[ethan.l.cecc]

If the city were serious about the public realm, Widmer (as well as other low-volume streets) really should follow the example of Merchants' Wharf. Slows down traffic, allows for easy maintenance (just pull out the bricks and then put them back, provided Hydro doesn't come in with it's asphalt special), and looks MUCH nicer than plain asphalt or concrete pavers

 

[turbanplanner]

If the city were serious about the public realm, Widmer (as well as other low-volume streets) really should follow the example of Merchants' Wharf. Slows down traffic, allows for easy maintenance (just pull out the bricks and then put them back, provided Hydro doesn't come in with it's asphalt special), and looks MUCH nicer than plain asphalt or concrete pavers
View attachment 649540

I don't know, that looks like it's in need of some giant poorly filled trenches that act like speedbumps

 

[DSCToronto]

OK @NorthernLight Let's see if your new thread and its watchers can finally get rid of this wooden pole at Front & York. It was erected about a decade ago for temporary traffic lights and streetlights. It is now, as far as we know, used for wiring and a box that may or may not be connected and used by the Toronto Police cameras. Many of us have tried to get it removed, so far unsuccessfully. At one time we all assumed it belonged to Toronto Hydro (and they did not disagree) , they now seem to say its not theirs and MAY belong to the police.

 

[bearcat]

OK @NorthernLight Let's see if your new thread and its watchers can finally get rid of this wooden pole at Front & York. It was erected about a decade ago for temporary traffic lights and streetlights. It is now, as far as we know, used for wiring and a box that may or may not be connected and used by the Toronto Police cameras. Many of us have tried to get it removed, so far unsuccessfully. At one time we all assumed it belonged to Toronto Hydro (and they did not disagree) , they now seem to say its not theirs and MAY belong to the police.

View attachment 649781

What would be the next step here?

 

[DSCToronto]

What would be the next step here?

Someone at the City need to determine exactly what the 'temporary' wooden pole is being used for. If it is not really in use the City should remove it. If someone (the Police??) still need it they should be told they need to move their equipment to another pole or put up a new proper pole of their own.

 

[bearcat]

Someone at the City need to determine exactly what the 'temporary' wooden pole is being used for. If it is not really in use the City should remove it. If someone (the Police??) still need it they should be told they need to move their equipment to another pole or put up a new proper pole of their own.

No, I mean what is the next step someone on Urban Toronto can take to move this along. I am happy to help out, as I would love for this pole to be gone.

 

[DSCToronto]

No, I mean what is the next step someone on Urban Toronto can take to move this along. I am happy to help out, as I would love for this pole to be gone.

This is an example of a problem which has no obvious person/group is responsible. I tried many times to get Toronto Hydro to remove it and last time got the answer (reported here) from their President's Office saying that it is NOT a Hydro pole but they THINK it is being used by the TPS.. It is PROBABLY not a City pole either and requests to 311 went nowhere. @NorthernLight set this thread up to deal with this kind of 'ownerless' problem. Sometimes these can be solved by people like The Fixer in the Star, sometimes they drag on or years, like this one, remain unsolved!

 

[Jonny5]

That box could be one of those City of Toronto Bluetooth trackers.

 

[kev1n1m]

No, I mean what is the next step someone on Urban Toronto can take to move this along. I am happy to help out, as I would love for this pole to be gone.

Organizing the first ever 'Public Realm Maintenance' meetup where one of us brings a chainsaw from the Tool Library.

 

[nightstreak]

No, I mean what is the next step someone on Urban Toronto can take to move this along. I am happy to help out, as I would love for this pole to be gone.

Do you have a tree saw or an axe?

Edit: I see that I'm not the only one with this idea.

I joke but nobody takes responsibility for this pole until it is lying on its side, then you sit back and wait until someone whose job depends on this pole complains. That's the person responsible for this pole.

 

[nstuch]

What about the "temporary" fences around the Queens Quay streetcar portal? How many more years will they be there? The streetview image is from 2023 but i'm almost certain they're still there seeing as how they first appear in the 2015 streetview shots

Bonus for a craptacular piece of greenspace to be marvelled at by all the tourists going to the ferry terminal

 

[DSCToronto]

What about the "temporary" fences around the Queens Quay streetcar portal? How many more years will they be there? The streetview image is from 2023 but i'm almost certain they're still there seeing as how they first appear in the 2015 streetview shots

View attachment 650738

Bonus for a craptacular piece of greenspace to be marvelled at by all the tourists going to the ferry terminal

View attachment 650739

I was told, MANY years ago, that the permanent guard rails are too low to meet current code and that someone could fall over them. The temporary barriers are to bring the height to Code. That said, it would hardly be a major project to simply weld or add another layer to the permanent barrier. I think the excuse was 'we are waiting for the QQE LRT, when this postal will be rebuilt." If there was any immediate hope of this happening I would agree but ..... There is also the TOTAL lack of any effort to do some 'gardening" of the green area at the east end!! Is it TTC or Transportation?

 

[junctionist]

I was told, MANY years ago, that the permanent guard rails are too low to meet current code and that someone could fall over them. The temporary barriers are to bring the height to Code. That said, it would hardly be a major project to simply weld or add another layer to the permanent barrier. I think the excuse was 'we are waiting for the QQE LRT, when this postal will be rebuilt." If there was any immediate hope of this happening I would agree but ..... There is also the TOTAL lack of any effort to do some 'gardening" of the green area at the east end!! Is it TTC or Transportation?

That reminds me of something I find annoying in terms of public realm maintenance in Toronto. Once there’s a major project on the horizon, city workers often cut back on maintenance too much.

There’s a park in the neighbourhood that’s supposed to be overhauled in 1-2 years’ time. That apparently means 1-2 years of not cleaning up the weeds and leaves in the playground. They still should be doing basic maintenance until it’s fenced off and closed for construction.

 

[allabootmatt]

There's a persistent problem in Toronto (and maybe Canada more generally) of waiting for megaprojects to fix basic issues. This extends to more than just public space -- see the casual disrepair of much of Pearson. We shouldn't need some multi-million dollar, heavily designed and consulted "revitalization" in order for parks and streetscapes to be decent. Instead there should be regular, effective maintenance and small-scale fixes that happen almost automatically.

 

[turbanplanner]

There's a persistent problem in Toronto (and maybe Canada more generally) of waiting for megaprojects to fix basic issues. This extends to more than just public space -- see the casual disrepair of much of Pearson. We shouldn't need some multi-million dollar, heavily designed and consulted "revitalization" in order for parks and streetscapes to be decent. Instead there should be regular, effective maintenance and small-scale fixes that happen almost automatically.

Look at Warden ave? The part just south of eglinton has been a minefield for 6+ years but the city refused to do anything as it’s part of the crosstown in their minds