Ugly Canada 2 (Only architecture, planning and design faux pas)

[stevanford1]

Judge Dredd called, he wants his tower back

[vid]

You missed the base!



so many of my Hamilton photos are out of focus like this its like what was it pointing to?? Is it becuase of the rain?

Hamiltonianites, what are they building back there?

[vid]

I'm editing my Hamilton photos right now. Guelph and Galt are long done, Kitchener was just finished. I'll be posting the photo threads in 12 years apparently.

[stevanford1]

Originally Posted by vid

You missed the base!



so many of my Hamilton photos are out of focus like this its like what was it pointing to?? Is it becuase of the rain?

Hamiltonianites, what are they building back there?

Landmark Bunker!

[ScreamingViking]

Originally Posted by vid

You missed the base!



so many of my Hamilton photos are out of focus like this its like what was it pointing to?? Is it becuase of the rain?

Hamiltonianites, what are they building back there?

I believe the focus issue is the trans-dimensional effect of the evil you captured with your lens.

Beneath that crane rises a New Power in the East... a clock tower, to rival and defeat Landmark Barad-dûr Place

[ScreamingViking]

Originally Posted by stevanford1

Hamilton’s other mall ain’t beautiful either.

The 1970s called... said to say "FU" then hung up

Jackson Square, the first downtown mall in the Hammer and product of the era of "let's demolish everything old because it sucks, and renew!". She's had little investment by the owner over the ensuing decades... expansions to add more mundanity, but not enough upgrading to the older parts, just some make-up that can never conceal.

It's been coming back though, slowly. I'd love to see a new owner take over and turn this block into something respectable. The more the downtown bounces back, the more that possibility becomes real.

[vid]

When I was in Burlington I went to that mall by the QEW, it's an ugly mall. There was only one restaurant in the food court that we don't have here, I was pretty annoyed. I only went there because I took a wrong exit (again) and I really had to pee.

I actually like Jackson Mall, I stay at the Sheraton when I'm in Hamilton and it's connected right to it which is convenient if you're there in winter. It's not a bad mall but it's definitely not something you would go to if you weren't already nearby. Hamilton City Centre was really fun, I regret that I didn't take time to walk through it again on my latest trip. Put your headphones on and listen to some vaporwave and it's like being in a Dan Bell video.

[ScreamingViking]

Originally Posted by vid

When I was in Burlington I went to that mall by the QEW, it's an ugly mall. There was only one restaurant in the food court that we don't have here, I was pretty annoyed. I only went there because I took a wrong exit (again) and I really had to pee.

I actually like Jackson Mall, I stay at the Sheraton when I'm in Hamilton and it's connected right to it which is convenient if you're there in winter. It's not a bad mall but it's definitely not something you would go to if you weren't already nearby. Hamilton City Centre was really fun, I regret that I didn't take time to walk through it again on my latest trip. Put your headphones on and listen to some vaporwave and it's like being in a Dan Bell video.

Ah... Mapleview Centre. Only called such because it abuts Maple Ave. I've lived in Burlington for 13 years and for the times I need to go to a mall, 95% chance I visit the much older Burlington Mall (recently redubbed Burlington Centre after some renewal and change).

When it opened, the Hamilton "Eaton Centre" had a lot more going on, but it was still far too much retail given the marketplace so only 2/3 of the 3 levels were leased. Built at the beginning of the 1990s recession, just as downtown Hammy started its bottoming out. As City Centre it's a relic with potential, but in need of a serious renovation. If a developer were to build condo or rental towers around the mall atrium, it would make a good connecting space. Retail isn't needed so much, but other public and institutional uses could make a good home there, perhaps some entertainment and offices.

EDIT: of all the renewal and new development happening in Hamilton, the two downtown malls present some of the most intriguing "what ifs". The city is considering what to do with First Ontario Centre too, the arena attached to Jackson Square.

[megadude]

Curious. What did you find ugly about Mapleview Mall in Burlington?

[vid]

Originally Posted by megadude

Curious. What did you find ugly about Mapleview Mall in Burlington?

Its architecture. Thing's a fucking beast, it's like a bunch of plastic chunks. Better looking than most malls sure but that's like saying a poop is less smelly than most poops tbqh.

[Architype]

Originally Posted by vid

Its architecture. Thing's a fucking beast, it's like a bunch of plastic chunks. Better looking than most malls sure but that's like saying a poop is less smelly than most poops tbqh.

You're being mall-icious.

