime stats earlier. I'd love someone to pull up the murder vs. vehicle death stats. It's not even close.

It was me. I'd love for you to do this one.

[crhayes]

Originally Posted by BCTed

It was me. I'd love for you to do this one.

LMAO. You guys are hilarious.

[BCTed]

Originally Posted by crhayes

LMAO. You guys are hilarious.

[adam]

Today, people were exercising their right to have organized protest in Gore Park. Put this in the history books.

Hundreds protest in Gore Park

January 10, 2009
By STEVE BUIST
The Hamilton Spectator

Despite bitter cold and a biting wind, nearly 400 people gathered in Gore Park in downtown Hamilton this afternoon to protest Israel’s ongoing military attacks in Gaza.

Waving Palestinian flags and homemade placards, the demonstrators chanted “From Kandahar to Palestine, occupation is a crime,” and “Stop Israeli war crimes now.”

Two weeks ago, Israel began a bombing offensive against Gaza and Hamas, the Islamic militant group that governs the territory. Israeli ground troops moved in a week later.

During that time, more than 800 Palestinians are estimated to have been killed, including well over 100 children and teens.

At Gore Park, the protest was peaceful, as demonstrators listened to speeches by representatives of the Hamilton Downtown Mosque, the United Church and Independent Jewish Voices, a loose-knit group of more than 300 Jewish people across Canada who are opposed to the policies of the Israeli government.

Rolf Gerstenberger, president of the United Steelworkers Local 1005, also gave a fiery speech.

“It’s important that we, as Canadians, speak out against this,” said Gerstenberger.

Some of the crowd’s anger was directed at the Canadian government and Prime Minister Stephen Harper for not playing a stronger role in helping protect the residents of Gaza.

The mention of Harper’s name drew cries of “Shame” from the crowd.

Following the brief speeches, the protesters marched noisily from Gore Park along King Street to the federal building on Bay Street and then back along York Boulevard to Gore Park.

The Hamilton protest was one of more than a dozen taking place across Canada today.

In Toronto, police estimated that about 2,000 protesters were packed outside the Israeli Consulate.
Again, the Canadian government was the target of some of the harshest criticism as protesters spoke out against what they considered to be Harper’s unabashed support of Israel.

The Toronto crowd was predominantly made up of Palestinian protesters, although a small contingent of Jewish supporters were also in the crowd, separated by a police barricade.

Although the Toronto protest was peaceful, the mood was still tense and an Israeli flag was burned by some protesters.

Other demonstrations were also being held in Ottawa, Calgary, Fredericton, Halifax, Vancouver and Victoria, among others.

With files from Spectator wire services

[SteelTown]

[FRM]

wow that looks really nice, those water jets on the ground are a nice touch also!

[astroblaster]

i'm not really into the water jets. i think gore park is pretty nice how it is. just needs some nice, classy offices overlooking it.

its late and i just took a benadryl so i'm going to dare to dream, bear with me

Google Hamilton in the top two floors of the old Woolworths department store?

hey google, if you're reading this, you should give DTZ Barnicke a call, 905 637 1215

http://www.dtzbarnicke.com/Client/JJB/JJ...b1888a6173b852575c5005551cf!OpenDocument

[matt602]

Not so certain about the water jets here either. I think the main fountain does a fine job in that department. I also think that just getting the buses out of that area should make a huge improvement on it's own. The next thing to be worked on is getting more buildings occupied along the Gore and getting some more patios going.

[adam]

I guess the jets are trying to be like Yonge-Dundas square in Toronto? They should be a nice addition.

[Jon Dalton]

The park itself is fine. Just take down the bloody fence, put a sidewalk on both sides let the 2-way conversion and LRT do the rest.

[jgrwatson]

I agree: the water jets are a bit extreme. Esp. given the limited walking space through the park with all the people as it is.

Why don't people focus on beautification things, like, I don't know, how about facade cleanup?

[astroblaster]

Originally Posted by jgrwatson

Why don't people focus on beautification things, like, I don't know, how about facade cleanup?

THIS.

[SteelTown]

I like the jets, create more of a destination and no patio space will be lost. The jets would look great a night with the lights on the trees as well.

For facade cleanup the owners can apply for BIA improvement or Hertiage grant. It's up to the owners to fork up the money.