Surrealplaces said:
If at all possible find a way to have an at grade pedestrian passthrough at city hall, so people can continue along the mall past Art Commons, and straight over to the library etc.
Click to expand...
This is possible.

You simply make this more welcoming and people would be happy to walk through city hall. You can walk through these doors and...
1779480348307.png


Get to the stairs on the left and you're there.
1779482887862.png


  • Add natural greenery & materials: Bring in planters with sandstone and native plants to soften the concrete-heavy space.
  • Warm lighting: Adding string lights and subtle lighting on the ramp could make the area feel safer and more welcoming, especially in the evening.
  • Seating & activity: A small pop-up café/bar on the right of the ramp with a patio on the left of the ramp on the first landing that invites people across Macleod to linger there or just pass through to the library.
  • Clear focal path: The main walkway and stairs could be emphasized with lighting and wayfinding directing people through to the library.
  • Human scale: Only add elements at eye level to reduce the imposing feel of the large building.
The actual door space needs to be a lot more inviting, a natural material like wood and some lighting would make it more welcoming.

This is the Silver Spring Civic Building in Silver Spring, MD as an example of wood and lighting softening a space and pulling you in. Could do a small version of what you did here on the east side of City Hall to pull people through to Stephen Ave.
1779482412332.png


... To get back to the new Fairmont though, and to sort of speak of City Hall, does anyone know when we'll see a formal announcement and land-use submitted?
 
I don't know if they will need a land use, they might be able to go straight to DP.

And just to further add to your suggestions of how to carry Stephen Ave through the Muni Building, I would say put retail uses back into the muni-building itself. Long ago there was a convenience store there, and a publcly accessible cafeteria. Now, it is just seating space (with the seats removed due to attracting an unwanted element), and locked away board/meeting rooms. Plus, they lock the doors at 6:00 and don't open them again until morning, and they are closed all weekend, which obviously doesn't help.
 
Perfect site for some density.

About time for the city to convert 11th ave and 12th ave to two way streets? I can easily see 10th/11th becoming another prominent retail area, maybe branded as a new loop. On 11th ave we already have 3 large high rises u/c plus a few conversions with Copenhagen likely starting soon and Fairmont maybe starting next year. There’s also the Oxford/Wexford development potentially starting this summer. 11th ave already has good bones too.
IMG_5098.jpeg
IMG_5101.jpeg
IMG_5106.jpeg
 
A_Beltliner said:
As a local to this area I would love to see the city convert 11th and 12th to two way - but I feel like decisions are car based before pedestrian, and people who don't live in the area but come down twice a year will scream bloody murder about "losing roads", so I won't be holding my breath.
Click to expand...
That is 100% the case unfortunately. The hope I'm clinging to is that, as the DT/ inner city grows and the CBD transforms from being an office park to a more of a mixed use neighborhood, people will push more for these changes and with less suburban commuters, there will be less push back, and we can get this done.
 
Yes I agree that at some point the more mixed use inner city neighborhoods will hopefully become "self sustaining" in that there's enough population base to just exist as a bustling area regardless of who does or doesn't come from elsewhere.

I've lived in the beltline for a while now and it's remarkable the difference the last decade has made even despite covid
 
Surrealplaces said:
That is 100% the case unfortunately. The hope I'm clinging to is that, as the DT/ inner city grows and the CBD transforms from being an office park to a more of a mixed use neighborhood, people will push more for these changes and with less suburban commuters, there will be less push back, and we can get this done.
Click to expand...
I can’t see it happening. The main reason is cost. They would have to add traffic signals on the opposite side of every intersection (would probably redo all the signals then. That on top of all the signage/re doing road marking and other engineering would cost millions. Both 11/12 ave must have no less than 40 intersections from one end to the other.
 
I think they should do both. The worst streets pedestrian-wise in the core are all one way roads, whereas with all of our best pedestrian streets in the city, every single one of them is two way, with one lane each way and parking on both sides. It's a tried and true formula that works.
If you can put in traffic calming and accomplish taking away two of the 4 lanes, maybe it'll work, but would it be any less expensive?
 
Last edited:
Golfing guy said:
I can’t see it happening. The main reason is cost. They would have to add traffic signals on the opposite side of every intersection (would probably redo all the signals then. That on top of all the signage/re doing road marking and other engineering would cost millions. Both 11/12 ave must have no less than 40 intersections from one end to the other.
Click to expand...
Wouldn't putting in concrete for traffic calming at every intersection would be a similar expense though? Whatever we do, it'll cost money to make 11th and 12th into nice pedestrian streets.
 
You must log in or register to post here.

Back
Top