Vancouver Viaducts to be torn down

[jasonturbo]

Originally Posted by Soundy

You must have been in a different part of downtown Toronto than I was.

Sounds like you were staying on the corner or Imagination St. and Denial Ave.



You must agree, downtown YVR feels much more open and green?

[Liquid_o2]

I lived in Toronto for two years. Driving downtown is an absolute nightmare, especially during rush hour. Public transportation is packed downtown, especially during rush hour, but I would rather be on the subway or streetcar than driving down Queen Street at 5pm.

Toronto is an amazing city though, the amount of things to do on a nightly basis trumps Vancouver 100 times over. But quality of life from livability perspective is better in Vancouver obviously since we have the ocean, parks, seawall, weather, etc.

[Soundy]

Originally Posted by jasonturbo

Sounds like you were staying on the corner or Imagination St. and Denial Ave.

Adelaide and Jarvis, actually... right across from St. James Cathedral (stunning) and a huge park. The 15-minute walk to the job site at Adelaide and Bay (new Cactus Club) went past an even mix of old and newer buildings (a couple still under construction). A couple times I went a block further south and walked down King St., even nicer architecture there, and little parks every couple blocks.

You must agree, downtown YVR feels much more open and green?

Hmmm, again, not from the part I was in. Aside from the buildings being taller, and the lack of mountains in the background, it didn't feel much different. Flatter, of course, which make the walk easier. The big towers down there tend to have much larger open plazas around them, too. Did a few different routes, over the seven different visits in the past year, I wouldn't say any of them were all that different from downtown Vancouver... it just all sprawls a lot further.

If I do have to go back in winter, the nice thing is, there's a PATH entrance about half a block from the hotel, which takes me to FCP entirely underground.

Hey, I hate Tee-Dot as much as any Western Canadian, but I have to admit, I enjoyed my time there (as much as possible, being away from my pups). Works Burger, Jack Astor's, Hockey Hall of Fame...

Edit: oh yeah, if there's any reason to visit TO, for the hockey fan, it's the HHOF. SO much more than just NHL - huge sections dedicated to Olympic hockey, international hockey, lots of lots of tributes to minor hockey. The Great Hall is the fucking treasure trove - all the legends are honored there, both from on and off the ice (the mighty Jim Robson even has a space).

[Soundy]

Originally Posted by Liquid_o2

I lived in Toronto for two years. Driving downtown is an absolute nightmare, especially during rush hour. Public transportation is packed downtown, especially during rush hour, but I would rather be on the subway or streetcar than driving down Queen Street at 5pm.

Can't speak to that - I walked to and from site most of the time. Whenever I did need to go somewhere further, I got a cab (or limo to/from YYZ), and the cabbies were actually all really good. Had one guy take me to a bunch of different suppliers while I looked for parts, he was great.

One thing we did notice is that there are very few "mid-size" cars - it's either compacts that can squeeze in and out of traffic, or monster SUVs that just intimidate their way through.

Toronto is an amazing city though, the amount of things to do on a nightly basis trumps Vancouver 100 times over. But quality of life from livability perspective is better in Vancouver obviously since we have the ocean, parks, seawall, weather, etc.

TO has lake, parks, seawall... granted, given the sheer size of the place, it's not as easy to live very close to the water and seawall, but it's all there.

Weather, on the other hand... the humidity was stupid, felt hotter at 25 there than it does at 35 here. Ugh.

[Liquid_o2]

Originally Posted by Soundy

Can't speak to that - I walked to and from site most of the time. Whenever I did need to go somewhere further, I got a cab (or limo to/from YYZ), and the cabbies were actually all really good. Had one guy take me to a bunch of different suppliers while I looked for parts, he was great.

One thing we did notice is that there are very few "mid-size" cars - it's either compacts that can squeeze in and out of traffic, or monster SUVs that just intimidate their way through.


TO has lake, parks, seawall... granted, given the sheer size of the place, it's not as easy to live very close to the water and seawall, but it's all there.

