Ugly Canada 2 (Only architecture, planning and design faux pas) - Page 209

stevanford1 · #**4161** Posted **Jun 12, 2020, 5:19 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by megadude

Was on the 401 and passed Islington and for some reason, this only stood to me now. I thought, hmmm, it probably looked better in the render. It was the Quality Inn and now Four Points by Sheraton.

http://www.hotelstravel.com/North_Am...rportEast.html

https://www.yelp.ca/biz/four-points-...t-east-toronto

https://www.cpexecutive.com/post/mar...el-in-toronto/

Always despised this thing!

O-tacular · #**4162** Posted **Jun 16, 2020, 4:55 AM**

Horrendous! My heart goes out to the poor souls stuck staying there.

Acajack · #**4163** Posted **Jun 16, 2020, 12:37 PM**

I was out for a long walk with my wife the other night and thought of this thread when I saw this.

So nice of those space aliens to drop off utilitarian storage pods for humans in the middle of Gatineau!

https://www.google.ca/maps/@45.49524...7i16384!8i8192

kwoldtimer · #**4164** Posted **Jun 16, 2020, 12:41 PM**

Relatively high-end for Gatineau, no?

esquire · #**4165** Posted **Jun 16, 2020, 12:47 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

Relatively high-end for Gatineau, no?

I'm not saying this is the most iconic place in Gatineau, but it definitely stands out in my mind:

Acajack · #**4166** Posted **Jun 16, 2020, 12:57 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by esquire

I'm not saying this is the most iconic place in Gatineau, but it definitely stands out in my mind:

Haha! A colleague of mine used to refer to that as "Va-Vite" which is French slang for diarrhea.

That building actually burned down in the past year. It was sorta renovated and was home to a Crêperie run by immigrants from France. (I am pretty sure, as they always had French flags flying outside.)

What it looked like before the fire:
https://www.google.com/maps/@45.4260...7i16384!8i8192

This whole block is in the line of fire (literally and figuratively) as developers are doing aggressive land assemblies in order to build large condo and office towers there.

Acajack · #**4167** Posted **Jun 16, 2020, 12:59 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

Relatively high-end for Gatineau, no?

Awww, you're just jealous because I just had my morning swim in my backyard pool, had breakfast among the trees with birds singing, and can still be in the Byward Market quicker than you can!

MolsonExport · #**4168** Posted **Jun 16, 2020, 1:42 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by esquire

I'm not saying this is the most iconic place in Gatineau, but it definitely stands out in my mind:

I bet the fries are good. Incredibly greasy, dark, extremely unhealthy, but thoroughly delicious.

I miss cassecroutes.

O-tacular · #**4169** Posted **Jun 16, 2020, 4:42 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acajack

I was out for a long walk with my wife the other night and thought of this thread when I saw this.

So nice of those space aliens to drop off utilitarian storage pods for humans in the middle of Gatineau!

https://www.google.ca/maps/@45.49524...7i16384!8i8192

What I find uglier is the weird concrete streetlight and the asphalt driveway. Two odd Eastern Canadian things I’ve always found depressing looking.

MolsonExport · #**4170** Posted **Jun 16, 2020, 4:46 PM**

In another thread, complaints were raised about the Vancouver Special. I admit loathing that form of house. They are all over the older settled parts of GVRD (especially in Vancouver, Burnaby and Richmond).

wikipedia, amazon

looks like the type of place where you would pick up weed before it was legalized

MolsonExport · #**4171** Posted **Jun 16, 2020, 4:50 PM**

one reason why I hate them is that from the front (street view) they look like the BACK of a house.

1951 E 3rd Avenue - Vancouver — Sold @ $1,450,000 ...

Acajack · #**4172** Posted **Jun 16, 2020, 5:08 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by O-tacular

What I find uglier is the weird concrete streetlight and the asphalt driveway. Two odd Eastern Canadian things I’ve always found depressing looking.

I can't recall what the most common driveway material is in Calgary and the West? Concrete I guess?

In pricier neighbourhoods in Quebec a lot of people have interlock paving stones, or a mix of asphalt and interlock paving stones.

https://www.google.ca/maps/@45.43964...7i13312!8i6656

My driveway is part asphalt, part paving stones.

Another alternative to asphalt that is common in Quebec is simply to leave it as gravel. That is common in rural areas all over Canada but in Quebec you see that a lot more in the suburbs of cities than you would, say, in Ontario.

As for the streetlights, again I don't remember what predominates out west, but I personally much prefer those street lights as in Gatineau to the utilitarian cobra-style highway street lights.

My street has the same ones as in your picture, though these are also common here in pricier areas:

https://www.google.ca/maps/@45.49187...7i13312!8i6656

Proof Sheet · #**4173** Posted **Jun 16, 2020, 5:12 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acajack

Haha! A colleague of mine used to refer to that as "Va-Vite" which is French slang for diarrhea.

That building actually burned down in the past year. It was sorta renovated and was home to a Crêperie run by immigrants from France. (I am pretty sure, as they always had French flags flying outside.)

What it looked like before the fire:
https://www.google.com/maps/@45.4260...7i16384!8i8192

This whole block is in the line of fire (literally and figuratively) as developers are doing aggressive land assemblies in order to build large condo and office towers there.

Ever been to this place?

https://goo.gl/maps/agxmoUX5aUxtJJqRA

Apparently you can get a 'hot rod' and an egg for $1 should that combo be what you are looking for

and on the outside

https://goo.gl/maps/xNUC6sFwNF8hpNfF8

Not many of these places left. The Carleton Tavern in Hintonburg still ticks the boxes.

