The Ugly Canada Thread - Page 513

WhipperSnapper · #**10241** Posted **Jul 5, 2017, 6:38 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

It was pretty common in industrial towns before zoning separated uses. Most of the old plants in Kitchener had workers homes next door. Good arrangement in a time when most people probably walked to work.

The homes were probably owned by the plant owners and rented out to workers.

Makes one think of the time when employees were paid in company script that only the company recognized as currency. They were handcuffed to buy/rent everything through the company. Now that's ugly thread material.

WhipperSnapper · #**10242** Posted **Jul 5, 2017, 6:39 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by O-tacular

Are there actually units on the backside? Would each unit only have one prison sized window?

Of course units are only on one side

kwoldtimer · #**10243** Posted **Jul 5, 2017, 6:43 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhipperSnapper

The homes were probably owned by the plant owners and rented out to workers.

Makes one think of the time when employees were paid in company script that only the company recognized as currency. They were handcuffed to buy/rent everything through the company. Now that's ugly thread material.

Perhaps at some time in the 19th century, but old K-W was a pretty strong "own you home" kind of place. I'm not aware that there was any history of company stores, although I'm old enough to remember all the old factory outlets - living in K-W meant not having to pay retail for a vast array of products, especially shoes and clothing!

SkahHigh · #**10244** Posted **Jul 5, 2017, 6:45 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martin Mtl

The "poor" owners have trouble coming their way from the borough who wants to force them to add more greenery and reduce the amount of pavement. Those houses broke the zoning regulations. Whatever happens next, at least we know that this will not become a trend within the limits of Montreal.

The owners were quoted saying « some of us even used architects and now we have to re-do it all again ».

You wouldn't have this problem if instead of asking to pave a huge disproportionate pathway all the way up to the sidewalk you paved a small one to your driveway and filled the rest with... I don't know, a lawn?

Some people make no use of their brain.

WhipperSnapper · #**10245** Posted **Jul 5, 2017, 7:06 PM**

Shouldn't cost more than hundreds of dollars to add soft surfaces to the mix. It's just labour. The city wants more than tell them to go to hell.

I hated these when I delivered newspapers as a kid. I call them driveway moats.

https://www.google.ca/maps/@43.6767606,-...VBC8J16mrvTY9mpj4vCmg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

O-tacular · #**10246** Posted **Jul 6, 2017, 3:58 AM**

So I saw this tonight. Just in time for Stampede!

http://i1375.photobucket.com/albums/ag478/oface5/IMG_9468_zpsbldpe50q.jpg

SignalHillHiker · #**10247** Posted **Jul 6, 2017, 12:18 PM**

I thought this was St-Pierre. Then noticed the vinyl and knew it was here. Figured it was out around the bay somewhere. Nope. Right in Mount Pearl. What a bizarre landscape.

TorontoDrew · #**10248** Posted **Jul 6, 2017, 1:42 PM**

What roads do you find ugly in your cities/towns? Weston in my opinion is one of the most soul sucking street I can think of in Toronto. It feels like something out of the U.S. And I just randomly saw this guy, lol. Is that a costume or did he end up here from the southern U.S?

https://www.google.ca/maps/@43.6997559,-...VL21iQXbsJf8GkwMhbIPQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

WhipperSnapper · #**10249** Posted **Jul 6, 2017, 2:25 PM**

random suburbia is a greater lost cause

https://www.google.ca/maps/@43.7471359,-...o0kLMQ1a1eUSdDRDCdh6Q!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

TorontoDrew · #**10250** Posted **Jul 6, 2017, 2:27 PM**

At least that's better kept. Weston Rd is is a mish mash of run down buildings.

SkahHigh · #**10251** Posted **Jul 6, 2017, 2:38 PM**

I mean yeah Weston is ugly but it doesn't beat Laval's Boulevard des Laurentides:

https://www.google.ca/maps/@45.6003448,-...itch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656

Looks like something you'd find in a town of 10,000, not in Canada's 13th largest city. I'd honestly rather take Jane Street and it's blandness (at least it has greenery and plenty of space).

PhilippeMtl · #**10252** Posted **Jul 6, 2017, 10:47 PM**

Frontenac is fugly

https://www.google.ca/maps/@45.5372065,-...JiA708enU26z4geVco3Gw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

SignalHillHiker · #**10253** Posted **Jul 7, 2017, 12:18 AM**

In St. John's, basically anywhere outside Empire Avenue.

