Gore Park - Page 28

matt602 · #**541** Posted **Jun 30, 2012, 2:22 PM**

"If you weren't pregnant I'd fight you"

*fights anyway*

realcity · #**542** Posted **Jun 30, 2012, 11:47 PM**

Remind me again why The Royal Connaught is vacant?

matt602 · #**543** Posted **Jul 1, 2012, 1:20 AM**

Because there's no market for restoring a 13 story building that's been vacant since 2004 without a massive injection of public dollars resulting in a mediocre end result. (sounds kind of like the Lister Block, which was less than half as large in size)

SteelTown · #**544** Posted **Jul 6, 2012, 4:51 PM**

The new Gore Park Pedestrian Pilot program opens at 1pm on July 11st, along with the Gore Park Summer Promenade (Wednesday, Thursday and Friday @ 11am-5:30pm).

matt602 · #**545** Posted **Jul 6, 2012, 6:01 PM**

Noticed that it was nearly complete yesterday. Not exactly awe inspiring but it does compliment the patios on King south side a bit better. Hoping that they will do the entire stretch from James to John soon after this.

thistleclub · #**546** Posted **Jul 7, 2012, 3:08 PM**

Considering what they've done in the pilot, they ought to have been able to get this converted in a couple of weeks rather than a couple of months. With the exception of a rise to sidewalk level adjacent to the fountain, the strip is still at street grade, not sidewalk grade. The absence of cars makes it more pedestrian friendly, but a continuous grade between the park and southern street wall would allow visitors to mill about freely and convey the City's sincerity far more conclusively.

But in retrospect, that's not what they promised to do.

From The Hamilton Spectator (Apr 2, 2012):

“What we’re trying to do is simulate a pedestrian space that blends with the park … We’re providing a seamless connection between the park and the businesses between James and Hughson,” the city’s acting manager of landscape architectural services Steve Barnhart said.

In a report going to the public works committee Monday, staff recommended building a permanent raised, concrete crosswalk from the park to the sidewalk that would bring the recreational space closer to the road.

There's one win: A permanent raised crosswalk.

matt602 · #**547** Posted **Jul 7, 2012, 3:52 PM**

As usual, baby steps. Even toward something as simple as raising a chunk of pavement, painting it and putting in some painted black wooden planters with historical photos on them. The area isn't even closed off completely anyway, there are signs at Hughson declaring that emergency vehicles and deliveries can still go through (reasonable but I'm sure people will still drive right on in anyway to go to the bank).

SteelTown · #**548** Posted **Jul 10, 2012, 2:49 AM**

http://www.thespec.com/news/local/ar...k-then-and-now

Dr Awesomesauce · #**549** Posted **Jul 11, 2012, 12:33 PM**

Haha...did you see the zeppelin platform in that futurist vision for Gore Park? Ohhh the humanity!

Frankenrogers · #**550** Posted **Jul 11, 2012, 2:13 PM**

I posted the Zeppelin picture on my Facebook wall and got a lot of comments. One friend said that he was going to write his councilor to find out what happened to the Zeppelin Tower initiative since buildings grow like weeds when you have Zeppelins downtown haha.

matt602 · #**551** Posted **Jul 11, 2012, 2:14 PM**

Now that would have been a downtown attraction.

realcity · #**552** Posted **Jul 11, 2012, 3:21 PM**

They did basically nothing, what a joke. How much did this cost us?

I watched it yesterday for about 30 minutes and no one, absolutely no one used it as a pedestrian street. People still thought they were on a road and walked along on the sidewalks. I feel sorry for the people that will pay the BIA for a tent next week. There is nobody there. All the people are losers on the north side, trying to buy a cigarette off you for a .25$. Seriously? you want to buy a smoke off me for a quarter? This is our downtown core. Tell me again why the Connaught is vacant space.

SteelTown · #**553** Posted **Jul 11, 2012, 5:16 PM**

Looks great today

martinus_g
https://twitter.com/martinus_g/statu...509312/photo/1

matt602 · #**554** Posted **Jul 11, 2012, 5:37 PM**

I'd like to know why the hell there is still a "Wait for Gap" sign there if it's supposed to be a pedestrian only space.

SteelTown · #**555** Posted **Jul 11, 2012, 6:32 PM**

Jason Farr explains on the main page of his website....

http://www.jasonfarr.com/

flar · #**556** Posted **Jul 11, 2012, 6:33 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by matt602

I'd like to know why the hell there is still a "Wait for Gap" sign there if it's supposed to be a pedestrian only space.

It will cost $33,000 and 2 bylaws will need to be changed. Additionally, an environmental assessment needs to be completed. Work is expected to begin after the PanAm games.

SteelTown · #**557** Posted **Jul 11, 2012, 9:14 PM**

• Video Link

Dr Awesomesauce · #**558** Posted **Jul 13, 2012, 12:52 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by realcity

They did basically nothing, what a joke. How much did this cost us?

I watched it yesterday for about 30 minutes and no one, absolutely no one used it as a pedestrian street. People still thought they were on a road and walked along on the sidewalks. I feel sorry for the people that will pay the BIA for a tent next week. There is nobody there. All the people are losers on the north side, trying to buy a cigarette off you for a .25$. Seriously? you want to buy a smoke off me for a quarter? This is our downtown core. Tell me again why the Connaught is vacant space.

Pure brilliance. You do know where Gore Park is right? It's not on the Mountain, nor is it in Niagara Falls. I'm just concerned that you may have lost your way downtown.

palace1 · #**559** Posted **Jul 13, 2012, 3:53 PM**

I'm curious about the black 2001 Space Odyssey inspired Monolith by the raised Wait for Gap crossing

Is it hiding electrical for a push-button crosswalk signal? or something for the fountain that couldn't be buried?

matt602 · #**560** Posted **Jul 13, 2012, 4:02 PM**

I think it's a storage box for special events. That was my guess when I saw it as it only has a rather simple padlock on it. The fountain and traffic light electricals are all undergound, a lot of which is in the old Gore Park washrooms.