1078 replies to this topic

[Mike K.]

The CoV should never have made it a mission to purposely introduce new isolated spaces to do drugs, or commit crimes or vandalism, or provide sexual services, or have privacy while sleeping, or whatever else. Heck, the push for these passages went into overdrive right around the same time there was that brouhaha about people relieving themselves downtown. Where was the sense in any of it?

 

At the time this was happening criticizing these walkways was seen as being anti-pedestrian and anti-urbanist. They've always been sketchy, and they've been problematic, and they've eventually become places to avoid, but that didn't stop the City from pushing for them. And now we have public amenities that are closed to the public, or half-block spaces for walkways that never lined up with projects on the other side of the block and eventually got walled off, like at The Metropolitan.

[aastra]

 

...criticizing these walkways was seen as being anti-pedestrian and anti-urbanist.

 

Seen as such by the passageway promoters themselves, sure. Meanwhile, there was a ton of specific criticism happening on this very board, and this board probably accounts for 98% of the legitimate pro-pedestrian/pro-urbanism discussion that has ever occurred re: the modern city of Victoria.

 

Summary:
anti-urbanists were blindly promoting the walkways, while pro-urbanists were asking hard questions about the walkways.

 

In retrospect, how would we say the controversy has aged? (Keeping in mind that the controversy was already pretty ripe even by the time Vibrant Victoria was launched.)

[Mike K.]

It's aged predictably.

 

The braintrust on this forum should get one of the mayor's awards for predicting the future. That's surprisingly easy to do in this town but it doesn't look like we have much competition (how about these gems: 25-storey buildings didn't ruin Victoria; uncontrolled camping in parks might just ruin Victoria?).

[Casual Kev]

Shot in the dark - I'm looking at a rental in this building, and I'm wondering what the parking situation is like? I don't have a car so I'd try to rent out the spot that comes with the unit.

Edited by Casual Kev, 13 March 2022 - 10:18 AM.

[Mike K.]

You’ll want to speak to someone already living in the building about renting a stall to a non-resident of the unit it’s attached to, and how much you can charge, etc. Typically, stratas forbid renting to non residents and some even have bylaws limiting the cost of renting (lots of people won’t adhere to that though).

[Casual Kev]

Figured as much. The leasing agent didn't know much about the building so I suppose the only way to find out will be moving in.

[Mike K.]

The leasing agent didn’t? Holy…

[aastra]

Is it just me or is there a real shabbiness in evidence now on the ground level of the Falls along the sidewalk? That stupid gate in the middle of the storefronts... crikey. Isn't that the kind of frontage where (in reality) you'd expect the condo building, the businesses, and the city to all have the same unreserved interest in not allowing things to go too far? Shabbiness in a shabby property is one thing, but shabbiness in an upscale property really sets a different tone. A cynical person might wonder if there's a deliberate effort all over downtown to present those kinds of sharp contradictions between grandeur and neglect. If I ever meet a cynical person I'll be sure to ask him about this.

[Nparker]

I am 100%* certain dedicated northbound transit lanes along Douglas Street will solve all of downtown's ills.

*actual percentage may be lower

[Mike K.]

The taped-on 'for lease' sign on the old HSBC space looks good, too.

That mid-block walkway was perhaps one of the zaniest ideas to ever come out of an amenity contribution discussion at the CoV. A mid-block walkway, several meters from the sidewalk running parallel to the walkway, that must now remain open to whatever comes its way, but should really be gated, because of what comes its way, but which cannot be gated, because its an agreed on amenity provided to the City, is an example of how potentially good 'urbanism' ideas just don't work too well in the real-world.

What else can we think of? The stage at Centennial Square? The covered bike parking thing on Douglas and Yates (removed after it became a defacto shelter). What else? Oh yeah, the ping pong table. Where is it now, btw? At Centennial?

[Nparker]

...What else can we think of...

Everything associated with this: https://www.douglasm...glas-kicks-off/

[aastra]

On the plus side, the car rental place around the corner looks very bright and well-maintained.

[aastra]

^It's weird how radical innovations like large uncovered windows seem to work for some businesses whereas for other businesses (most others, apparently) it would be untenable.

[G-Man]

That is even one mid-block walkway that I can't get behind (though I do purposely use it when I can just because...)

[Mike K.]

I recall some years ago it was always being locked, so bylaw had to get involved to ensure it remain open.

So bizarre. But hey, a deal’s a deal.

[Nparker]

...a deal’s a deal.

Deals with the city are broken all the time. For example, my neighbourhood was repeatedly told by the CoV that Tiny Town would close permanently. 

[aastra]

 

Is it just me or is there a real shabbiness in evidence now on the ground level of the Falls along the sidewalk?

Shabbiness in a shabby property is one thing, but shabbiness in an upscale property really sets a different tone.

 

It's been almost a year since this comment was made. I'd say the situation is a fair bit worse now.

 

I'm just a know-nothing sidewalk superintendent (who sees the world through rose-coloured glasses and thinks every little problem should be a cinch to resolve), but crikey, how much would it really cost to repair/replace the corroded flashing/sills and what not, and patch the cracks and re-paint the above-sidewalk sections of foundation, and patch the cracks in the restaurant patio's lower foundation wall and either re-paint or re-surface that entire corner, and (I'm a dreamer) either clean up or outright replace that buck ugly & stupid-from-the-get-go fortress gate smack in the middle of everything?

 

Seriously, start a gofundme for this project and I'd chip in. This one-block stretch of sidewalk has surely set some kind of world record for speediest decline from spiffy brand new to rather shameless shab-o-rama.

[aastra]

 

...how much would it really cost...

 

You know, considering all the cracks and chips and such that are evident, maybe I shouldn't ask.

[aastra]

 

This one-block stretch of sidewalk has surely set some kind of world record for speediest decline from spiffy brand new to rather shameless shab-o-rama.

 

I second that opinion. Hopefully the new office building will give somebody a kick in the pants in this regard.