Country mice
How is it that just three councillors from the suburban fringes of the nominal City of Winnipeg (Old Kildonan was little more than service stations and scrub brush 20 years ago) are all that come between the urban quality of the Exchange District and some brainiac with an idea for a parkade? (I'm dying to read what green and creative gimmicks are going to be added to the Grain Exchange's parkade. Is a penguin-themed-plaza still in the works?)
If there are members of Council who do not at once grasp how laughably pitiful arguments like "the proposed parkade will contribute to the ongoing vitality of the Exchange District National Historic Site and will contribute in a positive manner to the streetscape by replacing a large parking lot," why are they the ones that decide the fate of the Exchange District?
Another knee-slapper, also found at the City Clerk's desk: "The owners of the Grain Exchange building have been encouraged by both the Winnipeg Parking Authority and the Forks North Portage Partnership to construct a parking structure to meet the demands on downtown parking created by the growth of Waterfront Drive [where every single unit has at least one indoor parking space] and the pending Canadian Humanities Museum. The structure, if constructed on the site of the Annex, could access the skywalk system through the Grain Exchange Building."
If there are members of Council who do not at once grasp how laughably pitiful arguments like "the proposed parkade will contribute to the ongoing vitality of the Exchange District National Historic Site and will contribute in a positive manner to the streetscape by replacing a large parking lot," why are they the ones that decide the fate of the Exchange District?
Another knee-slapper, also found at the City Clerk's desk: "The owners of the Grain Exchange building have been encouraged by both the Winnipeg Parking Authority and the Forks North Portage Partnership to construct a parking structure to meet the demands on downtown parking created by the growth of Waterfront Drive [where every single unit has at least one indoor parking space] and the pending Canadian Humanities Museum. The structure, if constructed on the site of the Annex, could access the skywalk system through the Grain Exchange Building."
The side of the Grain Exchange Annex seen from inside the Northern Sales Building, c.1953, when Lombard Avenue had a whole lot more of what it can't ever get back. CreditRelated: Progressive Winnipeg - The myth of parking
posted by The Rise and Sprawl at
7:28 PM
6 Comments:
So, which councillors would you suggest make the decision ?
Do you think any of them would suit you better ? Aren't the new ones far removed from the Exchange and the old ones all part of the problem ?
Why do they decide, well they ran and got elected thats why.
The original City of Winnipeg should follow Headingly's path and secede from Unicity.
While I am not sure of the relevance of the comments with regard to the OK councillors, I do agree with you about the parking.
New parking lots should be built around the edges of downtown, and a park 'n ride policy implemented and encouraged.
Six weeks ago, due to money problems, I let my MPIC lapse, and have been taking the bus. I quite enjoy it, and find commute time from Fort Richmond to downtown very acceptable.
Our transit system has made considerable improvements. Now, if transit cut the fares by 25%, and made frequent shuttles from park 'n ride centres into downtown there'd be less need for parkades.
Also, if our city council limited urban sprawl rather than having a "I've never met a sudivision plan I didn't like" attitude, we'd have much less need for parkades.
Daly de Gagné
@ Mr. Nobody:
They're elected by people who stay away from downtown in swarms. Clearly the people who should be influencing these decisions which require great thought and sensibility about urban issues.
Interestingly, Councilor Wyatt of Transcona was the one who voted against the demolition. Transcona is a relatively unique ward in that it brands itself as it's own little city and takes its own heritage very seriously. Not something that can be said about Old Kildonan or St. James. Clearly Wyatt gets it.
I've posted some photos of the planned parkade here:
http://reganwolfrom.wordpress.com/2009/07/15/the-grain-exchange-parkade/
Dave, the point is , they ran, and got elected.
So they make the decisions. unless you elect people who think outside the box, you'll get the same type of thinking.
Dallas has a good point and Richard touches on a key point, sprawl.
I'm so against sprawl I'd take major steps in stopping it. ie: remove rail traffic from the City,. Free up 240 Acres of land in the core, and yes, move major U of M Faculties downtown.
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