Weather, on the other hand... the humidity was stupid, felt hotter at 25 there than it does at 35 here. Ugh.

I didn't have a car while I was in Toronto, but whenever I used car sharing or was in a friends ride, it was an absolute pain. Downtown that is. I lived up at Yonge and Eglinton and it wasn't too bad as long as you stayed off the highways.

Can't compare the Toronto waterfront to what Vancouver has. Yah it's nice, and I love the Toronto Islands during the summer, but nothing can compare to what we have here on the west coast. High Park is the closest thing to Stanley Park but it pales in comparison. Trinity Bellwoods park is an awesome place to drink in though, the amount of times I got day drunk there....

[jasonturbo]

If you want nice architecture skip TO and head right to Montreal, no comparison at all.

I spent about 3 months in Toronto last year, stayed near University and King. I don't hate TO because I'm from Western Canada, I hate TO because I would never want to live there... I know this sounds disgusting but I prefer Edmonton over TO. So much in fact that I turned down a 4 year contract worth a disgusting amount of money because I didn't want to live there and have to sit in traffic 2-3 days per week.

Obviously everyone will see things differently, I didn't despise TO when I was only there a few days at a time, but a couple of 1 month+ stints and I was like FUCK THIS PLACE.

HHOF is cool but it's one and done, not worth repeat visits.

Van is just an amazing city, I can't think of anywhere else I wold rather live except maybe SFO (Marin City) or Socal (Newport Coast, Laguna Niguel).

Spoiler!

[Hondaracer]

10:15 am

On the TO point everyone who I know who moved from BC to TO wants to get back to BC. Most are in finance or marketing though so it's a lot easier to make a go of it there than here in those fields.

Also a lot of their friends who they've made living there who were born and raised in and around TO are all fucking weirdos who I couldn't care to be around lol. Completely different type of social circles out there

[jasonturbo]

Originally Posted by Hondaracer

10:15 am

On the TO point everyone who I know who moved from BC to TO wants to get back to BC. Most are in finance or marketing though so it's a lot easier to make a go of it there than here in those fields.

Also a lot of their friends who they've made living there who were born and raised in and around TO are all fucking weirdos who I couldn't care to be around lol. Completely different type of social circles out there

Gardiner lol What a brutal piece of road. There is construction on that bridge every single night, of every single day, and there will be forever. (LOL thought that was view of Rogers Centre from the Gardiner at first, fail)

Yeah TO is the white collar centre of the earth as far as Canada is concerned.

And yes... those who have lived their entire lives seem to have no interest in ever leaving and are mainly of the mind set that TO is the centre of the earth in general.

[Harvey Specter]

I believe they want to get rid of most of the Gardiner expressway and go ground level.

And on the topic of TO, I actually liked TO when I lived there for a few months last year for work and loved it. It's got a big city feel and there's plenty to do.

[Soundy]

Originally Posted by jasonturbo

If you want nice architecture skip TO and head right to Montreal, no comparison at all.

I'm sure they'll open a Cactus there soon enough...

[Jmac]

Originally Posted by Infiniti

If last winter was any indication of whats to come this year, this could be a much dryer winter than the usual wet one Vancouver is used to.

Warmer and drier according to the NOAA.

http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories...r-weather.html

[Lomac]

Originally Posted by Hondaracer

10:15 am

Hey, look at all those cyclists taking up that extra lane! Gregor's plan is totally working!

[StylinRed]

Originally Posted by Lomac

Hey, look at all those cyclists taking up that extra lane! Gregor's plan is totally working!

there are some cyclists in the afternoon/evening, if that helps

[drunkhomer]

what about the skytrain that runs parallel to the viaducts?

[Soundy]

Originally Posted by drunkhomer

what about the skytrain that runs parallel to the viaducts?

Good question. Part of the reasoning for tearing the viaducts down is to make more land available for development without them getting in the way... but the Skytrain guideway cuts right through there too.

