5619 replies to this topic

[Blair M.]

Pandora Street, Topaz Park, Stadacona Park, etc can all be traced directly to 1985, and can be squarely laid at the feet of the B.C. Supreme Court, the B.C. Provincial Government, and the City of Victoria.

 

The Province can be squarely blamed for the closing of Tranquille, Glendale, Riverview, and Woodlands, along with the entire support infrastructure designed to assist mentally ill British Columbians.

The City can be blamed for it's endless toying with local by-laws designed to prevent situations like Pandora Street from happening in the first place.

And the courts can be blamed for their endless "experimenting" with what the Charter might (or could) mean if they misconstrue original intent of its authors, or simply twist a word or phrase here or there.

 

Add the millions at stake funding the special interest groups and poverty pimps, and suddenly Pandora, Topaz, Stadacona, etc all make complete and total sense.

[Victoria Watcher]

Pandora Street, Topaz Park, Stadacona Park, etc can all be traced directly to 1985, and can be squarely laid at the feet of the B.C. Supreme Court, the B.C. Provincial Government, and the City of Victoria.

 

Incorrect.

 

That law says campers must pack up every night 7am to 7pm.  Of the 13 municipalities here only Victoria ignores that rule.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 24 May 2023 - 11:46 AM.

[Blair M.]

Incorrect.

 

That law says campers must pack up every night 7am to 7pm.  Of the 13 municipalities here only Victoria ignores that rule.

I don't think anything is incorrect?

I noted that the City of Victoria is at fault for "endless toying" with existing by-laws.

Your observation is but an example of this, and points to the City of Victoria as the creator of these semi permanent homeless camps.

[Victoria Watcher]

Canada has way more parking than cars. Is it time for that to change?

 

Even if plain, boring parking lots seem to dominate city landscapes, author Henry Grabar says it's not too late to shift gears towards a less car-centric society, which could open up parking spaces to be used for other needs such as affordable housing. 

 

"We have spent a long time thinking about how automobiles and roads have transformed our landscape, but paid very little attention to parking. And I think that's a mistake," Grabar told The Sunday Magazine guest host Robyn Bresnahan.

 

"A car spends 95 per cent of its lifespan parked. So when you think about the car's actual spatial impact on the places we live, you're mostly talking about parking."

 

Grabar is a journalist for Slate and the author of a new book called Paved Paradise: How Parking Explains the World.

 

He says a move away from the need for parking spaces could open up more options for affordable housing, and make cities more walkable. 

 

But according to Grabar there is too much parking, and the planning around it hasn't been getting the attention it needs. 

 

Grabar says that's because parking sits at the intersection of land use and transportation. He says that often the people in charge of transportation don't think about parking and, with the exception of residential developments, architects often don't consider where to put cars until after a building is designed. 

 

https://www.cbc.ca/r...nning-1.6862522

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 03 June 2023 - 12:24 AM.

[Ismo07]

Canada has way more parking than cars. Is it time for that to change?

 

Even if plain, boring parking lots seem to dominate city landscapes, author Henry Grabar says it's not too late to shift gears towards a less car-centric society, which could open up parking spaces to be used for other needs such as affordable housing. 

 

"We have spent a long time thinking about how automobiles and roads have transformed our landscape, but paid very little attention to parking. And I think that's a mistake," Grabar told The Sunday Magazine guest host Robyn Bresnahan.

 

"A car spends 95 per cent of its lifespan parked. So when you think about the car's actual spatial impact on the places we live, you're mostly talking about parking."

 

Grabar is a journalist for Slate and the author of a new book called Paved Paradise: How Parking Explains the World.

 

He says a move away from the need for parking spaces could open up more options for affordable housing, and make cities more walkable. 

 

But according to Grabar there is too much parking, and the planning around it hasn't been getting the attention it needs. 

 

Grabar says that's because parking sits at the intersection of land use and transportation. He says that often the people in charge of transportation don't think about parking and, with the exception of residential developments, architects often don't consider where to put cars until after a building is designed. 

