Great Canadian Skyline Thread II - Page 886

Martin Mtl · #**17701** Posted **Aug 18, 2021, 1:31 PM**

Griffintown

Crédit photo: @bordodo

Razor · #**17702** Posted **Aug 18, 2021, 1:48 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

skylines are wickedly awesome to us skyscraper geeks, but what really matters is life on the ground, and downtown Montreal does it better than most if not all other cities in Canada. I am much less concerned about sore thumb skylines (Edmonton) vs. table-top (Vancouver until very recently) if the street life is outstanding. Melbourne street life is arguably better than Sydney's, at least going from my own personal experiences.

Yes..I concur. Montreal, especially in the summertime, is the type of city where you can just visit with no real aim other then wondering around with dinner in mind after, and through sheer happenstance stumble onto something cool like a small park drumming competition/festival or something similar.

le calmar · #**17703** Posted **Aug 18, 2021, 4:22 PM**

Montreal is hard to beat on that level. I walked to downtown all the way from Beaubien last month, and it’s solid wall to wall density, animation, neighbourhood pubs, cafés and bakeries, green alleys, lively plazas and parks, etc. And it goes on and on, seemingly endlessly and seamlessly. I don’t think there’s anything like it in Canada. There’s that feeling that something interesting or artsy is always just around the corner.

Rico Rommheim · #**17704** Posted **Aug 18, 2021, 5:00 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by le calmar

Montreal is hard to beat on that level. I walked to downtown all the way from Beaubien last month, and it’s solid wall to wall density, animation, neighbourhood pubs, cafés and bakeries, green alleys, lively plazas and parks, etc. And it goes on and on, seemingly endlessly and seamlessly. I don’t think there’s anything like it in Canada. There’s that feeling that something interesting or artsy is always just around the corner.

I love this.

For me, this is the type of city that is built organically over time, with small and medium scale residential types and without the automobile in mind. Montreal is very lucky. Toronto has that too of course, but it just doesn't feel the same to me.

MonkeyRonin · #**17705** Posted **Aug 18, 2021, 5:03 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by le calmar

Montreal is hard to beat on that level. I walked to downtown all the way from Beaubien last month, and it’s solid wall to wall density, animation, neighbourhood pubs, cafés and bakeries, green alleys, lively plazas and parks, etc. And it goes on and on, seemingly endlessly and seamlessly. I don’t think there’s anything like it in Canada. There’s that feeling that something interesting or artsy is always just around the corner.

That's 5km through the most vibrant swath of Montreal. A similar 5km walk could take you from Parkdale or Bloorcourt to downtown Toronto, or from Mt. Pleasant or Kitsilano to downtown Vancouver. These would also yield an invigorating walk with a cornucopia of urban delights to enjoy.

Montreal is a special place, but I sometimes get the sense that it's fetishized a bit on here for its traits that are more broadly emblematic of a healthy city moreso than they are actually specific to Montreal. Its got its own vibe & its own take on it, but a continuous 5km stretch of vibrant urban life is something you should be able to find in any decent city.

le calmar · #**17706** Posted **Aug 18, 2021, 5:19 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonkeyRonin

That's 5km through the most vibrant swath of Montreal. A similar 5km walk could take you from Parkdale or Bloorcourt to downtown Toronto, or from Mt. Pleasant or Kitsilano to downtown Vancouver. These would also yield an invigorating walk with a cornucopia of urban delights to enjoy.

Montreal is a special place, but I sometimes get the sense that it's fetishized a bit on here for its traits that are more broadly emblematic of a healthy city moreso than they are actually specific to Montreal. Its got its own vibe & its own take on it, but a continuous 5km stretch of vibrant urban life is something you should be able to find in any decent city.

Oh yeah, parts of Toronto and Vancouver have similar characteristics, of course. I am not saying this is unique to Montreal. I am just expressing my opinion - I feel like those very urban parts of Montreal have more of a special touch - at least in a Canadian context. It has to do with the built form I think. I didn’t intend to start a comparison game. (To be fair I should probably not have said there’s nothing like it in Canada)

Rico Rommheim · #**17707** Posted **Aug 18, 2021, 5:20 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonkeyRonin

That's 5km through the most vibrant swath of Montreal. A similar 5km walk could take you from Parkdale or Bloorcourt to downtown Toronto, or from Mt. Pleasant or Kitsilano to downtown Vancouver. These would also yield an invigorating walk with a cornucopia of urban delights to enjoy.

