Time for Vancouver to Tear Down Its Viaducts?

[Migrant_Coconut]

Originally Posted by Joat

Shot in the dark but does anyone here know of any good scholarly sources that talk about instances where a city has kept an overpass/bridge/viaduct and built and or added green space and amenities around it ? Or one that speaks positively of integrating buildings and developments around elevated roads. I'm having trouble finding much so if anyone knows of any please let me know.

Thanks!

There's Underpass Park in Toronto, SEART in Wellington, and Stanica Centre in Kosice, Slovakia. You just need a little vision... which Vision doesn't have.

Also, Seattle's thinking about building a park on top of the I-5. Short of a Big Dig though, there's not enough room to do that here.

[Joat]

Wow thanks for all the feedback and examples. I'm writing a paper on the removal of the viaducts but I'm having trouble finding journal articles that talk positively about cities that kept and 'beautified' their expressways or viaducts. Personally I'd like to see them stay but its going to be much easier to argue for their removal since there seems to be a lot more academic writings on urban renewal projects like cheonggyecheon.

[BCPhil]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

The impact from Front & Columbia is a disaster. They created one space and ruined another. Plus how can it be world class without an indoor mall?

https://www.google.ca/maps/@49.2004455,-...hi93ns2I0GS_R1Dw51R_Q!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Oh no, they ruined the view of some skyscraper podiums from the rail yards! Those maniacs!

https://www.google.ca/maps/@49.2005417,-...JMvUYXbDk1rMqFoKA7yGQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Like they totally ruined that view!

B. It's not that much more massive than a block of pre-war brick midrise buildings all nestled up together, like the rest of Columbia street.

https://www.google.ca/maps/@49.2032447,-...nUOgozt3eH-M21KMjmqcg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

So massive! Much Yuck!

They probably should have just clad it to look like old buildings (like the Eaton's Centre in Victoria, and yes, I'm calling it the Eaton's Centre on purpose), but I can see why they would want to add some variety to the city.

But when you look at it from another angle (the angle from where most people who see it are), on a sunny day, it actually looks kind of nice.

https://www.google.ca/maps/@49.2009621,-...OspRshUqBlaj7bM0CQj3g!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

And I like how they retained the original building in the design.

And 3, how are you supposed to hide a theater and a Safeway anyway?

[Vin]

Originally Posted by Joat

Wow thanks for all the feedback and examples. I'm writing a paper on the removal of the viaducts but I'm having trouble finding journal articles that talk positively about cities that kept and 'beautified' their expressways or viaducts. Personally I'd like to see them stay but its going to be much easier to argue for their removal since there seems to be a lot more academic writings on urban renewal projects like cheonggyecheon.

Due to all these critically-acclaimed examples all around the world, I guess City of Vancouver also wants to be part of the band wagon. However, you should also note about your examples that those cities that removed their viaducts also came up with better alternatives to reroute their traffic, or, in the case of Cheonggyecheon in Seoul, invested a lot more on their bus and subway systems by opening up new lines, and densifying and creating new commercial centres within the city (like Gangnam and Youido), cutting down on the need for personal car usage. In Vancouver, my feeling is that the removal of the viaducts is just a stunt to show the world that "we have arrived" due to the desire to achieve that "greenest city by 2020" status. However, all these initiatives, like introducing the badly connected bike lanes without providing better facilities for bike users, are just empty shells and of little substance.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

The impact from Front & Columbia is a disaster. They created one space and ruined another. Plus how can it be world class without an indoor mall?

https://www.google.ca/maps/@49.2004455,-...hi93ns2I0GS_R1Dw51R_Q!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Disaster? That's gross exaggeration to say the least. It's not like you would stand in the fenced-off railyards enjoying the building anyway.

BTW, your photo example looks pretty fine to me. I've seen worse, like a row of dilapidated shacks or an empty littered field full of wild grass.


Such as this:
https://www.google.ca/maps/@49.2714741,-..._p7YleTyHlztn97y4vLGg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
Or this:
https://www.google.ca/maps/@49.2714741,-..._p7YleTyHlztn97y4vLGg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
Or this:
https://www.google.ca/maps/@49.2718388,-...qr4luzpO3A8wv5SkQ_afA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

[Vin]

Originally Posted by Vin

Disaster? That's gross exaggeration to say the least. It's not like you would stand in the fenced-off railyards enjoying the building anyway.

BTW, your photo example looks pretty fine to me. I've seen worse, like a row of dilapidated shacks or an empty littered field full of wild grass.


