Great Canadian Skyline Thread II

[Coldrsx]

twitter.com/ianoyeg

[craner]

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

twitter.com/ianoyeg

I always think of Pearl as Edmonton's version of Aura.

[christmas]

Toronto would look so much better if they buried the utility lines going through most of the city. The utility lines make Toronto look run-down. Just compare Bloor St. W to King St. W.

[koops65]

Who is going to cough up several billion $ to do that?

[christmas]

Originally Posted by koops65

Who is going to cough up several billion $ to do that?

Well, that's the problem right?
Ottawa seems to be doing a good job of burying their utility lines with many of their recent mid to high -rise developments. Maybe learn from them...?

[rousseau]

Originally Posted by ainvan

life by Pierre Séguin, on Flickr

I'm loving the pseudo-Amsterdam dockside vibe in this pic (just the foreground, not Bay St). Is my characterization too much of a stretch?

Compare:

https://www.google.ca/maps/@43.6434894,-...GPWJ-Z3hL9MjsqcmIyEjg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

https://www.google.ca/maps/@52.3843763,4...NyH_ZGxcaKRXbPFdVufNg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

[WhipperSnapper]

Originally Posted by Martin Mtl

Montreal by StephV909 on flickr


Montréal je t'aime ! by Nicole Vachon on flickr


Port of Montreal by Sammyboy77 on flickr


Beautiful Montreal at blue hour by Sammyboy77 on flickr


Sur les toits de Montréal 1 by B_ Slash_ on flickr

Yoo looks great

[WhipperSnapper]

Originally Posted by christmas

Well, that's the problem right?
Ottawa seems to be doing a good job of burying their utility lines with many of their recent mid to high -rise developments. Maybe learn from them...?

They are being buried little by little. Toronto also has that run downed look regardless of the wires . See Yonge, Church, etc.

[Nouvellecosse]

Originally Posted by christmas

Toronto would look so much better if they buried the utility lines going through most of the city. The utility lines make Toronto look run-down. Just compare Bloor St. W to King St. W.

If I were to compare Bloor to King, the first thing that stands out would be... the streetcars. Even if they buried the utility wires, wouldn't there still be a visible overhead structure for the pantograph?

[christmas]

Originally Posted by Nouvellecosse

If I were to compare Bloor to King, the first thing that stands out would be... the streetcars. Even if they buried the utility wires, wouldn't there still be a visible overhead structure for the pantograph?

That's very true, but I consider catenary overheads unique. When it is integrated with the buildings of Toronto, it gives the city character.
But the utility lines running along King Street isn't unique; it's just dirty:

https://www.google.ca/maps/@43.6443471,-...8M26vJALsnnScEZsJeBlw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

(by the looks of it, they're not going to bury those lines with the office development in the link btw)

Of course, Toronto isn't meant to be Paris or Rome -- it's not designed to be a tourist city, but it is also true that large portions of downtown would look much tidier and less "slummy" for lack of a better word.

Not that this matters, but I know a lot of foreigners who frown upon those lines. This happened in Vancouver, but my friend (who is from a foreign country) waits until he gets to a spot where the utility lines don't obstruct his camera view of the skyline/buildings, to snap a picture.

[GeneralLea]

Hmm. I've never seen the issue of power lines. They can be pretty messy at times, but they tend to look fine in the less dense portions of the city. (Queen West or East, King West)

One point that I can see your issue from is how the Hydro companies or whoever (OPG?..I have no idea anymore) don't replace some street poles throughout the city. I see how they can't fix all poles across the province or city in a timely manner due to manufacturers, cost, contractors and all, but eventually, some areas of Toronto tend to have the occasional rust bucket of a street pole. I see as well that wooden poles that support wiring through some downtown streets, like King street, are mangled with staples and general street wear and tear. I guess they might get buried some time in the future...or replaced. Here are some poles that might be an issue to some..I'm okay with them.

