Jane's Walk Halifax

[spaustin]

Jane's Walk Halifax is coming up next weekend (May 3-4). If you haven't heard of Jane's Walk before, it's a series of free walking tours led by volunteers. It happens the first weekend in May in over 100 cities around the world in honour of Jane Jacobs. I'm co-chairing the Halifax event this year and there's a full roster. You could go on walks from 9:00-6:00 on Saturday and Sunday. The complete listing is available on the Jane's Walk facebook site

Of particular interest to forumers might be my walk through development sites/opportunities in Downtown Dartmouth, TJ Maguire's stroll down Barrington, Tristan Cleveland's discussion of public space on the Commons and Quinpool Road and Sean Gillis and the Its More Than Buses walking discussion of effective transit. The Purcell's Cove Backlands and the future of Wyse Road will also be the subject of walks led by the two community groups (bit more political). One I'm really looking forward to is the Behind the Walls tour of CFB Stadacona. It include the rarely open naval burial ground.

Hopefully I'll see some of you out next weekend (pray for sun!)

[spaustin]

Here's the inside of the walk guide with all the listings.

[halifaxboyns]

If I could go; I would (to the ones in Halifax). Looking forward to the Calgary ones though...

[spaustin]

So May is rolling around again, which means it's almost time for another weekend of Jane's Walk. This year's event will be on May 2 and 3. I'm in the process of finalizing participants, but it's looking like we'll have some history, some art, a waterfront walk with WDCL and much more. If I can get myself organized, I'm planning on leading a walk through the Dartmouth Common. Should be another great year. If anyone is interested in leading a walk, there is still lots of time to sort one out. Topics can be on pretty much anything, so long as it lends itself to a stroll and everyone is qualified to lead. A diversity of topics and walks makes for a more interesting weekend! If you have an idea and are up for volunteering your time this year, get in touch and I can provide more info. My email is sam@samaustin.ca

[Drybrain]

I wouldn't want to lead a walk--I'd be terrible at it

But I think it'd be fascinating to see a downtown endangered/demolished buildings walk: The whole Doyle Street block owned by Westwood (Tom's Little Havana, etc), the Green Lantern, the Dennis, the Roy site, the buildings at the 22nd COmmerce Square block (especially the Champlain), and the Khyber (which isn't imminently at-risk, but is quite possibly in for a long, slow decline if the city doesn't pay up to save it).

I'm pretty certain there's no comparably dense concentration of significant endangered buildings in Canada--which gives the lie to the idea that a lot of people have that this is just the price of progress. It's quite surprising and a bit shocking when you tally it all up and compare with other cities. It's extra worrisome given that our most-at-risk structures are also some of the biggest and most impressive historic buildings we have (Green Lantern, Dennis). And it's REALLY incredible that several fall within our "conservation" district.

The framing fits right in there with Jane Jacobs as an early pioneer of architectural conservation: new ideas use old buildings, and all that.

[spaustin]

Originally Posted by Drybrain

I wouldn't want to lead a walk--I'd be terrible at it

But I think it'd be fascinating to see a downtown endangered/demolished buildings walk: The whole Doyle Street block owned by Westwood (Tom's Little Havana, etc), the Green Lantern, the Dennis, the Roy site, the buildings at the 22nd COmmerce Square block (especially the Champlain), and the Khyber (which isn't imminently at-risk, but is quite possibly in for a long, slow decline if the city doesn't pay up to save it).

I'm pretty certain there's no comparably dense concentration of significant endangered buildings in Canada--which gives the lie to the idea that a lot of people have that this is just the price of progress. It's quite surprising and a bit shocking when you tally it all up and compare with other cities. It's extra worrisome given that our most-at-risk structures are also some of the biggest and most impressive historic buildings we have (Green Lantern, Dennis). And it's REALLY incredible that several fall within our "conservation" district.

The framing fits right in there with Jane Jacobs as an early pioneer of architectural conservation: new ideas use old buildings, and all that.

I really like the idea, but I disagree with one thing: You would be good at it You already have a list of buildings to visit so that's a route. All that's needed from there is to be able to say a few words at each stop along the way. The 22 Commerce would be a really great spot to highlight a lot of heritage approaches since there is the completely rebuilt Granville Mall north side and the really unusually early heritage adaptation to the Merril Lynch Building. I'm sure a "see them before they're gone" walk would attract a lot of people interested in heritage who would be eager to chime in as well.

[Drybrain]

Originally Posted by spaustin

I really like the idea, but I disagree with one thing: You would be good at it

Ha. Well, I'd think about it, but my work situation is such that I can't commit to being in town that far in advance--weekend travelling, etc.

But if some other Jane's Walker wants to steal the idea, go nuts.

