The Great Canadian Waterfront Thread

[Prometheus]

Originally Posted by MonkeyRonin

Isn't the Seawall just the trail around Stanley Park?

No. The path around Stanley Park is just the oldest part of the Seawall, which began construction in 1917. Since 1980, the Seawall has been extended far beyond Stanley Park.

From the City of Vancouver website:

The seawall refers to the 22km (13.7 miles) walking, jogging, cycling and inline skating path that lines Vancouver's waterfront from the Convention Centre on Burrard Inlet (Coal Harbour), around Stanley Park and False Creek, past Granville Island and ending at Kitsilano Beach Park.

Here is a map of the current Vancouver seawall: http://vancouver.ca/files/cov/Seawal...table-Map3.pdf

[MonkeyRonin]

Oh wow, so it encompasses pretty much all of the publicly accessible waterfront in the central city then.

[Drybrain]

Originally Posted by someone123

I guess this is true of peninsular Halifax aside from Point Pleasant but it's not really true for the metropolitan area. Dartmouth and Bedford have their own waterfronts too and there are some pretty nice parks like Admiral's Cove and Fleming Park. There are also the harbour islands (you should go visit McNab's if you haven't) and a bunch of open coastal areas that are only a few minutes' drive past the edge of town. The suburbs are full of lakes too. Actually Long Lake Provincial Park is a 6 kilometre walk from downtown.

Yeah, I thought of that and kind of glossed it over, but you're right that outside the urban core there's a bunch of open coastline, including the Atlantic ocean, making it pretty unbeatable as far as waterfronts go. Heck, if you include all of HRM, you've got some of the most dramatic coastline in Canada. And I kind of ignored George's because it's hard to access, but yeah, if access to the island gets sorted out that'll be amazing. And I did ignore McNab's, along with Eastern Passage, the Bedford and Dartmouth waterfronts, etc., and the whole shoreline along the Arm, especially around the Dingle Tower.

So I backtrack a bit—I stand by my criticism/defence of the Toronto waterfront (amazing geographic range from bluffs to beaches, to inhabited islands to weird quasi-natural land spits, all in the immediate city). But Halifax's non-core waterfront isn't as innaccesible as I implied, and has some amazing stuff of its own.

[Delirium]

Originally Posted by MonkeyRonin

Oh wow, so it encompasses pretty much all of the publicly accessible waterfront in the central city then.

it also cuts through the city to link coal harbour and false creek.. here's a map



Photo by Samy Rendon https://www.flickr.com/photos/esepro...69500/sizes/h/


Photo by Samy Rendon https://www.flickr.com/photos/esepro...37012/sizes/h/

[The_Architect]

Toronto is doing a lot for its waterfront on either side of the York-Corus Quay section but that middle section between is still bleak and terrible. After Pier 27 is done it'll be slightly better but for the time being that section sucks.

Hopefully the new design competition for the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal will brighten it up a little, but the Westin Harbour Castle and whatnot around it really needs to be spruced up.

[WhipperSnapper]

I could see the Westin Harbour Castle's podium being renovated eventually but, the best solution would probably be to bridge the slips thereby bypassing the whole complex.

[hipster duck]

Having a good waterfront is a challenge just about anywhere.

Apart from the fact that most cities on the water were active industrial ports until only recently (or still are), there's the fact that the waterfront is likely to be windiest part of the city, or the most flood prone if you're on a major river. It's also the flattest part of the city, so that - plus the industrial port aspect - meant that it was the natural place for railway lines to be run in the 19th century.

There are only a handful of places in the world, let alone Canada, where the waterfront feels like a natural gathering place for the city, and not something engineered in the last generation or two. That goes for European cities, too, including some that we tend to celebrate in urban planning circles like Amsterdam (that is, along the Ij, not along its canals).

Apart from resort cities, these places tend to have a waterfront for leisure/recreation and a waterfront for industrial uses. For Vancouver, English Bay was always recreational while Burrard Inlet was traditionally the port's focus. This is kind of a shame because the views over Burrard Inlet toward the mountains are much more stunning, but it's understandable because it is a deep water harbour.

The other thing to remember is that waterfront regeneration is not quick. Vancouver turned False Creek from a heavy industrial area to what it is today, but it's still not 100% finished and it's taken over 40 years to get to where we are now. Toronto will get there too, but it will take a lot of time.

[rousseau]

This is lovely. But I can't place it. Which actual quay is this?

[mistercorporate]

Originally Posted by rousseau

This is lovely. But I can't place it. Which actual quay is this?

Corus Quay Boardwalk, Eastbound.

[rousseau]

Originally Posted by mistercorporate

Corus Quay Boardwalk, Eastbound.

Thanks.

[MonkeyRonin]

Still a bit desolate now, but it'll fill up as development continues along East Bayfront.

[MexiQuebecois]

I concur with those who mentioned the seawall. It was definitely the highlight of my Vancouver trip.

[Hali87]

Some scenes from along the Harbourwalk (Downtown Halifax waterfront):


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[Drybrain]

Originally Posted by Hali87

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I love this—these lamposts stuck way out on the a pier and they're visible for quite a distance down the boardwalk in both directions. Always striking when seen with the harbour and George's Island in the background, and one of my favourite pieces of public art, anywhere.

[TorontoDrew]

Aqualina by Tridle has started work on their massive site. It will be built in phases started from the west.

From Tridel.

[The_Architect]

^ Wow I didn't realise L Tower and 25 the Esplanade were so far apart! (the 1st render)

[caltrane74]

25 Esplanade is actually there twice. Just angled differently.

[240glt]

Our own little piece of waterfront in the Cariboo Interior of BC

[giallo]

Vancouver's seawall is unparalleled in the country. I was going through my old Vancouver photos to post some shots I've taken of the seawall, and it struck me by how many I have. Without realizing it, I spend so much time on the seawall when I'm back. It's a major part of the city. I can't imagine Vancouver without it. It's become its best amenity.

Here are a bunch of pictures taken of or from the seawall.

twink by matteroffact, on Flickr



sea by matteroffact, on Flickr



sealed by matteroffact, on Flickr



eh by matteroffact, on Flickr



break by matteroffact, on Flickr



plan by matteroffact, on Flickr



back it by matteroffact, on Flickr



dole by matteroffact, on Flickr



no no by matteroffact, on Flickr



retire by matteroffact, on Flickr



shored by matteroffact, on Flickr



strum by matteroffact, on Flickr



plain by matteroffact, on Flickr



stilt by matteroffact, on Flickr



power by matteroffact, on Flickr



paranoid by matteroffact, on Flickr



overachiever by matteroffact, on Flickr



lucid by matteroffact, on Flickr

[Delirium]

^ nice! Thanks for posting.
I never realized how much a show sunset was until i moved here. for example, at wreck beach, people are clapping and cheering as the sun sets. a way to say thanks to mother nature for giving us an awesome day. pretty cool experience.

here's english bay. always a crowd to watch the sun go down.

Photo by Westendphoto https://www.flickr.com/photos/westen...41576/sizes/h/