Post some pictures of your city! II

[isaidso]

15-20 years from now, I think Montrealers are going to regret ripping up the tracks into Windsor Station to build the Forum and skyscrapers. This should have been your Union Station and as Montreal grows, the need for a big rail station like that will only grow.

I suppose you still have Gare Centrale, but it's still a big opportunity lost imo.

[Rico Rommheim]

Ripping up Windsor station happened because Montreal was in the shits back in the early 90's and the city was executing bad planning here, and across the city (the suburban development south of St-Antoine street being one example). Really, Central station needs a proper street-level entrance, the station itself is grand and big enough though. But this is how its entrance looks currently:


http://w5.montreal.com/mtlweblog/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/station_front.jpg

Note that this is not the central station building (the art-deco/international style building is situated behind the Queen E, on Belmont street, essentially an alleyway) but an indoor parking lot fronting as the station's entrance. I hope it is only a matter of time before this prime downtown real estate spot is used to its full capacity. This could very well be the spot of Montreal's next tallest building (in the 24th century).

[isaidso]

I remember Montrealers lamenting the end of Windsor Station when the new Forum was first proposed. Central Station will need a huge investment for sure. I can't remember, but does the Metro stop there as well or is it just VIA, Amtrak, and regional rail?

[GreaterMontréal]

Originally Posted by isaidso

I remember Montrealers lamenting the end of Windsor Station when the new Forum was first proposed. Central Station will need a huge investment for sure. I can't remember, but does the Metro stop there as well or is it just VIA, Amtrak, and regional rail?

Metro Bonaventure

[isaidso]

Ok, thanks.

[Chadillaccc]

The RiverWalk on a weekday summers eve...




Chillin by Chadillaccc, on Flickr

Lovers by Chadillaccc, on Flickr

Dancin up a Storm by Chadillaccc, on Flickr

Langevin by Chadillaccc, on Flickr

ArtWalk by Chadillaccc, on Flickr

Stroll Bridge by Chadillaccc, on Flickr

The other side by Chadillaccc, on Flickr

Busy RiverWalk by Chadillaccc, on Flickr

RiverWalk Evening by Chadillaccc, on Flickr

Centre street Bridge by Chadillaccc, on Flickr

[caltrane74]

Originally Posted by GreaterMontréal

Metro Bonaventure

I spent half my time in Montreal two weeks ago at Bonaventure Metro, going to and from the Via Rail Station. It's a pretty big station, lots of tunnels to connect from subway to rail station. At least it felt that way to me.

Anyways, here is Toronto doing a Montreal Impression on King West

Sorry for poor quality

[Tone]

Originally Posted by caltrane74

I spent half my time in Montreal two weeks ago at Bonaventure Metro, going to and from the Via Rail Station. It's a pretty big station, lots of tunnels to connect from subway to rail station. At least it felt that way to me.

Just curious to hear a bit about your visit, the city felt greater or lesser than what you expected or remembered?

[caltrane74]

I'm a pedestrian, I don't drive. Well at least I don't drive anymore. So, I appreciate that Montreal at least in the core is built for pedestrians. Pedestrians are the boss, at least compared to Toronto. No cabs trying to run me over when I cross the street. So nice, I can stroll the streets and enjoy the urban environment. Montreal has an awesome pedestrian experience. Yes, Montreal feels a bit smaller than. Toronto, but I was mainly in the core and I got rained on a bit so I didn't get to do everything I wanted, but.. Montreal's subways are amazing, they are so busy, with the exception of Bloor-Yonge and Union they seemed busier than Toronto subway stations. It seems very big city. I got a hotel downtown on St. Catharine Street so I also explored the underground, which seemed very similar to Toronto, so I didn't want to spend time there because it felt to familiar. The best part of my weekend trip to Montreal was exploring Old Montreal and the Old Port (Vueix Port?) Anyways, that was a pleasant experience, even though I spent a good chunk of my time there on my previous trip. I. Sorry, it rained on me a fair bit when I was out there I couldn't do everything I wanted, I'll go back again in the spring. Hopefully it goes better.

Other Positives:

• Quarter des Spectacles
• Place Bonaventure
• awesome Patios/Bars
• Nice Restaurants
• Nice People
• Grill Chicken Poutine (Recommended by Quebec SSP Forumers)
• lots of white/yellow/brown inter-racial diversity

[Tone]

Cool, thanks for sharing! Sucks that it rained and yes the Old Port is Le Vieux-Port. So I guess it was pretty much like you expected then!

That's one thing I noticed in Toronto, better not be in the way of the cabs with or without a car.