[JET]

http://thechronicleherald.ca/opinion...t-but-not-gone

[Keith P.]

I cannot imagine learning anything from Wedge, who is one of the bicycle zealots and frequently makes outrageous statements regarding the need for the rest of us to spend millions on a place for him and his pals to ride.

I also heard that one of the Saturday walks generated complaints. Apparently one of the guides was making questionable (some say racist) remarks and was reported to be very ill-prepared.

[Ziobrop]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

I cannot imagine learning anything from Wedge, who is one of the bicycle zealots and frequently makes outrageous statements regarding the need for the rest of us to spend millions on a place for him and his pals to ride.

I cannot imagine learning anything from Keith P, who is one of the Car zealots and frequently makes outrageous statements regarding the need for the rest of us to spend millions on a place for him and his pals to Drive.

...Fixed that For you.

[JET]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

I cannot imagine learning anything from Wedge, who is one of the bicycle zealots and frequently makes outrageous statements regarding the need for the rest of us to spend millions on a place for him and his pals to ride.

I also heard that one of the Saturday walks generated complaints. Apparently one of the guides was making questionable (some say racist) remarks and was reported to be very ill-prepared.

Well if he rides a bike, say no more; how could we possibly take anything he says seriously if he chooses two wheels instead of four. sheesh.
I certainly hope Ziobrop didn't get himself into trouble, but that doesn't sound like him.

The freshwater brook; I'm guessing that the pond to the south of the School for the Blind was probably fed by that brook.

[Ziobrop]

Originally Posted by JET

I certainly hope Ziobrop didn't get himself into trouble, but that doesn't sound like him.

I had 70 some people come out to follow me. I was shocked. I was expecting 20, at the most. I had notes. and a map. I Improvised some parts, and found fire hydrants/benches/etc. to stand on so i could be heard.

So yah, Big learning experience, but it was good, and well received. (and nothing raceist)

[JET]

Originally Posted by Ziobrop

I had 70 some people come out to follow me. I was shocked. I was expecting 20, at the most. I had notes. and a map. I Improvised some parts, and found fire hydrants/benches/etc. to stand on so i could be heard.

So yah, Big learning experience, but it was good, and well received. (and nothing raceist)

I expected that you would have a good turnout, with such an interesting topic.

A year ago we had our house on the Dartmouth Historic house tour and had about 350 people over the two days. It was great fun.

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by Ziobrop

I had 70 some people come out to follow me. I was shocked. I was expecting 20, at the most. I had notes. and a map. I Improvised some parts, and found fire hydrants/benches/etc. to stand on so i could be heard.

So yah, Big learning experience, but it was good, and well received. (and nothing raceist)

I was sorry to have missed your presentation, but had something come up this weekend that took up that time slot. I did manage to take in one on the Dartmouth side, so it wasn't a total loss.

Do you plan on a repeat performance next year?

[Ziobrop]

Originally Posted by OldDartmouthMark

I was sorry to have missed your presentation, but had something come up this weekend that took up that time slot. I did manage to take in one on the Dartmouth side, so it wasn't a total loss.

Do you plan on a repeat performance next year?

possibly. im debating turning it into some sort of self guided walking tour guide/app.. stay tuned

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

I cannot imagine learning anything from Wedge, who is one of the bicycle zealots and frequently makes outrageous statements regarding the need for the rest of us to spend millions on a place for him and his pals to ride.

Keith, Keith, Keith, live and let live... I've been on both sides of the painted line and can say there's room for all of us. Can't we all just get along?

That actually sounds like it would have been an interesting janeswalk topic. Maybe next year...

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by OldDartmouthMark

Keith, Keith, Keith, live and let live... I've been on both sides of the painted line and can say there's room for all of us. Can't we all just get along?

Trying to appease zealots only leads to oppression.

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

Trying to appease zealots only leads to oppression.

The problem is that the judgment of who is or is not a zealot often lies purely in the perspective of the person judging.

I'm trying to view this from a non-zealot point of view...

[pblaauw]

Originally Posted by OldDartmouthMark

The problem is that the judgment of who is or is not a zealot often lies purely in the perspective of the person judging.

I'm trying to view this from a non-zealot point of view...

Also in the judgement of who is oppressed. But I digress...I'm a person in a wheelchair who lives in a city of hills. I take the bus a lot. Sorry to hold you up in traffic, Keith, and sorry to cut you off in traffic, cyclists.

Ha, I'm oppressing everyone! Also a matter of perspective.

[Colin May]

The HRM tree experts on the Schmidtville walk pointed out that the trees grow because of water is incorrect and that growth comes from the atmosphere. Nobody challenged them. Trees are carbon sinks.