 

https://www.cbc.ca/r...nning-1.6862522

 

Yeah it's been a long standing argument.  It's an odd one for me to understand.  Just cause the car isn't used much more than hour a day, the argument that is made that we don't need much parking is weird. 

[Victoria Watcher]

I only use my washing machine one or two days per week, but I still need to put it somewhere.

[Ismo07]

I only use my washing machine one or two days per week, but I still need to put it somewhere.

 

Yeah but it's static.  A vehicle will need typically 2-3 spaces a day.  More if the average person has got errands or events to go to so could increase to 5 or 6 even though the vehicle isn't use for a high % of the day.  This is where those folks claiming because the car is stopped for 23 hours a day that spaces aren't needed.  

[Victoria Watcher]

The car does not need 2 or 3 spaces at a time though.

 

Also, my washing machine is on wheels.  It's got wifi so I take it to the library or sometimes to the gym. 

[Nparker]

...my washing machine is on wheels.  It's got wifi so I take it to the library or sometimes to the gym. 

We should try to get your washing machine together with my Smart refrigerator. They might hit it off. Just a heads-up though, my appliance can be a bit cold at times. Perhaps set your washer on the gentle cycle.

[Mike K.]

Sounds like they’ll get their Freon!

[lanforod]

Careful, you’re gendering these appliances. Best ask what preferred pronouns Washing Machine and Fridge use first. Safe space and all that.

[Nparker]

I've always been completely open to my refrigerator expressing their self however they feel comfortable, even if they choose to identify as a stove, a dishwasher, or a combination of all three.

[aastra]

So now we're going to switch from acres of surface parking to no parking at all, as if there aren't all kinds of options that could be pursued in between those extremes?

[aastra]

 

I've always been completely open to my refrigerator expressing their self however they feel comfortable, even if they choose to identify as a stove, a dishwasher, or a combination of all three.

 

You might change your tune if your toaster ever decides it wants to be a deep fryer.

[Nparker]

 

 

You might change your tune if your toaster ever decides it wants to be a deep fryer

I rather like the idea of an all-in-one appliance for making French Toast.

[Victoria Watcher]

Be prepared for smashed car windows at parkades

 

Multiple car windows were smashed while parked at the city’s Broughton Street Parkade. Sadly that doesn’t seem to be atypical and parking in any parkade is at the driver’s own risk.

 

Here are a few things readers may not know and which they should be aware of:

 

1. Despite the increase in crime, especially vandalism, the city still has not installed security cameras on most levels of the parkade. Allegedly the ceilings are too low for cameras.

 

2. Despite this not being a rare event, parkade security has no access to basic things which may assist driver’s returning to their vehicle to discover this kind of vandalism.  They cannot even provide access to a broom to help remove broken glass from a vehicle. Drivers may want to keep things like a pair of work gloves or closed-toed shoes in their car in case they need to deal with this type of vandalism before trying to drive home.  For the rainy season, some strong plastic and tape may be useful. Just hope those things aren’t what gets stolen out of your vehicle.

 

3. If you have more than one window smashed, you can’t use ICBC’s speedy glass repair option.

 

4. If you ask about assistance, police will suggest you call BCAA, if you’re a member. (Police will not attend the scene, even when multiple cars are affected, given there is no camera in the parkade unless there is a witness.) BCAA’s only offered option was to tow the vehicle.

 

Christina Drake

Victoria

 

https://www.timescol...housing-7126357

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 10 June 2023 - 05:04 AM.

[Barrrister]

One more reason not to go downtown. I dont blame the police, even if they catch someone they are out in a few hours and even if convicted it is just a slap on the wrist so what is the point. 

[Victoria Watcher]

Pretty sure there are places for cameras even in a low-ceiling environment.  Like corners and adjacent to beams.

 

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 10 June 2023 - 05:37 AM.

[Barrrister]

VicWatcher, they are just lying and why is that not a surprise.

[Victoria Watcher]

Well, in fairness, I have not heard anyone from the city directly saying this (about low ceilings preventing more cameras being installed).  But the parkades should be safer, even if the cameras are just a deterrent.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 10 June 2023 - 05:40 AM.