I completely forgot about this thread until I noticed it in the recent index thread. I'm still a bit shocked that flar would have actually photographed MCC. Somehow they seem like mutually opposing forces. But I suppose it's an excellent learning experience.
Also, considering this was almost 6 years ago, it would be cool to see some updated pictures.
Quote:
Originally Posted by matt602
Well Mississauga certainly proves you can't build a real downtown from scratch these days. You've either had one for a long time, or you never will.
Certainly an interesting skyline however.
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Not sure about that. It if was really "from scratch" I suspect it would actually be easier. This is trying to convert an area that was already planned, built, and used as a low density, car-dependent, suburban area into an actual urban area. Whether or not
that's really impossible, only time will tell.
But if they're going to do it, there needs to be an incentive, ie a reason for people to use it. Right now it's a destination due to the shopping, which is in a car-focused format. If they were to develop a light-rail system and make MCC the main hub, it would give people across Mississauga access to it as a convenient, central location. Next, the hub would also need to have high-frequency rail connecting it to Toronto and preferably also the airport. That way the residential population could quadrupedal due to having easy access to downtown at the same time as having easy access to shops and services within walking distance.
As long as it's just cars and buses, it isn't going to happen. Maybe once the Hurontario LRT opens, that could help. But either way, the city needs to realise that zoning for residential and having people live there is not enough to make something into a downtown. Healthy downtowns also have layers of infrastructure and a rich diversity of activities an one cannot re-create the whole experience by introducing one element.