Acajack · #**4174** Posted **Jun 16, 2020, 5:43 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Proof Sheet

Ever been to this place?

https://goo.gl/maps/agxmoUX5aUxtJJqRA

Apparently you can get a 'hot rod' and an egg for $1 should that combo be what you are looking for

and on the outside

https://goo.gl/maps/xNUC6sFwNF8hpNfF8

Not many of these places left. The Carleton Tavern in Hintonburg still ticks the boxes.

Yes, I have been to the Taverne 57 on Frontenac.

Some years ago I had a group of friends who used to go there to watch hockey games, boxing matches, etc. Don't think I ever ate there, though.

As for The Carleton, I've also been there. It's still somewhat authentic but moving dangerously close to "hipster tavern" territory.

Proof Sheet · #**4175** Posted **Jun 16, 2020, 6:27 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acajack

Yes, I have been to the Taverne 57 on Frontenac.

Some years ago I had a group of friends who used to go there to watch hockey games, boxing matches, etc. Don't think I ever ate there, though.

As for The Carleton, I've also been there. It's still somewhat authentic but moving dangerously close to "hipster tavern" territory.

Ha ha..soon after I moved here I was nearby when a crucial Euro 96 game was on TV.....nobody but me was interested but they put it on the TV for me...that and a quart bottle of cold 50 and I was fine.

Other than the Taverne57 and the Carleton not many places like that left. The British Hotel definitely went upmarket. The Prescott is too big of a place for the 'ambience' that the Carleton Tavern has.

Acajack · #**4176** Posted **Jun 16, 2020, 6:46 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Proof Sheet

Ha ha..soon after I moved here I was nearby when a crucial Euro 96 game was on TV.....nobody but me was interested but they put it on the TV for me...that and a quart bottle of cold 50 and I was fine.

Other than the Taverne57 and the Carleton not many places like that left. The British Hotel definitely went upmarket. The Prescott is too big of a place for the 'ambience' that the Carleton Tavern has.

And you can forget about the Château Lafayette.

"Le British" is considered cool among my kids and their friends, so that tells you a lot.

Denscity · #**4177** Posted **Jun 16, 2020, 7:13 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acajack

I can't recall what the most common driveway material is in Calgary and the West? Concrete I guess?

In pricier neighbourhoods in Quebec a lot of people have interlock paving stones, or a mix of asphalt and interlock paving stones.

https://www.google.ca/maps/@45.43964...7i13312!8i6656

My driveway is part asphalt, part paving stones.

Another alternative to asphalt that is common in Quebec is simply to leave it as gravel. That is common in rural areas all over Canada but in Quebec you see that a lot more in the suburbs of cities than you would, say, in Ontario.

As for the streetlights, again I don't remember what predominates out west, but I personally much prefer those street lights as in Gatineau to the utilitarian cobra-style highway street lights.

My street has the same ones as in your picture, though these are also common here in pricier areas:

https://www.google.ca/maps/@45.49187...7i13312!8i6656

Don't listen to those Calgary "easterners" lol. Asphalt driveways are most popular here. Concrete are only for the fancy people here.

Proof Sheet · #**4178** Posted **Jun 16, 2020, 7:35 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acajack

And you can forget about the Château Lafayette.

"Le British" is considered cool among my kids and their friends, so that tells you a lot.

I went in the British pre revamp after playing soccer somewhere near there. It was a rough place pre 2010 ?

https://goo.gl/maps/VcpeqWgLG2MZXVan8 Mystery draft beer and dodgy looking food.

Up until about 10 years ago there was an even worse place nearby that had more tactile entertainment options.

Never had a drink in the Laf.

Acajack · #**4179** Posted **Jun 16, 2020, 7:43 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Proof Sheet

Ha ha..soon after I moved here I was nearby when a crucial Euro 96 game was on TV.....nobody but me was interested but they put it on the TV for me...that and a quart bottle of cold 50 and I was fine.

Other than the Taverne57 and the Carleton not many places like that left. The British Hotel definitely went upmarket. The Prescott is too big of a place for the 'ambience' that the Carleton Tavern has.

Now that I think relative to population there are probably a few more left on the Quebec side.

There are at least three in the Vieux-Hull.

Don't let the Bistro-Bar name fool you. This is a tavern. Also the name is L'Original but the entrance has a fake moose head and antlers above it (moose in French is Orignal).

https://www.google.com/maps/@45.4283...7i16384!8i8192

This is one is 2-3 blocks from the Canadian Museum of History (if you pivot to the south and zoom you can probably see it), and also close to the Alexandra Bridge and the Collège St-Joseph somewhat posh all-girls private school.

https://www.google.ca/maps/@45.43114...7i13312!8i6656

This one actually has interesting retro sign.

https://www.google.ca/maps/@45.43121...7i16384!8i8192

There are a few others scattered around the city as well.

This one is about 15 km east, in the "old Gatineau", on what used to be main street of a town called Gatineau Mills.

https://www.google.com/maps/@45.4893...7i16384!8i8192

Acajack · #**4180** Posted **Jun 16, 2020, 7:49 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Proof Sheet

Up until about 10 years ago there was an even worse place nearby that had more tactile entertainment options.

I gather you are thinking of this place.

https://www.google.com/maps/@45.4032...7i16384!8i8192

I believe this building may have been demolished during the past year. (I actually went by there over the weekend but did not notice.)