In Midtown...https://www.google.ca/maps/@43.7064205,-...hLmg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en&authuser=0
https://www.google.ca/maps/@43.7060844,-...hFbg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en&authuser=0

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by christmas

That's very true, but I consider catenary overheads unique. When it is integrated with the buildings of Toronto, it gives the city character.
But the utility lines running along King Street isn't unique; it's just dirty:

https://www.google.ca/maps/@43.6443471,-...8M26vJALsnnScEZsJeBlw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

(by the looks of it, they're not going to bury those lines with the office development in the link btw)

Of course, Toronto isn't meant to be Paris or Rome -- it's not designed to be a tourist city, but it is also true that large portions of downtown would look much tidier and less "slummy" for lack of a better word.

Not that this matters, but I know a lot of foreigners who frown upon those lines. This happened in Vancouver, but my friend (who is from a foreign country) waits until he gets to a spot where the utility lines don't obstruct his camera view of the skyline/buildings, to snap a picture.

Yeah, I've heard the argument that the wires add a certain charm to the city but I don't think I agree. Some Euro cities like Helsinki and Vienna do have overheard tram wires, but I'd sat they'd look better without them.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by rousseau

I'm loving the pseudo-Amsterdam dockside vibe in this pic (just the foreground, not Bay St). Is my characterization too much of a stretch?

Compare:

https://www.google.ca/maps/@43.6434894,-...GPWJ-Z3hL9MjsqcmIyEjg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

https://www.google.ca/maps/@52.3843763,4...NyH_ZGxcaKRXbPFdVufNg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

I totally get this and thought the same thing. That foreground is also reminiscent of certain newer areas in Nordic cities, and of a newish part of Munich I stayed in a few years ago.

[Martin Mtl]

P2130596 by Athena Gala on flickr


P2130603 by Athena Gala on flickr

[GreaterMontréal]

Ca commence à ressembler à kek chose.

[someone123]

Source

[TorontoDrew]

Originally Posted by christmas

That's very true, but I consider catenary overheads unique. When it is integrated with the buildings of Toronto, it gives the city character.
But the utility lines running along King Street isn't unique; it's just dirty:

https://www.google.ca/maps/@43.6443471,-...8M26vJALsnnScEZsJeBlw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

(by the looks of it, they're not going to bury those lines with the office development in the link btw)

Of course, Toronto isn't meant to be Paris or Rome -- it's not designed to be a tourist city, but it is also true that large portions of downtown would look much tidier and less "slummy" for lack of a better word.

Not that this matters, but I know a lot of foreigners who frown upon those lines. This happened in Vancouver, but my friend (who is from a foreign country) waits until he gets to a spot where the utility lines don't obstruct his camera view of the skyline/buildings, to snap a picture.

What do you mean not designed to be a tourist city? And no offense but Toronto has nothing to learn from Ottawa. If the rest of Canada would let Toronto keep more then 4% of the taxes we generate maybe we could do things like bury our wires or build more subways.

[WhipperSnapper]

Originally Posted by Acajack

Yeah, I've heard the argument that the wires add a certain charm to the city but I don't think I agree. Some Euro cities like Helsinki and Vienna do have overheard tram wires, but I'd sat they'd look better without them.

If there has ever been one consensus on urbantoronto and all the other forums is that the overhead wires are ugly. That said, there's nostalgia (charm if you prefer) and historical value to recreating a stretch of the rapidly disappearing turn of the century hydro poles in a stretch of street that looks pretty much like it did 50 to 100 years ago.

King has a lot of overhead lines for whatever reason. It's always perplex me as the neighbouring streets like Queen and Front have long stretches which are buried (particularly in the east end of downtown) King also has an underground network as well. There's manholes leading to hydro vaults along the whole stretch

[WhipperSnapper]

Originally Posted by TorontoDrew

What do you mean not designed to be a tourist city? And no offense but Toronto has nothing to learn from Ottawa. If the rest of Canada would let Toronto keep more then 4% of the taxes we generate maybe we could do things like bury our wires or build more subways.

I think he's referring to the practice of developers burying short sections (between one or two poles) in front of their developments. This was common in Toronto last boom and unheard of this boom. I can see Toronto hydro not liking this arrangement having wires go underground/overground/underground/overground. They would probably have to start over anyways when it came time to completing the underground network as developers aren't likely to pay the costs for the overbuilt, underground hydro vault system.

[Beedok]

Overhead wires are part of the canopy. They're comforting. Like trees.