[caltrane74]

Here are a few rain soaked shots

[GreaterMontréal]

Talking about public libraries, here's La Grande Bibliothèque

355,000 sf

Membership in the library is free to all residents of Quebec. With some 10,000 users per day and a record of 3,000,000 users in 2009—double the projected figure of 1.5 million. In 2011, it attracted 2.7 million visitors, and was the most frequented public library in both North America and the Francophonie.

The Grande Bibliothèque's collection consists of some 4,000,000 works, including 1,140,000 books, 1,200,000 other documents, and 1,660,000 microfiches. The majority of the works are in French; about 30% are in English, and a dozen other languages are also represented. The library has some 80 kilometres of shelf space.




http://ryseontheweb.blogspot.ca/2012/12/plus-quun-sujet-de-these.html


Éclairage architectural de la Grande Bibliothèque by Quartier des spectacles, Montréal, on Flickr

[Rico Rommheim]

^Too bad the exterior looks like shit huh?

[Martin Mtl]

Yeah, no kidding. What a missed oportunity. And to think that this POS was the winning design in an architectural contest. The other ones were so much better. Grrr...

[Rico Rommheim]

Missed opportunity indeed. But it gets away with it by using a familiar Montreal-esque excuse "But, but it looks good on the inside" or even worse : "at least it looks good at night"

[1ajs]

[lake of the nations]

Le lac des Nations, Sherbrooke by lake of the nations, on Flickr

[Martin Mtl]

Credit: fred514 / FRED


Credit: freddomtl / Fred R.


Credit: lukehenryh


Cedit: _mis_momentos / Ash


Credit: blessthethief


Credit: blessthethief


Credit: fred514 / FRED


Credit: momosalahi / Momo El salahi


Credit: fred514 / FRED


Credit: ddcstephens / Dwight Donovan Corinthos S


Credit: the_sun_rise / 高爾夫旺


Credit: aminmeys / Amin


Credit: aminmeys / Amin


Credit: gebourassa / Genevieve Bourassa


Credit: frankcol1 / FC


Credit: i_am_unity / i_am_unity


Credit: themediakitty / Media Kitty


Credit: misternicolas94 / Nicolas Lefrançois


Credit: ailujjj / Julia W


Credit: charlie_kane_1941 / Gionny G


Credit: francisduval / Francis Duval


Credit: francisduval / Francis Duval


Credit: cmae25 / c.17783


Credit: rgbsurfer / Tammy Maltese


Credit: luisrchz / Luis RChávez


Credit: alexrousseau / alexrousseau


Credit: jfsavaria


Credit: archimontreal / Brian LeCompt


Credit: wicho514 / Luis Arpaiz Soto


Credit: ronbat


Credit: candidcameraman


Credit: pixupmtl


Credit: fred514 / FRED


Credit: felicia.zhang / Felicia Zhang


Credit: athenagala / Jennifer Athena Galatis


Credit: meshquito / NiNi


Credit: mtlshot


Credit: Mtlshot



Credit: kikokickass / Kiko Munoz


Credit: Mtlshot


Credit: mtlshot


Credit: montrealdiaries / Galit


Credit: jfsavaria


Credit: monochromemontreal


Credit: foundatseashore / Kelly Pearson


Credit: virginivedard


Credit: dserradji / Djallal Serradji


Credit: _jan1s


Credit: montrealdiaries / Galit


Credit: deltamontreal


Credit: fred514 / FRED


Credit: Sunissa Shrimpton on Flickr


Credit: BLnordik on Flickr


Credit: poulattitude72 on Flickr


Credit: poulattitude72 on Flickr


Credit: mariejo71 on Flickr


Credit: mariejo71 on Flickr


Source: immo.vrtx.co


Credit: Simon Massicotte on Flickr


Credit: gabe.garciacuriel


Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel by James Smith on Flickr


Mary Queen of the world by thetimetraveler.net on Flickr

[ScreamingViking]

Terrific set of Montreal pics, Martin Mtl. Really nice, a great mix of images too.

[leftimage]

Originally Posted by caltrane74

I'm a pedestrian, I don't drive. Well at least I don't drive anymore. So, I appreciate that Montreal at least in the core is built for pedestrians. Pedestrians are the boss, at least compared to Toronto.

The funny thing about Toronto is the pedestrians are self-hating. I'll never forgot the first time I got a row of dirty looks for safely jaywalking in TO - and when I say safely I'm talking automatic by Montreal standards - standard procedure, no hesitation...
I feel like in TO people are simply more lawful & anal, qualities which combined prevent them from 'taking command' of their physical surroundings ha-ha.

In reality though, Montreal roads are just a medley of bad tempers... cyclists, pedestrians, drivers forced to get along against their will - it's a pretty fragile pact. Mind you, driving has been scalded & degraded to the point it sometimes feels 'embarrassing' to drive in central Mtl neighborhoods ... especially the Plateau!