Public Realm in Canadian Cities - Developments

[J.OT13]

And if you have those back alleys for parking, why not make the front street pedestrian and cycling only. A bit more mix of density would be good as well.

Hendrick Farm in Chelsea Quebec, a "rural village" (more of a suburb now) of Ottawa, 15 km from Downtown partially within Gatineau Park, is similar.

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/hend...6198?entry=ttu


https://www.hendrickfarm.ca/village-rentals/


https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottaw...ment-1.6109790


https://www.hendrickfarm.ca/listings...tly-available/

[Kilgore Trout]

First time I've heard of Hendrick Farm and it looks nicer than a lot of other New Urbanist suburbs I've seen. There's a good diversity of housing styles. Once the retail is built it will be pretty great, especially with the proximity to Chelsea's village centre.

I spent a few days in Chelsea in 2019 and the whole area is very charming. You're close to Wakefield, you have amazing access to Gatineau Park and the ski stations, and yet you're only 15-20 minutes to downtown Ottawa. It's a cottage country lifestyle that is closer to the city than most of Ottawa's Ontario suburbs.

[J.OT13]

Don't worry, it's not a progressive urbanism move, it's just about saving money and avoiding disrupting to vehicle traffic.

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[J.OT13]

Coming soon in Ottawa, Kìwekì Point. Image from the NCC.

[Maldive]

Lower Don Lands Redevelopment | Waterfront Toronto l u/c

The gradual greening of the Lower Don Lands and new river banks.


globalexpress

Back in January before the new river path was slowly filled.


hawc

globalexpress

One day there will be dozens of installations along the river’s (funded by donation) ‘Art Trail’.


UT

“Reaching Raccoon” playground structure u/c.


Traycer

Snowy Owl (with stairs inside) u/c.


WATERFRONToronto

globalexpress

The long wait for an LRT transit link (reserved for the bridge on the left), means the new Cherry Street bridge is not immune to line-ups ... when Rebel Night Club (indoor capacity is 2,500) has a concert.


globalexpress

Rebel Night Club


Source

[davidivivid]

https://www.facebook.com/QuoiFaireQuebec

[Kilgore Trout]

Dreamy.

[WhipperSnapper]

Looks really nice. I just don't get it. A giant beach above a break wall? Are there tides? or do you get sick and die going into nature's body of water?

[davidivivid]

This beach is part of a greater linear park situated between the bridges in Ste-Foy and downtown. Folks used to come to the beach washing up in the Anse du Foulon to swin, sunbathe and walk, as we can see in the following pic.



https://www.lesoleil.com/actualite/l...b9c38a52404fb3



However, in the 1960's, a boulevard, which primarily served as an industrial service road, was built between the old port and the Quebec bridge. That road had a profundly negative impact on the citizens' relation to the St-Lawrence river. The boulevard almost completely blocked access to the River and was a sterile concrete mess build in the name of modernism.





https://www.capitale.gouv.qc.ca/nos-...e/avant-projet



In the early 2000's, Quebec City's mayor decided to reconfigure the boulevard to give access to the St-Lawrence once again to the population. Work on the first phase (2,5km) of the project began in 2006 and was completed just in time for the 400th of the city in 2008.

Here are some pics of the first phase between the bridges and the Côte de Sillery.




















[IMG]https://ombrages.com/wp-content/uplo...Ombrages-1.jpg
[/IMG]









https://daoustlestage.com/en/project...e-champlain-2/






The third phase (2,5km as well) of the project began a few years ago and stretches between the Côte the Sillery and the yacht club. It features, amongst other things, a 16000ft2 shallow pool to... reminisce, so to speak, the fact that a popular beach existed at that location in the 50's.







https://www.capitale.gouv.qc.ca/nos-...ge/le-chantier




The beach opened last year and has been extremely popular. This whole linear park has so far been a tremendous success.


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https://www.lesoleil.com/actualites/...KEDMKPHQV4TYA/

[WhipperSnapper]

I'm now even more confused. Why the design paying homage to the past that keeps people out of the river?

[big T]

Originally Posted by davidivivid

https://www.facebook.com/QuoiFaireQuebec

This is pretty awesome, thanks for all the detail you posted as a follow-up too. Def gonna check this out this summer.

My first thought seeing this picture was Lima. Uncanny!

[davidivivid]

Originally Posted by WhipperSnapper

I'm now even more confused. Why the design paying homage to the past that keeps people out of the river?

The reason put forward is the variability of the water quality in the St-Lawrence near Quebec City...

Basically, Montreal's wastewater systems were built in combination: rainwater and sanitary water are mixed. During storms and spring melt, the city's water treatment plants are sometimes not able to process all that inflow so some of it is released in the St-Lawrence.

And, let's just say that Quebec City is downstream from Montreal...


That being said, people do swim in the River during the summer, especially in the Beauport Bay, and I've never heard of a public safety problem related to that...







https://www.facebook.com/baiedebeaup...y?locale=fr_CA

[davidivivid]

Recently renovated park in front of City Hall:





https://www.stantec.com/fr/projects/...-square-quebec

[hipster duck]

That's very nice, but the place de l'Hotel-de-ville should really be fully pedestrianized. I think way more of the Haute-Ville could be made car-free.

[ScreamingViking]

Originally Posted by davidivivid

Basically, Montreal's wastewater systems were built in combination: rainwater and sanitary water are mixed. During storms and spring melt, the city's water treatment plants are sometimes not able to process all that inflow so some of it is released in the St-Lawrence.

And, let's just say that Quebec City is downstream from Montreal...

So much pollution in the entire watershed too, coalescing into the river. Things are probably better now than they have been since industrialization, but there is still a long way to go.

[ScreamingViking]

Originally Posted by davidivivid

https://www.stantec.com/fr/projects/...-square-quebec

Public spaces in Quebec (and this city in particular) are done so well, and they're well maintained too.

[rdaner]

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C8hyEjuvi-c/?igsh=c28zejc0d2VnaWNj

[someone123]

It is still far from being done but you can see the Cogswell area in Halifax taking shape:


From here: https://www.reddit.com/r/halifax/com...g_drone_shots/

[hipster duck]

Originally Posted by someone123

It is still far from being done but you can see the Cogswell area in Halifax taking shape:

That roundabout should have been moved further east. As currently designed, it feels like the semi-circular space left between that colourful midrise apartment block and the roundabout itself will be too small to develop or use as meaningful public space/parkland.

[Laceoflight]

Originally Posted by WhipperSnapper

Are there tides?

Yes.