Comments on: An (obstructed) vision for the future of St. John’s http://spacingatlantic.ca/2010/01/29/an-obstructed-vision-for-the-future-of-st-johns/ Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:10:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Andrew http://spacingatlantic.ca/2010/01/29/an-obstructed-vision-for-the-future-of-st-johns/comment-page-1/#comment-1201 Andrew Mon, 26 Apr 2010 01:47:05 +0000 http://spacingatlantic.ca/?p=2996#comment-1201 I see the senior citizens and heritage advocates (can you say NIMBY) made it out to the event to help destroy St. John's a bit more from preventing it from growth or having any sort of economic development whatsoever in the name of a dirty, ugly, embarrassing harbour and "heritage" buildings nobody in their right mind would even glance at. I wouldn't expect any more than an article like this from the arts community and their blogs. I support the Fortis proposal 100% as does the majority of the city, minus a few members of the vocal minority that complain about anything and everything to fill up time in their sorry lives. I see the senior citizens and heritage advocates (can you say NIMBY) made it out to the event to help destroy St. John's a bit more from preventing it from growth or having any sort of economic development whatsoever in the name of a dirty, ugly, embarrassing harbour and "heritage" buildings nobody in their right mind would even glance at.

I wouldn't expect any more than an article like this from the arts community and their blogs.

I support the Fortis proposal 100% as does the majority of the city, minus a few members of the vocal minority that complain about anything and everything to fill up time in their sorry lives.

]]> By: Jake Schabas http://spacingatlantic.ca/2010/01/29/an-obstructed-vision-for-the-future-of-st-johns/comment-page-1/#comment-607 Jake Schabas Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:39:25 +0000 http://spacingatlantic.ca/?p=2996#comment-607 I agree with your concern Andrew, as would most people who have seen monolithic developments similar to the one proposed silence formerly lively neighbourhoods all over North America and the world. With these experiences in mind, people now recognize the importance of saving parts of the city that already work and constructing new buildings with a thought to the street life. With a facebook group already at 1600 members, clearly not everyone is looking to silence discussion, like some commentators on this post. I agree with your concern Andrew, as would most people who have seen monolithic developments similar to the one proposed silence formerly lively neighbourhoods all over North America and the world.

With these experiences in mind, people now recognize the importance of saving parts of the city that already work and constructing new buildings with a thought to the street life. With a facebook group already at 1600 members, clearly not everyone is looking to silence discussion, like some commentators on this post.

]]> By: Ryan http://spacingatlantic.ca/2010/01/29/an-obstructed-vision-for-the-future-of-st-johns/comment-page-1/#comment-606 Ryan Fri, 05 Feb 2010 16:12:38 +0000 http://spacingatlantic.ca/?p=2996#comment-606 Andrew you drive me nuts, people didn't vote for you and most don't agree with you. Andrew you drive me nuts, people didn't vote for you and most don't agree with you.

]]> By: blake morin http://spacingatlantic.ca/2010/01/29/an-obstructed-vision-for-the-future-of-st-johns/comment-page-1/#comment-598 blake morin Mon, 01 Feb 2010 21:08:02 +0000 http://spacingatlantic.ca/?p=2996#comment-598 As a former resident I'm not sure how I feel on the issue, though I believe I share Dan's opinion on the matter. I do know one thing, while the education system in place in NF is light years ahead of all other Atlantic provinces the same can not be said of the infrastructure. Throw some of that oil money towards Bishops College or Holy Heart, god knows they need it. Andrew, great article! As a former resident I'm not sure how I feel on the issue, though I believe I share Dan's opinion on the matter. I do know one thing, while the education system in place in NF is light years ahead of all other Atlantic provinces the same can not be said of the infrastructure. Throw some of that oil money towards Bishops College or Holy Heart, god knows they need it.

Andrew, great article!

]]> By: Daniel http://spacingatlantic.ca/2010/01/29/an-obstructed-vision-for-the-future-of-st-johns/comment-page-1/#comment-590 Daniel Sun, 31 Jan 2010 22:37:13 +0000 http://spacingatlantic.ca/?p=2996#comment-590 Why must only tall buildings equal progress? Why not take a page from the development books of Sweden, Norway and Iceland - progressive countries that stay true to their heritage. There is already one Toronto. Why must St. John's become a mediocre version of it? I'd rather it be a Stockholm or a Reykjavik. Why must only tall buildings equal progress? Why not take a page from the development books of Sweden, Norway and Iceland - progressive countries that stay true to their heritage. There is already one Toronto. Why must St. John's become a mediocre version of it? I'd rather it be a Stockholm or a Reykjavik.

]]> By: Citizen http://spacingatlantic.ca/2010/01/29/an-obstructed-vision-for-the-future-of-st-johns/comment-page-1/#comment-584 Citizen Sun, 31 Jan 2010 15:15:12 +0000 http://spacingatlantic.ca/?p=2996#comment-584 Joe has asked for a new downtown - there is one at the junction of the Harbour Arterial and New Gower where there is ample space for taller buildings, for parking and for ease of traffic movement. But the speculators won't go there because other speculators have pushed up land costs. Harvey makes a number of valid points about the current situation but consider this. Fortis bought many or most of those properties under a particular "contract" called the City Plan - they knew there were restrictions. Residents of Duckworth, Gower, Bond and Military also bought properties under this same "contract". Fortis is asking to be favoured by their city politicians - to be given a windfall profit of 3-4 times the development capacity of their site. Residents are asked to accept a reduction of their property values (view is considered a marketable asset in downtown St. John's) so that a property profiteer can benefit. By any standard, that is a breach of contract. Joe has asked for a new downtown - there is one at the junction of the Harbour Arterial and New Gower where there is ample space for taller buildings, for parking and for ease of traffic movement. But the speculators won't go there because other speculators have pushed up land costs.

Harvey makes a number of valid points about the current situation but consider this. Fortis bought many or most of those properties under a particular "contract" called the City Plan - they knew there were restrictions. Residents of Duckworth, Gower, Bond and Military also bought properties under this same "contract". Fortis is asking to be favoured by their city politicians - to be given a windfall profit of 3-4 times the development capacity of their site. Residents are asked to accept a reduction of their property values (view is considered a marketable asset in downtown St. John's) so that a property profiteer can benefit. By any standard, that is a breach of contract.

]]> By: Joe http://spacingatlantic.ca/2010/01/29/an-obstructed-vision-for-the-future-of-st-johns/comment-page-1/#comment-581 Joe Fri, 29 Jan 2010 21:05:14 +0000 http://spacingatlantic.ca/?p=2996#comment-581 If the old downtown isn't going to accomodate the needs of the 21st century, one answer is to build another downtown; now that's a really tall order (no pun intended). Try anything new in St. John's and you will get the same kind of opposition nearly everywhere. If the old downtown isn't going to accomodate the needs of the 21st century, one answer is to build another downtown; now that's a really tall order (no pun intended). Try anything new in St. John's and you will get the same kind of opposition nearly everywhere.

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