The Great Canadian Skyline Thread!

[rousseau]

Originally Posted by dreambrother808

But to refer to any of them as a hellhole? Really?

You've got me mixed up with another poster. I don't do hyperbole. Vancouver isn't my kind of city, but I've never referred to it as a "hell hole."

[logan5]

Originally Posted by rousseau

If you have a refined urban aesthetic, and you don't like what a place looks like, why would you want to live in a place that doesn't have what you like? Seeing what's missing isn't the same as saying that you know exactly what it's like to live in a place.

How is this not obvious? Oh, yeah, but of course...the prickly sensibilities of so many Vancouver posters on this forum don't allow for considered criticism of anything to do with the city. It's the most tedious cliché on this forum.

Not sure what you mean by refined but don't you think that the old warehouse district that's at the heart of Yaletown provides a pretty decent urban aesthetic? I don't think anybody denies that some streets in Yaletown aren't the most urbane, but for the most part, Yaletown is urban. If Yaletown was in Toronto or Montreal, it would still be a good DT neighbourhood.

[rousseau]

Originally Posted by someone123

The existence of such an area isn't very interesting though. Is there a city in Canada where you can't pick out an ugly spot adjacent to downtown, generally near some 70's highway infrastructure and/or a stadium/arena?

But that's just the thing, though. Someone says an obviously unappealing view or area of any other city is "beautiful," then someone else quibbles, and then a discussion ensues. But if it's Vancouver? Hissy fits.

Originally Posted by someone123

The parts of Toronto south of the railway tracks aren't great. It's got 3 or 4 Pacific Boulevards and the Gardiner.

Who would say otherwise?

[logan5]

Originally Posted by rousseau

I don't do hyperbole.

Originally Posted by rousseau

...hyperbole with the Mississauga comparison, I admit.

...

[rousseau]

Originally Posted by logan5

Not sure what you mean by refined but don't you think that the old warehouse district that's at the heart of Yaletown provides a pretty decent urban aesthetic? I don't think anybody denies that some streets in Yaletown aren't the most urbane, but for the most part, Yaletown is urban. If Yaletown was in Toronto or Montreal, it would still be a DT neighbourhood.

Look, I don't know what the exact boundaries of "Yaletown" are, and this is getting tedious. The aerial view weirdly praised as "beautiful" became the topic of discussion, and upon viewing the streets around that area I found them to look blah and suburban.

https://www.google.ca/maps/@49.2719532,-...vwLznucOMrXsHDjODhAAw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

If you go in a ways and it gets more urban, then terrific. Vancouver has some nice sections of the city.

[rousseau]

Originally Posted by logan5

...

It's a figure of speech.

[Pinion]

Originally Posted by rousseau

Look, I don't know what the exact boundaries of "Yaletown" are, and this is getting tedious. The aerial view weirdly praised as "beautiful" became the topic of discussion, and upon viewing the streets around that area I found them to look blah and suburban.

Maybe you should stop talking about areas you've never visited and know nothing about. This is not about Vancouverite defensiveness, you are just saying things that are incorrect with zero first hand experience.

[Procrastinational]

Originally Posted by rousseau

Look, I don't know what the exact boundaries of "Yaletown" are, and this is getting tedious. The aerial view weirdly praised as "beautiful" became the topic of discussion, and upon viewing the streets around that area I found them to look blah and suburban.

https://www.google.ca/maps/@49.2719532,-...vwLznucOMrXsHDjODhAAw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

If you go in a ways and it gets more urban, then terrific. Vancouver has some nice sections of the city.

I can agree that the particular street you linked to on street view is "bah" but that is on the fringe of Yaletown. Hamilton and Mainland streets give a much better idea of the neighbourhood's vibe.

[rousseau]

Originally Posted by Pinion

Maybe you should stop talking about areas you've never visited and know nothing about. This is not about Vancouverite defensiveness, you are just saying things that are incorrect with zero first hand experience.

Case in point. Awesome. Unless you're taking the piss, in which case, you got it down pitch perfect.

Me: That aerial view is kinda ugly. And the streets around there look blah.
Vancouver posters: You don't know anything about it!

Heh, sorry, I should stop. But sometimes I can't help myself, and the prissier of the Vancouver posters really do have it coming.

But I'll stop.

[logan5]

Originally Posted by rousseau

Look, I don't know what the exact boundaries of "Yaletown" are....

That's fine. Your getting defensive because you don't know where Yaletown is. We are simply trying to clarify that for you.

[Metro-One]

Originally Posted by logan5

That's fine. Your getting defensive because you don't know where Yaletown is. We are simply trying to clarify that for you.

The exact same argument happened over a month ago regarding the West End, which he also called Mississagua...

[Metro-One]

Originally Posted by dreambrother808

It's the tone, the hyperbole, your condescension, time and time again. I've lived in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver, and your comparative assertions as to how vastly different these places are and the innate inferiority of Vancouver is actually quite laughable. I prefer certain aspects of each city, naturally. You don't discuss these matters with "considered criticism" but rather with thinly-veiled passive-aggression. You get the response you deserve and then throw out more inane generalizations about how "thinly-skinned" many Vancouverites are. Are you dumb? Have you never read the countless similarly-categorized posts from every city on this forum?? Get a grip.

There is a huge difference between criticism and being condescending in a way to insitigate an argument, and that is what he seems to love to do against Vancouver. It does get comical after a while.

[biguc]

Originally Posted by someone123

The existence of such an area isn't very interesting though. Is there a city in Canada where you can't pick out an ugly spot adjacent to downtown, generally near some 70's highway infrastructure and/or a stadium/arena? The parts of Toronto south of the railway tracks aren't great. It's got 3 or 4 Pacific Boulevards and the Gardiner. In many other cities the equivalent area is just a sea of parking lots.

I agree. Like Logan said, the streets at the heart of Yaletown are more characteristic than what you see from the edge and are really nice. And I don't really have a problem with a bit of vertical sprawl supporting a good neighborhood. But like you note, there are lots of areas like that, and that suggests a breakdown in the area's sense of space.

[Dr Awesomesauce]

I dunno, sounds like Vancouver being described by a bunch of people who have never actually been there...

[Chadillaccc]

Agreed!




https://www.facebook.com/NeilZellerPhotography

https://www.facebook.com/NeilZellerPhotography

https://www.facebook.com/NeilZellerPhotography

[Beedok]

Originally Posted by Dr Awesomesauce

I dunno, sounds like Vancouver being described by a bunch of people who have never actually been there...

I've been there.
It always feels weird seeing an important Hamilton St. in other cities. Especially ones that look very not-Hamilton-y. I suppose folks from Ottawa would be just as weirded out by Ottawa St. in Hamilton though.

[TorontoDrew]

Originally Posted by logan5

That's fine. Your getting defensive because you don't know where Yaletown is. We are simply trying to clarify that for you.

I know where it is and I love it. Still though everytime sombody posts an picture from a Birdseye point of view I cringe a bit. Vancouver is awesome and looks beautiful from a street view and from a mountain top but for some reason the view shown in that last image is just not flattering. Never has been never will.

[ainvan]

Vancouver from Jericho at dusk by pierre leclerc, on Flickr

[ainvan]

Twilight English Bay by Yuanxi Zhou, on Flickr

[Chadillaccc]

Well now that that little tirade is over, back to skylines!