Locke Street - Page 16

crhayes · #**301** Posted **Nov 12, 2009, 7:44 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by highwater

I cannot believe holey poley got the most votes. The mallification of Locke begins.

Yeah I'm really not a fan of that option; I think they are pretty ugly. I think the reason it's been voted highest is because they are visually the most salient. The poetry option would probably go unnoticed by many people, and the cats as well.

I think poles are a good idea, and they should use these results as an indication that people prefer the pole option and not necessarily the design of the poles themselves. A few more pole designs should be put together, voted on, and a final design chosen.

adam · #**302** Posted **Nov 12, 2009, 11:25 PM**

"Holey Poley" is going to look "wholly outdated" in about 5 years.

SteelTown · #**303** Posted **Nov 13, 2009, 3:50 PM**

woreg75 · #**304** Posted **Nov 13, 2009, 4:44 PM**

In five years they could be repainted... That area could use a rainbow...

highwater · #**305** Posted **Nov 13, 2009, 5:11 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by adam

"Holey Poley" is going to look "wholly outdated" in about 5 years.

They're already dated. Way PoMo.

geoff's two cents · #**306** Posted **Nov 13, 2009, 5:58 PM**

Ugh! Couldn't they just plant more trees instead?!

emge · #**307** Posted **Nov 13, 2009, 8:09 PM**

Blerrgh. they'll look great at night, but not any other time.

It's also a bit frustrating that streets doing well get public art, and not other ones where people are giving a shot at revitalization, but could really use some neighbourhood-specific and area-specific branding and visual improvement.

FairHamilton · #**308** Posted **Nov 13, 2009, 8:14 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by emge

Blerrgh. they'll look great at night, but not any other time.

It's also a bit frustrating that streets doing well get public art, and not other ones where people are giving a shot at revitalization, but could really use some neighbourhood-specific and area-specific branding and visual improvement.

Also frustrating that streets like Locke that are doing well had all their parking meters removed, while they still exist on challenged streets such as Barton, King East, the Delta area and east, etc........

Atticus · #**309** Posted **Nov 13, 2009, 9:01 PM**

Actually, Locke Street has never had parking meters. The city tried several times in the past to convince local merchants of the benefits of meters, but always got spirited resistance.

FairHamilton · #**310** Posted **Nov 13, 2009, 9:44 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atticus

Actually, Locke Street has never had parking meters. The city tried several times in the past to convince local merchants of the benefits of meters, but always got spirited resistance.

They must have been there at one time, as there are concreted in parking meter poles sized holes up and down the street where parking meters would sit.

I noticed them when walking the street as part of the art competition when a group of us were considering entering a bid. At first I thought they'd removed bike racks, but then realized they were spaced for parking meters.

Next time you are on Locke take a look.

Atticus · #**311** Posted **Nov 13, 2009, 10:54 PM**

nope, i grew up on the street and they never had'em as far back as the 60's. probably the city installed the poles in one of the previous attempts and didn't remove them because eventually they hope to try again...

FairHamilton · #**312** Posted **Nov 14, 2009, 4:22 AM**

The poles are gone. There are just circles in the pavement where they once existed.

highwater · #**313** Posted **Dec 7, 2009, 3:06 PM**

Rumour has it sanity has prevailed, and Concrete Poetry has won the Locke St. art competition. Thankfully Locke St.'s continued rise won't be hampered by those undignified, kitschy poles, although it would have been kinda funny watching them get plastered with posters.

BrianE · #**314** Posted **Dec 7, 2009, 3:39 PM**

Has sanity prevailed? or is this a gross miscarriage of democracy? The public did vote for Holey Poley and an unelected tyranical despotic commitee gets to override?

Ok, so I'm hamming it up a bit. I'm sure the poetry will be a less obvious but welcome addition to the streetscape.

markk · #**315** Posted **Dec 7, 2009, 4:03 PM**

^ i'm disappointed. Concrete poetry seemed a like a bit of snoozer for me.

highwater · #**316** Posted **Dec 7, 2009, 4:03 PM**

I know you're just having a bit of fun, but it should be noted that it was made clear the public vote would 'inform' the decision, but not dictate it. The shop owners had alot of say and they hated holey poley. That's why Locke St. is succeeding - tasteful, sensible shop owners.

adam · #**317** Posted **Dec 8, 2009, 3:42 AM**

I am convinced holey poley was voted for only by store owners outside of Locke in an attempt to sabotage the street!

markbarbera · #**318** Posted **Dec 8, 2009, 4:46 PM**

The whimsical nature of holey poley doesn't fit into the emerging new retail theme of Locke. Locke is evolving more towards a higher end, exclusive boutique-type shopping district. Concrete poetry would play better with that crowd.

I think the concept of holey poley has been missed by most of those critical of it. Perhaps holey poley can be transplanted to a more young, hip, fun-loving street that would be enlivened by its whimsy, or whose established shopkeepers are more in line with the playful nature of this public art concept. Dundurn South would be a good candidate, or perhaps King William.

SteelTown · #**319** Posted **Dec 8, 2009, 5:14 PM**

Holey poley would be good for James Street North.

highwater · #**320** Posted **Dec 8, 2009, 9:40 PM**

My friends and acquaintances in the arts community uniformly despise holey poley. The gallery owners on James N would never go for it. The only place HP is good for is the parking lot at Limeridge or Meadowlands E.