Montreal is a special place, but I sometimes get the sense that it's fetishized a bit on here for its traits that are more broadly emblematic of a healthy city moreso than they are actually specific to Montreal. Its got its own vibe & its own take on it, but a continuous 5km stretch of vibrant urban life is something you should be able to find in any decent city.

This is precisely true.

Although to be fair, The Calmar could have walked 15 km from downtown to Old Lachine and have experienced the exact same amount of density and urban activity, arguably better. That's where Montreal becomes Montreal.

le calmar · #**17708** Posted **Aug 18, 2021, 5:36 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rico Rommheim

This is precisely true.

Although to be fair, The Calmar could have walked 15 km from downtown to Old Lachine and have experienced the exact same amount of density and urban activity, arguably better. That's where Montreal becomes Montreal.

It goes on forever and in every direction, it’s seamless, it’s mostly bordered by contiguous buildings of different eras. This is the stuff that struck me as impressive. Now, is it unique? No, but it’s pretty damn nice.

vanman · #**17709** Posted **Aug 19, 2021, 12:56 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by le calmar

Montreal is hard to beat on that level. I walked to downtown all the way from Beaubien last month, and it’s solid wall to wall density, animation, neighbourhood pubs, cafés and bakeries, green alleys, lively plazas and parks, etc. And it goes on and on, seemingly endlessly and seamlessly. I don’t think there’s anything like it in Canada. There’s that feeling that something interesting or artsy is always just around the corner.

I need to take notes here.

I'm in Montreal for another few days and what you described is exactly the kind of experience I would enjoy. What route did you walk if you dont mind me asking?

vanman · #**17710** Posted **Aug 19, 2021, 1:00 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martin Mtl

Griffintown

Crédit photo: @bordodo

I'm amazed how much Griffintown has filled out. Last time I was in Montreal was just over a decade ago and back then I think there were only handful of buildings under construction.

urbanight93 · #**17711** Posted **Aug 19, 2021, 4:24 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

skylines are wickedly awesome to us skyscraper geeks, but what really matters is life on the ground, and downtown Montreal does it better than most if not all other cities in Canada. I am much less concerned about sore thumb skylines (Edmonton) vs. table-top (Vancouver until very recently) if the street life is outstanding. Melbourne street life is arguably better than Sydney's, at least going from my own personal experiences.

This comment is everything. When I first started lurking this forum over 10 years ago now, all that mattered to me were tower heights and soaring skylines. Since then, I've lived in Vancouver, Montreal and Toronto and can confirm that heights now mean way less to me at this stage, especially when it comes to the at-grade experience and overall architecture and quality. I'll take a stroll in Montreal's old port over a walk along Toronto's King Street any day.

MolsonExport · #**17712** Posted **Aug 19, 2021, 4:52 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by vanman

I'm amazed how much Griffintown has filled out. Last time I was in Montreal was just over a decade ago and back then I think there were only handful of buildings under construction.

I recall walking the streets of Griffintown during Montreal's nadir period (1990s) and it was a ghost town of derelict buildings, abandoned factories and windswept empty lots.

Great old days:

all images c/o vanishing montreal

le calmar · #**17713** Posted **Aug 19, 2021, 7:43 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by vanman

I need to take notes here.

I'm in Montreal for another few days and what you described is exactly the kind of experience I would enjoy. What route did you walk if you dont mind me asking?

I started around Villeray and St-Hubert and ended up downtown in the McGill ghetto. It’s hard to say which streets I took exactly, but I know for one thing I walked on St-Hubert, Beaubien, Mont-Royal, Saint-Denis, Saint-Laurent, Drolet, Duluth and Prince-Arthur.

vanman · #**17714** Posted **Aug 20, 2021, 7:21 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

I recall walking the streets of Griffintown during Montreal's nadir period (1990s) and it was a ghost town of derelict buildings, abandoned factories and windswept empty lots.

Great old days:

all images c/o vanishing montreal

Pretty incredible. It's full of bike lanes and beautiful people now sprinkled with remnants from its industrial past.

vanman · #**17715** Posted **Aug 20, 2021, 7:23 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by le calmar

I started around Villeray and St-Hubert and ended up downtown in the McGill ghetto. It’s hard to say which streets I took exactly, but I know for one thing I walked on St-Hubert, Beaubien, Mont-Royal, Saint-Denis, Saint-Laurent, Drolet, Duluth and Prince-Arthur.

Great. Thanks a lot.