Perhaps most hideous of all is Kenmount Road:

https://www.google.ca/maps/@47.5555239,-...rZJvYzouovt_YXw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en

But any of the main drags away from the older core is the absolute worst suburbia has to offer.

There's Topsail Road:

https://www.google.ca/maps/@47.5243872,-...0RuRqfL_hLL-7Mg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en

And Torbay Road:

https://www.google.ca/maps/@47.6027736,-...bLjOVIZLVMRMV_w!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en

And Portugal Cove Road:

https://www.google.ca/maps/@47.5935913,-...D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en

Etc., etc., etc.

FrAnKs · #**10254** Posted **Jul 7, 2017, 1:24 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SkahHigh

I mean yeah Weston is ugly but it doesn't beat Laval's Boulevard des Laurentides:

https://www.google.ca/maps/@45.6003448,-...itch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656

Looks like something you'd find in a town of 10,000, not in Canada's 13th largest city. I'd honestly rather take Jane Street and it's blandness (at least it has greenery and plenty of space).

Ahhh lots of Childhood memories. I lived right there.

Architype · #**10255** Posted **Jul 7, 2017, 1:55 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SignalHillHiker

In St. John's, basically anywhere outside Empire Avenue.
...
Etc., etc., etc.

I thought O'Leary Avenue area was pretty bad when I lived there, but in recent years the trees have matured more and softened it's edges.

https://goo.gl/maps/d3ii17UmKFP2

advance62 · #**10256** Posted **Jul 7, 2017, 2:11 AM**

This abomination in Waterloo: https://www.google.ca/maps/@43.4678818,-...zpaaWZQaPAcSc-w!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en

https://www.google.ca/maps/@43.4679351,-...FhwQ2yQ-VSLijUg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en

Architype · #**10257** Posted **Jul 7, 2017, 2:15 AM**

We shouldn't pick on other places without pointing out Vancouver has it's own special kinds of ugly:

https://goo.gl/maps/EZzBUh9btwE2
https://goo.gl/maps/9WeGamgcMmS2
https://goo.gl/maps/DVmchWCdrnF2
https://goo.gl/maps/jrRYadB2mTP2
https://goo.gl/maps/Ey5sTKRizsy
https://goo.gl/maps/jhVQu4AdmT92

GlassCity · #**10258** Posted **Jul 7, 2017, 3:30 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Architype

We shouldn't pick on other places without pointing out Vancouver has it's own special kinds of ugly:

https://goo.gl/maps/EZzBUh9btwE2
https://goo.gl/maps/9WeGamgcMmS2
https://goo.gl/maps/DVmchWCdrnF2
https://goo.gl/maps/jrRYadB2mTP2
https://goo.gl/maps/Ey5sTKRizsy
https://goo.gl/maps/jhVQu4AdmT92

Oh come on! Vancouver specials obviously aren't great looking but they have charm and character in their quaintness. Maybe it's just cause I grew up in the suburbs, but I've always loved them for their low-key look.

The real ugliest street I can think of is the Langley Bypass. Not just in Vancouver (kinda), but in Canada.

https://www.google.ca/maps/@49.1130969,-...NnSptSDzyc7m-uA8q1LyQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

osirisboy · #**10259** Posted **Jul 7, 2017, 3:59 AM**

I alwaysfelt Kingsway was one of the worst although there are sections that are improving

Architype · #**10260** Posted **Jul 7, 2017, 6:21 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by GlassCity

Oh come on! Vancouver specials obviously aren't great looking but they have charm and character in their quaintness. Maybe it's just cause I grew up in the suburbs, but I've always loved them for their low-key look.

The real ugliest street I can think of is the Langley Bypass. Not just in Vancouver (kinda), but in Canada.

https://www.google.ca/maps/@49.1130969,-...NnSptSDzyc7m-uA8q1LyQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Well, they are charming in the way that plastic flowers are charming. Some of the landscaping, flowers, kitschy fences and statues are pretty, but c'mon, for taste, really? The actual house designs are architecturally laughable, and the older ones are just cheap, depressing, and dowdy. Of course, East Van is full of this, while the West side is much better.