79 replies to this topic

[Kyjen]

^

 

 

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[Mike K.]

Nice! Thank you.

[Hotel Mike]

On Saturday afternoon, we went to grab a coffee and snack from Union Pacific on Herald. It was jammed with people...long queue to order, no tables open. We decided to cut through Dragon Alley to Fisgard and went to Bean Around the World. Same thing, hugely busy. We did find a place to sit and have a coffee. To me this bodes well for downtown and Chinatown. It is certainly not dying.

[aastra]

If you're hunting for a positive take on things, I'll take you up on it and say Fisgard is a treat now from the Hudson to the waterfront. Even after hours "when nobody is around" it's still a great stroll, and there are always a few people around because of it. It's almost as if Victorians are finally appreciating how amazing that district coulda/shoulda been. Redevelopment of the Gateway Green site and the Romeo's site* could extend the goodness a bit further.

 

Pandora is also really good now, from Blanshard through what aastra calls "restaurant row" and right down to the bridge. Love the impact of the climbing place and its huge windows. Methinks a major redevelopment of the Rotherham site would be an easy home run. Too bad the block between Blanshard and Quadra is so lame.

 

The improvements on Johnson from Cook to Blanshard have made a night-and-day difference there, even though energy is still lacking. But even if it remains relatively dead after the new buildings are all finished I'll still take the new and improved atmosphere over the car lots and parking lots any day of the week.

*edit looking back in February, 2024: the CoV will now be putting a rather expensive park on the Romeo's site, which isn't exactly what I had in mind... but we'll wait and see what happens with it

Edited by aastra, 18 February 2024 - 01:00 PM.

[aastra]

What I'd really like to see is a significant "place-making" redevelopment of the end of Store Street at Rock Bay. I'm talking about creating an altogether new place that has almost as much there there as Fisherman's Wharf, the inner harbour or the JSB junction. Ample rewards in terms of sights, sounds, and things to do. That would complete the old town waterfront and unify and extend the entire walking/cycling/sightseeing experience, especially if there was a pedestrian bridge across the water to Bay Street.

[Nparker]

...Pandora is also really good now, from Blanshard through what aastra calls "restaurant row" and right down to the bridge....Too bad the block between Blanshard and Quadra is so lame...

How can you forget the vibrancy and unequaled atmosphere of the block of Pandora between Quadra and Vancouver?

[m3m]

I almost never think about that Rotherham building. But there’s a very nice sunken courtyard there. A good spot to eat your Tacofino when it’s sunny

[aastra]

 

How can you forget the vibrancy and unequaled atmosphere of the block of Pandora between Quadra and Vancouver?

 

 

I knew it would be somewhat controversial not to mention it, but I stand by my decision.

[aastra]

 

I almost never think about that Rotherham building. But there’s a very nice sunken courtyard there.

 

That's the thing, the building is like a non-entity. It's one of the most unremarkable nothingburger buildings in the entire downtown area. I'll say this much: the new office building and G-man's relentless badgering over the years has softened some of my negativity about the square itself. I think a major new building on the east side of the square could make the public space a fair bit better even as is, without any major changes to it. But ideally if a 20-story building goes up there then some improvements to the square would be part of the deal. Better terracing, maybe a better-than-average water/lighting feature, etc.

[G-Man]

Hey now! Rotherham Square is one of the few places I can practice my street mime act and be assured that no one will see me. 

 

While I love the aesthetic of the Volvo repair place in Chinatown, a cool development there could really do wonders for the area, but as I have actually been saying for eons, Chinatown is the most vibrant place in the city. 

[Mike K.]

And it wasn’t always so, right? Into the 80s is was suffering big time from urban decay. It took some serious muscle and effort and money to turn it around. Now it’s a gem, and it has been for a couple of decades.

We can do that elsewhere. We don’t need to tolerate the indifference we see with places like south Burnside, which for generations has been a neglected no-man’s land and officialdom just shrugs 🤷‍♀️

[G-Man]

The key to Chinatown is the lights and the ability for the stores to clutter the sidewalk. People don't want that everywhere unfortunately.

[Victoria Watcher]

The key to Chinatown is the lights and the ability for the stores to clutter the sidewalk. People don't want that everywhere unfortunately.

 

Bylaw won't allow it elsewhere.  Remember Cody the dog?

[aastra]

For those who don't know, "Cody the dog" was a ruthless bylaw enforcer.

[aastra]

 

Love the impact of the climbing place and its huge windows.

 

Either JohnnyJayEh has been following me around, or...

[aastra]

Nah, I actually meant the impact of those huge windows at night. But still, I think dude has been following me around.

 

Mike, the next time you notice me following you around, could you please look behind me to check if anyone is following me around?

[aastra]

Seriously though, that JohnnyJayEh knows how to take some great "around town" pics. His work could almost substitute for a stroll around town. I wish he'd zoom over here and join this board.

[Kyjen]

Great turn out today. 

 

Glad so many people will never venture downtown, Fisgard St could not handle anymore people.

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[Mike K.]

Nice! The weather definitely cooperated today.

[Nparker]

The exception that proves the rule about downtown Victoria.

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