Such as this:
https://www.google.ca/maps/@49.2714741,-..._p7YleTyHlztn97y4vLGg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
Or this:
https://www.google.ca/maps/@49.2714741,-..._p7YleTyHlztn97y4vLGg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
Or this:
https://www.google.ca/maps/@49.2718388,-...qr4luzpO3A8wv5SkQ_afA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

In fact, the New Westminster station mall area also makes the neighbourhood under the skytrain guideway seem more people-friendly. Something developers can think of if they integrate the viaducts into their design.
https://www.google.ca/maps/@49.2016897,-...upAaLN3i8SQzxYWGABXeA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

[CanSpice]

Originally Posted by Vin

In fact, the New Westminster station mall area also makes the neighbourhood under the skytrain guideway seem more people-friendly. Something developers can think of if they integrate the viaducts into their design.
https://www.google.ca/maps/@49.2016897,-...upAaLN3i8SQzxYWGABXeA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Yeah, and the Google StreetView pictures don't show the children's play area under the guideway (that my daughter always wants to play at). It also doesn't show the restaurants and shops that line the walkway under the guideway, or the restaurants at the SkyTrain platform level, or the entrances to the condo buildings above the SkyTrain.

If the New Westminster SkyTrain Station is a "disaster", then every other station has to be an absolute catastrophe.

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by CanSpice

Yeah, and the Google StreetView pictures don't show the children's play area under the guideway (that my daughter always wants to play at). It also doesn't show the restaurants and shops that line the walkway under the guideway, or the restaurants at the SkyTrain platform level, or the entrances to the condo buildings above the SkyTrain.

If the New Westminster SkyTrain Station is a "disaster", then every other station has to be an absolute catastrophe.

He was talking about *at street level on Columbia* - not the areas you mentioned. Personally I don't find it bad, and the last time I was there was today.

[hollywoodnorth]

Under Gardiner: A Look at What Is Now and What Could Be

http://urbantoronto.ca/news/2016/02/under-gardiner-look-what-now-and-what-could-be


something similar is what I have been advocating for under the Viaducts here in Vancouver for the past decade

[Jebby]

Originally Posted by hollywoodnorth

Under Gardiner: A Look at What Is Now and What Could Be

http://urbantoronto.ca/news/2016/02/under-gardiner-look-what-now-and-what-could-be


something similar is what I have been advocating for under the Viaducts here in Vancouver for the past decade

Those spaces would be fantastic to enclose in glass for use during the winter. They're wide and high enough that you could be really creative with the spaces.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by hollywoodnorth

Under Gardiner: A Look at What Is Now and What Could Be

http://urbantoronto.ca/news/2016/02/under-gardiner-look-what-now-and-what-could-be


something similar is what I have been advocating for under the Viaducts here in Vancouver for the past decade

Originally Posted by Jebby

Those spaces would be fantastic to enclose in glass for use during the winter. They're wide and high enough that you could be really creative with the spaces.

In fact, our own viaduct column and beam designs look way better than Gardiner's, and would look even better if the areas beneath are made into good use.

[BCPhil]

Originally Posted by hollywoodnorth

Under Gardiner: A Look at What Is Now and What Could Be

http://urbantoronto.ca/news/2016/02/under-gardiner-look-what-now-and-what-could-be


something similar is what I have been advocating for under the Viaducts here in Vancouver for the past decade

I like the spaces they've already finished.

A nicely made plaza would be a perfect setting for the long sought after food truck plaza. You could use the Viaducts as shelters for seating, keeping the sun and rain off patrons.

[officedweller]

Just like the Portland Saturday Market - which is partly under the Burnside Bridge approach:


http://www.portlandsaturdaymarket.com/visit-the-market/photo-gallery/

[BCPhil]

A Chinatown night market would also be a good use of a Viaduct Plaza.

[EastVanMark]

You guys and your good ideas...enough already! Won't someone please think of the developers?!! Those poor fellas just cant catch a break in Vancouver...

[Infrequent Poster]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Just like the Portland Saturday Market - which is partly under the Burnside Bridge approach:


http://www.portlandsaturdaymarket.com/visit-the-market/photo-gallery/

But those people don't look oppressed. How is this possible?

[SOSS]

An interesting bit of history of what was...

https://www.facebook.com/VancouverIsAwes...218114/?video_source=pages_finch_trailer

[Vamo]

Originally Posted by SOSS

An interesting bit of history of what was...

https://www.facebook.com/VancouverIsAwes...218114/?video_source=pages_finch_trailer

Thanks, very interesting.

[trofirhen]

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1280x1024q90/923/0PbvRC.jpg

Looking at this: ok, when the viaducts are down there will be some sort of parkspace under them. This is the Georgia ramp. When the new Georgia Street is built,
it will go directly behind these buildings to go straight down (where, on Google anyway) it will combine with Griffiths Way) to meet Pacific Bvd.
I assume that a ribbon of the parking area immediately behind the chicken wire fence could be used to widen Pacific into this "super Road. If not .... that's going to be a might tight.
It could easily develop into a real choke point - although people more knowledgeable that I have denied it - Any comments on this welcome. Thank you.

[urbancanadian]

I posted about an open house for the Malkin Connector this Thursday. Details in the Roads thread: http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?p=7385425&posted=1#post7385425