Canadian Urban Canyons

[Marshal]

That is amazing; intensive; impressive - a new Montréal experience. And, proof that not all explosions are destructive. I can't say it makes me miss Montréal because my old Montréal didn't include this; but it makes me want to get back there.

[Martin Mtl]

Originally Posted by Rico Rommheim

The new R-L canyon is great. I enjoy walking through it, although the street and sidewalk are a total re-do.

I'm sure once all the new towers are build, the city will revamp completely the street. No point doing it now with all the construction going on.

[spaceprobe]

Originally Posted by GeneralLeeTPHLS

It's for a billboard apparently. I know for sure it's a billboard...not for what.

Another billboard? Why do people think advertisements makes for a great streetscape. Toronto should try to limit this.

Would be better if Toronto created something uniquely Torontonian of some sort that people will view as a destination to see rather than try to emulate Times Square.

[LeftCoaster]

Very cool shot of Rene Levesque, thanks!

[WhipperSnapper]

Originally Posted by spaceprobe

Another billboard? Why do people think advertisements makes for a great streetscape. Toronto should try to limit this.

Would be better if Toronto created something uniquely Torontonian of some sort that people will view as a destination to see rather than try to emulate Times Square.

More 3rd party advertisement at Yonge and Dundas the merrier. That's the whole point of it afterall. I do agree the city should have fewer 3rd party signage everywhere else. If I remember correctly, bylaws are much stricter now with most of the existing signage grandfathered. They disappear as the properties get redeveloped.

Uniquely Torontonian? Sounds boring. Most good ideas have already been done. There's little in New York that's wasn't copied from elsewhere and it's the greatest urban environment in the world.

[TorontoDrew]

I love it when people say Toronto is trying to copy Time square when Yonge Street has always been a street of lit up signs and advertisements. In fact it was one of the first cities on the globe to do this. Is London trying to be NYC with Piccadilly circus as well? What about Tokyo? They should really try to be more original.

[isaidso]

Originally Posted by TorontoDrew

I love it when people say Toronto is trying to copy Time square when Yonge Street has always been a street of lit up signs and advertisements. In fact it was one of the first cities on the globe to do this. Is London trying to be NYC with Piccadilly circus as well? What about Tokyo? They should really try to be more original.

Exactly. If I had a dollar for every time a Brit wrongly argued that Canadians just copy Americans I'd be a millionaire. People often make a lot of assumptions that have little basis in fact. Those that make the Times Square comparison use it because it's their reference point then assume it was the original.

New York's Macy's Day parade was inspired by Toronto's Santa Claus parade but I suppose people will say that it too is Toronto copying New York. For those that don't know, our flat iron building is older than theirs.

[Marshal]

Originally Posted by TorontoDrew

I love it when people say Toronto is trying to copy Time square when Yonge Street has always been a street of lit up signs and advertisements. In fact it was one of the first cities on the globe to do this. Is London trying to be NYC with Piccadilly circus as well? What about Tokyo? They should really try to be more original.

It's the other way around. Anyone who visited Times Square in the 1970's would know that it was eventually "turned around and saved" by becoming an American version of places like Tokyo/Piccadilly. Granville street had more pervasive signage (neon) than Times Square. This is not to say Times Square was without commercial 'light' but, at night, it was a dark lonely place overall.

I don't mind it if Toronto is copying a model of an intensified commercial square. That doesn't weaken its originality anymore than any city that learns from the good things other city's have accomplished, like: parks and squares, street furniture, pavement types, integrated cycle paths, street food, etc. . . .

[Rico Rommheim]

Originally Posted by Martin Mtl

I'm sure once all the new towers are build, the city will revamp completely the street. No point doing it now with all the construction going on.

Of course, I'm not holding my breath on when the city should initiate R-L's revamp. I don't even believe in its in the planning stages, so i would assume a solid decade for it to be initiated and implemented.

R-L has such potential for amelioration though: wider sidewalks, street furniture, and ample space for what couple be a great BRT system stretching from Atwater to a metro like Papineau and beyond.

[11a2b3]

http://imgur.com/r/ottawa/RIN8uGm

[Marshal]

Ottawa

[11a2b3]

Originally Posted by Marshal

Ottawa

Yep. Slater Street.

[kwoldtimer]

There's a hole in your canyon, dear O-town, dear O-town ...

[caltrane74]

Yonge south of Dundas

[WhipperSnapper]

Just imagine if Toronto incorporated using its town name.

[kwoldtimer]

Say again?

[TorontoDrew]

Originally Posted by WhipperSnapper

Just imagine if Toronto incorporated using its town name.

What do you mean?

[KnoxfordGuy]

You mean if Toronto was still named York? What difference would that make lol

[ssiguy]

Yonge really is the most pedestrian in-friendly major urban street in the country. It is a roadway that begrudgingly allows pedestrians. The sidewalks are incredibly thin to the point of being dangerous and there isn't one place between Union and Dupont where you can actually have a coffee or dinner on a patio.

[caltrane74]

I agree.

The city seems to be putting off widening sidewalks on Yonge forever.

I guess they are gauging the redevelopment down at Queens Quay, before greenlighting a similar overhaul on Yonge.