[megadude]

I like the main entrance, which is the side facing the highway. Everything else is basically average, including the inside. This entrance actually gives the impression that it's a fancier mall but the interior disproves that.

As for visiting, I prefer both Burlington Mall and Oakville Place better. Both are never super busy like Yorkdale or SQ1 but are not even close to being dying malls. Oakville Place is my favourite now that I'm not in my 20s anymore. None of the popular stores that attract the punks and the riff raff other than H&M and is super well lit in there to always make it bright. And 5 minutes from home is a bonus.



https://www.thelineidraw.com/architecture

[vid]

It looks like an arena. I sat in that window and watched the traffic go by as I ate way too much tabbouleh. I think I have a photo of it.



I know it doesn't look like much in this photo but it was like 75% mint it was like eating toothpaste leaves the rest was ok

I do rate their washroom a solid 9/10 would hookup with a stranger in there

[ScreamingViking]

Mapleview is more the "fashion" mall. As a guy in my late 40s, few of those stores have been a draw in two-plus decades. And so many are geared to women's wear so there's that too.

What's funny is both of B-town's malls -- the older with 130 stores, the newer with ~180 -- are within 3 km of each other. Maybe that's just a modern-day example of Hotelling's Law, despite the fashion-store disparity.

[vid]

Our mall is the same. Like with Mapleview, I only use it for the food court. Thunder Bay's mall actually has a nice back-side access door that brings you right into the foodcourt, you don't have to see any other stores. I brought a friend from Toronto to that mall once and told him that that was the main entrance and he believed me at first.

[megadude]

The proximity of the two is the first thing I noticed when I moved to Burlington.

I noticed the fashion thing too. Judging by the entrance and higher end cars, many from dealerships around Hamilton like Ancaster, where there's a great deal of people with money, I figured it was a fancy destination mall. Basically the Yorkdale of the West. But it ain't all that. More like it's the fashion mall by default for people in this area.

The only reason I've gone both times was to pick up clearance items I ordered at Lids. It's either there or SQ1 and I do all I can to avoid SQ1 like the plague.

I will say this though. I like how close it is to charming DT Burlington to the SE and gorgeous Aldershot to the SW and the fascinating Burlington Beach to the south. Plus, if you take Plains to King Rd and head north, you're driving up the Escarpment within 5 minutes.

[ScreamingViking]

Originally Posted by megadude

The proximity of the two is the first thing I noticed when I moved to Burlington.

I noticed the fashion thing too. Judging by the entrance and higher end cars, many from dealerships around Hamilton like Ancaster, where there's a great deal of people with money, I figured it was a fancy destination mall. Basically the Yorkdale of the West. But it ain't all that. More like it's the fashion mall by default for people in this area.

It does make some sense -- they're both central in a fairly wealthy suburb approaching 200,000 in population. The closest big "power centres" are well north of the QEW or near the Oakville border.

Still a bit odd given that the mall-era has ebbed. Yet both malls have survived, so the retail money must be there.

[vid]

Thunder Bay has a Lids so it can't be too high end. Most of the stores in there are things we had here and our mall isn't fancy by any measure.

Corpus Christi, Texas, has two large shopping malls right across from each other. Shops at La Palmera and Sunrise Mall. Between them is a power centre called La Palmira. Dan Bell did a video tour of Sunrise Mall, it's where the Legend of Billie Jean was filmed.

[Proof Sheet]

Originally Posted by ScreamingViking

The 1970s called... said to say "FU" then hung up

Jackson Square, the first downtown mall in the Hammer and product of the era of "let's demolish everything old because it sucks, and renew!". She's had little investment by the owner over the ensuing decades... expansions to add more mundanity, but not enough upgrading to the older parts, just some make-up that can never conceal.

It's been coming back though, slowly. I'd love to see a new owner take over and turn this block into something respectable. The more the downtown bounces back, the more that possibility becomes real.

I was at Jackson Square in the spring of 2018 while waiting for a passenger coming off a bus from Toronto. What a cesspit of critters that mall has as customers on a Sunday afternoon. I didn't look too closely but I'm sure vape shops, stores selling knock off printer cartridges, places selling family tree crests and charts, custom t shirt place, a head shop, would all do well there.

[stevanford1]

Originally Posted by vid

Its architecture. Thing's a fucking beast, it's like a bunch of plastic chunks. Better looking than most malls sure but that's like saying a poop is less smelly than most poops tbqh.

While I agree with you that Mapleview is a monster, these are worse