Could the references to the Reid tower controversy possibly be any more inapplicable? We get it. Decades ago, somebody wanted to build a cluster of modern highrise towers right on the waterfront. What's the relevance to the current proposal to build a singular short lowrise building on top of Northern Junk?
Note how that long piece contains no mention of the many old buildings that once occupied the district only to be wiped out later and replaced with void. The preservation mission dedicates itself to preserving the altered cityscape while disregarding all opportunities to fill back in some of what was lost. The park right next door was created by wiping out some old buildings. We're supposed to believe wiping out buildings is no big deal -- we don't even need to mention it, it's so inconsequential -- but adding levels on top is an extremely big deal? Why not try regarding the additional levels on Northern Junk as the reallocation of the lost building space right next door? It's not nearly so terrifying a prospect if you think of it that way.
During the forthcoming public hearing, council will be under intense public scrutiny. A Vancouver-style approach to high-density-driven development has already transformed Victoria’s eastern skyline. Will it now envelop Old Town?
In the year 2020 we're saying 4-, 5-, and 6-story buildings in the old town = "a Vancouver-style approach"?
An observation by a VV forumer back in January, 2019:
For crying out loud, lowrise buildings with single-digit floor counts were supposed to be holy, back when nobody thought it would ever be viable to build them. But then the real estate situation changed in the 21st century and lowrise buildings became viable again, and what do you know? Lowrise buildings are now "threatening" in the same way that highrise buildings were threatening ~50 years ago.
An observation by a VV forumer back in August, 2018:
I really think the proverbial train might have gone off the rails at some point. Fifty years ago it was the new highrise towers that were the menace. Ten or fifteen years ago it was the new junior highrise buildings that were the menace. Today it's the new lowrise buildings with single-digit floor counts that are the menace
Edited by aastra, 29 November 2020 - 09:54 PM.