Amare said:
What an absolute, laughable embarrassment.

For the love of God is there one thing this city can do properly? Anyone notice a trend here: they cant install proper functioning garbage/recycling receptacles, they cant install transit shelters that are actually useful, they cant install proper bollards, all without re-inventing a solution that already exists and paying 10x the costs, etc, etc.

Everything that's been done by the public sector in this city in the past 30 years has either been so sterile or bland, to the point that i'm so appreciative for what our forefathers in the 40's, 50's, 60s, 70s, and 80s did for Toronto. Without them, I cant even imagine how dull and depressing this city would be today.
Click to expand...
For the longest time, Toronto was a parsimonious Presbyterian industrial blue-collar backwater. Our development into a prominent metropolis is extremely recent, and it will take decades for the mindset to shift within our populace and establishment.
 
Last edited:
Meh. I don’t think they’re as horrid as most.

It is incredible to think of how f’d up we are societally that we have to do this at all. They definitely gave sentience to the wrong species.

I’d be curious as to what a permanent solution would be for the Distillery who keeps moving in big concrete blocks and jerseys for the Christmas market.
 
xmyth_ said:
Meh. I don’t think they’re as horrid as most.

It is incredible to think of how f’d up we are societally that we have to do this at all. They definitely gave sentience to the wrong species.

I’d be curious as to what a permanent solution would be for the Distillery who keeps moving in big concrete blocks and jerseys for the Christmas market.
Click to expand...
OK, they are better looking than the Jerseys but the real questions are:

1. Do we actually need this kind of barrier at all? If needed at Union why not at many other very busy pedestrian areas (e.g. Yonge & Dundas?)

2. If we need barriers to keep cars out do we really need this kind? There are MANY examples, from all over the world, of quite elegant barriers and here we bought what looks like the cheapest/plainest block from the large catalogue of the British makers. (Some of whose blocks look FAR nicer!)

3. Why did it take 7 years to put in what someone at the City apparently thinks are 'suitable" barriers and why did we buy plain rectangular concrete blocks from England?
 
APTA-2048 said:
The ones at York Street are already dirty, scraped, and tagged.
Click to expand...
There in lies the problem, the one's that were installed 1-2 months ago are already looking rough. Just imagine what these will look like in 1 year, not even talking about 5 years.

Dont worry though everyone, i'm sure the city will historically designate these POS blocks and we'll be stuck with them forever just like the dank Bush Shed. They'll both share that dirty, grimy soot, grey characteristic that the city is infatuated with.
 
If the city can’t afford to install real bollards maybe it would even have been better to just use stone like they do in parts of nyc. At least then it’d be a natural material and might age a little better.

IMG_6120.jpeg
 
DSCToronto said:
we bought what looks like the cheapest/plainest block from the large catalogue of the British makers.
Click to expand...
I’m really hoping these get painted like the “welcome barriers” were (great name)…

Huge missed opportunity to not buy the planter version and bring some greenery back to Front Street like pre-renovation:

IMG_8894.jpeg
 
I think the funny part is how people will complain it takes far too long to process, suggesting we just do xyz…

Then goes on to be critical about a particular option, as if that’s NOT why it takes forever to make a decision.

Off the top of my head, things to think about:

1. Cost
2. Durability
3. Transport/install
4. Does it fit the surroundings?
5. What kind of vehicle can it take an impact from
6. How easy/cheap is it to maintain
7. Placement (effectiveness, accessibility)
8. City bylaws?
9. Risk assessment, how could people hurt themselves on it and what liability would the city hold? How do we mitigate

Now, figure a lot of information is out there already. Is it readily accessible and reliable?Are the people making the decisions experienced, or new to this? Was there turnover in the dept or is the responsibility now in another dept? Is there budget pressure? Councillor problems? Stakeholder meetings? Union Station input? Do cab drivers have an issue with placement? Etc etc.

I see this stuff like trying to organize a pizza party for 20 kids. For all your best intentions and ideas you just end up with pepperoni and extra cheese.
 
APTA-2048 said:
The ones at York Street are already dirty, scraped, and tagged.
Click to expand...
...but that's a bit of a catch 22 there. If you make them all compelling and aesthetically pleasing they will still get dirty, scraped and potentially tagged. So you can see why The City wants to take a more industrial approach to these.
 
You must log in or register to post here.

Back
Top