Robson Square Renovations

[Vancouver_Highrise]

It looks like they are keeping the mature magnolia tree?

[retro_orange]

Originally Posted by VancouverOfTheFuture

don't use that as part of your argument for the reason for getting rid of the fountain. the fountain not working was a choice. the grass not being up-kept was a choice. if they make that area look like crap, and make people forget how nice it was it is a lot easier to get people to like the new design.

its the same thing that lots of people do, let it fall apart and then say "oh well, look how bad it is, how about we do this!" yet neglecting to show people how nice it once was, and the fact that letting it go to crap was a strategic plan so that there's more space for tent cities, smoke ins, and all the other crap that goes on there.

Exactly true, I enjoy 420 but i have never been to the april 20 'smoke in', it always seemed unnecessary to me. If anything they should hold it at city hall or victory square. Plus I have school tonight.

I have always loved the tiling in the fountain pool but as for the sculpture, i was never a particular fan of it. It seems like it should be on the beach or in White Rock somewhere. IMO they should keep and restore the fountain (pool anyway) and put a larger more prominent sculpture. It always felt like the sculpture was an afterthought after the fountain pool was constructed because visually it doesn't stand out and it's too small. Especially when the waterworks were going, it almost disappeared and looked like a stub of something.


pic from: http://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-the-cen...art-gallery-downtown-in-the-3100378.html

There would still be plenty of space for events and look beautiful with the land area in between the gallery and fountain. If they really needed the space where the fountain is they should just close off the perimeter street blocks around the park for the events to reduce cars in the area too. would double the size of the park easily for big events + a vintage centrepiece fountain for the kids!

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by Klazu

I don't miss the two trees next to the VAG, as those seemed strange and unfitting to the area. However I will miss the other trees around the square.

I wish they could have put in two or three tall, slender scotch pines at the corners. They don't block the sun much, and they take away that bleak look in winter. Oh well ....

[mukmuk64]

Unsure if this is the best place to post this but here it is anyway.

City council officially votes to close Robson Square to vehicle traffic.

http://www.metronews.ca/news/vancouver/2...es-car-free-public-square-on-robson.html

Say goodbye to cars and buses and hello to a permanent, public plaza on a block of downtown Vancouver.

Despite complaints from transit users, particularly seniors in the West End, city council voted Wednesday to officially block vehicles from the 800 block of Robson Street in front of the Vancouver Art Gallery to make way for pedestrians and gatherings year-round.
The city temporarily closed the block for seating installations over the past four summers after the plaza was wildly successful during the 2010 Winter Olympics, building up momentum and public support for a permanent closure.

“Transforming Robson Square into a traffic-free, permanent public plaza will bring vibrancy to an underutilized space in the city year round,” Mayor Gregor Robertson said in a statement.

“Robson Square is a natural gathering hub at the centre of downtown where residents gravitate to socialize, engage and creatively express themselves. A permanent plaza at Robson Square will be a mainstay to enhance Vancouver’s walkability, vibrant culture and liveability.”

Transportation planner Lon LaClaire told council that 98 per cent of residents surveyed support a public plaza such as ones in Toronto, London and Portland. LaClaire said the city’s engineering department will do a better job at managing the traffic flow with a year round closure rather than disrupting downtown for only two months of the year.

But the rerouting of the No. 5 Robson bus will make it more challenging for seniors and people with mobility issues who live in the West End to get to their final destinations, according to people who came to air their grievances with the plan.

Non-Partisan Association Coun. George Affleck argued against approving the plaza, citing a lack of detail in the staff report. But council ultimately approved the plan so staff can hammer out the details moving forward. Staff will now engage the public, develop an official design for the site and figure out who will take care of it – and how much it will cost to operate.

For Charles Gauthier of the Downtown Business Improvement Association, which supports the plaza, it’s crucial to have strong, year-round programming so the plaza is well looked after and busy, not barren.

This summer, the city will place umbrellas and bistro tables in the space. It cancelled the annual design competition in order to come up with a long-term plan and due to constraints from major construction to the larger plaza on the north side of the art gallery.

Viva Vancouver, the organization that programs public spaces with events, will not close Granville Street to vehicles this summer to compensate for anticipated traffic from major construction to the Burrard Bridge.

Great news. Vancouver has had a lack of good, central public gathering spaces so long. There are lots of problems with Robson Square, but this will help solve that problem.

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by mukmuk64

Unsure if this is the best place to post this but here it is anyway..............

City council officially votes to close Robson Square to vehicle traffic........
Great news. Vancouver has had a lack of good, central public gathering spaces so long. There are lots of problems with Robson Square, but this will help solve that problem.

Agreed!!Having one large contiguous plaza will be fantastic!! I just wish the #5 bus wasn't so mucked around. They can't go UNDER the Square either! I wish a tramway could.
A tram along Robson, dipping deep under Howe, the resurfacing, would be great, IMO, both in practical terms and in urban feel. Engineering-wise not possible, sad to say.

[Klazu]

Originally Posted by trofirhen

I wish they could have put in two or three tall, slender scotch pines at the corners. They don't block the sun much, and they take away that bleak look in winter.

