City of Hamilton General Discussion Thread

[Chronamut]

Toronto in 1970s:



One can almost imagine they are looking at hamilton.

[matt602]

Cool. We've caught up to Toronto 40 years ago!

[Chronamut]

Originally Posted by matt602

Cool. We've caught up to Toronto 40 years ago!

yeah pretty much lol..

[TheRitsman]

Originally Posted by matt602

Cool. We've caught up to Toronto 40 years ago!

I am personally glad that Hamilton didn't ever grow without any type of care toward the city 30-40 years ago. Hamilton is growing in a time where there is a lot more thought put into developments and growth, and I am glad for it.

Toronto used to be a beautiful city as shown from that picture there, and now it is in most places a grotesque shell of what it once was. Don't get me wrong, I love the big city, but I see no difference in different areas of the downtown anymore like you do in Hamilton.

If I had unlimited money, I would still pick Hamilton over Toronto, and with that money, I would probably try to invest in the city and make it even nicer than it is for both the poor and the middle class.

I am glad Hamilton will likely never be Toronto, despite my love for Toronto. Not every city needs to be Toronto or New York.

[Chronamut]

Originally Posted by TheRitsman

I am personally glad that Hamilton didn't ever grow without any type of care toward the city 30-40 years ago. Hamilton is growing in a time where there is a lot more thought put into developments and growth, and I am glad for it.

Toronto used to be a beautiful city as shown from that picture there, and now it is in most places a grotesque shell of what it once was. Don't get me wrong, I love the big city, but I see no difference in different areas of the downtown anymore like you do in Hamilton.

If I had unlimited money, I would still pick Hamilton over Toronto, and with that money, I would probably try to invest in the city and make it even nicer than it is for both the poor and the middle class.

I am glad Hamilton will likely never be Toronto, despite my love for Toronto. Not every city needs to be Toronto or New York.

totally agreed. I love how hamilton feels like both a small town and a big city at the same time.

[matt602]

Yeah, as an ex-Torontonian I completely agree as well. I was just being facetious with my last post. The growth that has happened in Hamilton in the last 5 years has actually been mostly amazing and intelligent, HSR problems aside.

[Chronamut]

to play the devils advocate here, I look at places like dubai, and I see just what awesome architecture can be created if money is absolutely no object:



esp. when you can build an entire city all at once:



I mean look at the things they are proposing to build there - this is a typical "city plan" mockup for a new area - "falcon city":



and another area titled "garden city"



rolling green spaces that puts even new york to shame:



they even create their own islands and build on the water - just imagine what we could build on lake ontario!

[Hawrylyshyn]

Too bad this is Hamilton and not Dubai and we don't have this source of money, therefore it's pretty irrelevant to try to compare. Just saying.

[Chronamut]

Originally Posted by Hawrylyshyn

Too bad this is Hamilton and not Dubai and we don't have this source of money, therefore it's pretty irrelevant to try to compare. Just saying.

as I said, just playing the devils advocate, and who knows how wealthy hamilton might become in the future

it was pretty wealthy in the past

[TheRitsman]

Dubai is also car central. Zero walkability or biking potential. It's not sustainable at all unless they have either unlimited oil, or some other resource sometime soon.

[Chronamut]

Originally Posted by TheRitsman

Dubai is also car central. Zero walkability or biking potential. It's not sustainable at all unless they have either unlimited oil, or some other resource sometime soon.

I dunno man I'm seeing a lot of sidewalks and tree lined boulevards and walkways in those above photos..

also apparently dubai's wealth isn't actually form its oil, but from its tourism at this point.

[Beedok]

Originally Posted by Chronamut

I dunno man I'm seeing a lot of sidewalks and tree lined boulevards and walkways in those above photos..

also apparently dubai's wealth isn't actually form its oil, but from its tourism at this point.

It's also generally like 45C with the humidity, so even the best design wouldn't see many pedestrians.

[TheRitsman]

Originally Posted by Chronamut

I dunno man I'm seeing a lot of sidewalks and tree lined boulevards and walkways in those above photos..

also apparently dubai's wealth isn't actually form its oil, but from its tourism at this point.

Many places have unused sidewalks. Mississauga is a great example of bike lanes, transit and sidewalks designed around a car designed city. Cul de sacs, and unsquare blocks make it car for cycling, walking and Transit networks to succeed.

[Chronamut]

hamilton is still imo a car city, as much as they want to make everyone take public transit.

If they want everyone to take public transit, perhaps they shouldn't charge us to use it. Free transit would be great.

[Dr Awesomesauce]

^I get what you're saying but Dubai sucks. Book a ticket. You'll likely find it interesting in some ways but certainly not a model for development...

[Chronamut]

Originally Posted by Dr Awesomesauce

^I get what you're saying but Dubai sucks. Book a ticket. You'll likely find it interesting in some ways but certainly not a model for development...

architecturally I find it beautiful - however I've also heard it described as "a city without a soul" that and their treatment of women and all - pretty to look at from a distance anyways.

Still, we could probably learn something from them - one thing they are great at is deviating away from purely square skyscrapers, more varied shapes would be great in hamilton

and hamilton, if it wants to be seen as an iconic city, still needs some sort of building that stands out for tourism, like toronto has the cn tower. Something to draw people to the city.

It used to be the entertainment city of the golden horseshoe, with its opera houses movie theatres and vegas strip night life. We need something like that again. If a tourist came and asked me what does hamilton have for me to see, the biggest thing that pops up is the waterfalls and architecture.. and thats good, but a lot of those waterfalls are only active at certain points of the year - hiking trails is good, but the city itself needs something it is iconic for methinks.

Montreal has its nightlife and old architecture and history, ottawa has its business capital and old architecture, toronto has its new york big business vibe and old architecture, what should hamilton have?

Originally Posted by Dr Awesomesauce

^I get what you're saying but Dubai sucks. Book a ticket. You'll likely find it interesting in some ways but certainly not a model for development...

yeah I can't afford that haha..

I'll just admire from afar.. that and you know.. dust storms and whatnot...

[ScreamingViking]

How about first becoming a city that has returned to a position of economic strength that is based on viable and sustainable industries and enterprises, while being affordably livable and offering a wide variety of amenities for its residents.

Too modest?

[CaptainKirk]

Originally Posted by TheRitsman

Dubai is also car central. Zero walkability or biking potential. It's not sustainable at all unless they have either unlimited oil, or some other resource sometime soon.

Correct. Terrible planning. Best not to look over there.

[Chronamut]

Originally Posted by screamingviking

how about first becoming a city that has returned to a position of economic strength that is based on viable and sustainable industries and enterprises, while being affordably livable and offering a wide variety of amenities for its residents.

Too modest?

get out of here hippie!

:p

[thistleclub]

I've also heard it described as "a city without a soul" that and their treatment of women and all

And the migrant workers and such.