I think this is a good idea and would work well in our climate. It would even look good.

I might be the only one still confused what is going to be done for the square? They are not going ahead with that stupid ring, but did they have a proper plan or are they digging around just for fun?

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by Vancouver_Highrise

It looks like they are keeping the mature magnolia tree?

Hopefully!

[osirisboy]

I think closing Robson is a bad idea. They want to make that space vibrant? It already is, removing traffic isn't going to increase the vibrancy. Especially during the winter months. Why is traffic going along there seen as bad? It just adds to the vibrancy. What they should do is redo the north east corner of Robson and hornby from a pile of dirt into something more interactive

edit*
Closing it temporarily during summer was fine but a permanent closure seems overkill.

[SpongeG]

people on facebook are freaking out about the tree removal. I never liked them myself, they just seemd scraggly and made the area uninviting. And the fountain, it just was never that impressive to me, seemed very amateur.

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by osirisboy

I think closing Robson is a bad idea. They want to make that space vibrant? It already is, removing traffic isn't going to increase the vibrancy. Especially during the winter months. Why is traffic going along there seen as bad? It just adds to the vibrancy. What they should do is redo the north east corner of Robson and hornby from a pile of dirt into something more interactive

edit*
Closing it temporarily during summer was fine but a permanent closure seems overkill.

I agree, although I like the idea of one large plaza.
There is a truck tunnel under how that prevents them from dipping under the Square with public transport, and that's going to be a real drag.

[Migrant_Coconut]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

people on facebook are freaking out about the tree removal. I never liked them myself, they just seemd scraggly and made the area uninviting. And the fountain, it just was never that impressive to me, seemed very amateur.

The fountain used to be impressive, judging by the old photos. Hopefully they'll clean it up and find somewhere else to put it.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

people on facebook are freaking out about the tree removal. I never liked them myself, they just seemd scraggly and made the area uninviting. And the fountain, it just was never that impressive to me, seemed very amateur.

Well, what they're replacing them with is very uniform and cookie cutter.
Think of the rows of Pin Oaks at the old SUB at UBC.

It's also a slash and burn mentality rather than working with what's there - i.e. akin to demolishing heritage houses and building with a "clean slate".

At least the plum, crabapple and magnolia have character. They may not appeal to the OCD people who want uniformity, but they added interest.

What we'll see with the new plan is a lot of green - not much in the way of flowering trees - these are some token cherries on the Howe side, that's it.

It's yet to be seen how big the new trees will be when planted.

For Granville St., they were supposed to be a 3 inch caliper - but the ones that were actually planted obviously were not.

[retro_orange]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

people on facebook are freaking out about the tree removal. I never liked them myself, they just seemd scraggly and made the area uninviting. And the fountain, it just was never that impressive to me, seemed very amateur.

Meh, it's facebook. I stopped using it years ago other then to keep in touch with people. I believe the trees were a type of Larch; a deciduous conifer and were a poor choice for a public park, especially right next to the building.

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

The fountain used to be impressive, judging by the old photos. Hopefully they'll clean it up and find somewhere else to put it.

..... sure, clean it up, scrub it down, add better lighting ..... but PLEASE PUT IT SOMEWHERE ELSE. Outside of downtown.

[LeftCoaster]

Originally Posted by Klazu

I don't miss the two trees next to the VAG, as those seemed strange and unfitting to the area. However I will miss the other trees around the square.

I'm fairly certain they are keeping most of the rest of the trees.

I agree about the two next to the building. I'm not one for cutting down a bunch of trees downtown but I won't really miss those ones.

[osirisboy]

Regarding water falls.

Who manages Robson square? The city, province, private company? I would love to phone/email them and ask them why the water falls aren't on. Anyone know?

[connect2source]

Good take on the bullying process to close Robson and the limited time for public input by Gordon Clark today in the Province. Have to agree that a plan for transit and seniors and disabled was overlooked in the rush to get this passed. Arthur Erickson's vision in 1976 has little bearing and relavence in today's downtown environment.

http://blogs.theprovince.com/2016/04/21/...continues-bullying-tactics-at-city-hall/

[csbvan]

"Good"...."The Province". Not possible...

[Vin]

City voted to shut down Robson Square through traffic for good. IMO, another horrible decision.

http://www.vancitybuzz.com/2016/04/counc...close-robson-street-howe-hornby-traffic/

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by Vin

City voted to shut down Robson Square through traffic for good. IMO, another horrible decision.

http://www.vancitybuzz.com/2016/04/counc...close-robson-street-howe-hornby-traffic/

I like the idea of a large contiguous city square, but the transit and traffic will be a total mess. There's already a tunnel under Howe Street, so they couldn't go under there.
And they wouldn't dip under the square, even if they wanted to. Too much $$$$$$, and not "perdy" enough for Robson St. City hall has some good ideas, but remains myopic.
On top of all that, it seems to want to make as much of the city into a "cutesie theme park" as it possibly can, without the accompanying, necessary, road / transit infastructure.