[european]

I guess it's time to dust off my old board and go skateboarding one last time at The Plaza before they tear down a world renowned skatepark.

Spoiler!

Take my camera and make a video for RS? ....... yup!!

[Mr.HappySilp]

Originally Posted by Hondaracer

Gregor obviously had motives to let less cars into the downtown core as well.

Was just on them coming into DT at 10:15 it was fucking slammed..yea gonna be great diverting that to other veins.

What I don't get is this really annoys ppl going into downtown. I mean a few years ago My family/friends would still consider going to DT for dinner on a weekend now we don't even bother coz of the traffic. If this keeps up I think a lot of ppl will avoid going to DT unless they have to.

[Soundy]

Originally Posted by Mr.HappySilp

What I don't get is this really annoys ppl going into downtown. I mean a few years ago My family/friends would still consider going to DT for dinner on a weekend now we don't even bother coz of the traffic. If this keeps up I think a lot of ppl will avoid going to DT unless they have to.

Then they'll say to take transit instead, but that's a lot of time and screwing around to sit on the loser cruiser for 2-3 hours just to go for dinner.

[Mr.HappySilp]

Originally Posted by Soundy

Then they'll say to take transit instead, but that's a lot of time and screwing around to sit on the loser cruiser for 2-3 hours just to go for dinner.

Skytrain is great when i go to work (is actually faster than driving since I live pretty close to a station and work is 5mins away from a station as well) but taking it just to eat dinner? Hell no I rather have instant noodles at home. Vision have to remember that when ppl go to DT they also go shopping, it sucks having to carry bags and bags of what you purchase and taking the skytrain or riding the a bike lol. Also when is raining who wants to ride the smelly skytrain for dinner and then walk in the rain to get soak.

[Soundy]

Also, I live in Abby... Pitt Meadows before that. Gotta drive minimum half an hour just to get SkyTrain, then you need somewhere to park. New West has zero park-and-rides. Closest one is Scott Road, but there's no way I'm leaving my vehicle there in the evening

[Liquid_o2]

Originally Posted by Soundy

Then they'll say to take transit instead, but that's a lot of time and screwing around to sit on the loser cruiser for 2-3 hours just to go for dinner.

Live closer to downtown so it doesn't take 2-3 hours. I downsized significantly when moving to Vancouver, but I can be downtown in under 20 minutes if I play the buses right. Worth it to be close to all the amenities.

And outside of rush hour, I never have issues with traffic getting in and out of downtown. Usually smooth sailing unless there is a big event. Vancouver's "downtown traffic" is nothing in comparison to Calgary, San Fran, Houston, Atlanta, etc. To me it still feels like I'm driving in a small city when I'm downtown.

[Soundy]

Originally Posted by Liquid_o2

Live closer to downtown so it doesn't take 2-3 hours.

That assumes someone wants to be downtown regularly. And it misses the point: Vision's moves to gradually eliminate vehicle traffic from the core means it's less and less attractive as a shopping and entertainment destination for anyone not within easy reach of transit. It makes people like me, who actually prefer not living in the middle of chaos, think twice about saying, "honey, let's go in for dinner and a play and maybe hit up Nordstrom's" because it's just too much headache.

And outside of rush hour, I never have issues with traffic getting in and out of downtown.

Easy to do if you don't work as a service tech who NEEDS to get down there during the day, along with a truck full of equipment and tools.

Then again, maybe Vancouverites just want to have the downtown all to themselves and this is all just a calculated plan to keep the suburbans away....

[Hondaracer]

if you live east of 200th the idea of "easilly" getting to downtown is a pipe dream anyways. Might as well give up on the idea of having dinners downtown or going for drinks etc. because it's a massive PITA to get back home

i went the other way in that i moved from Surrey, albeit right on the freeway in Fraser Heights, to Burnaby. Dont see myself moving back east across the fraser, perhaps ever again.

My GF who grew up in East Van, hastings Sunrise specifically, did not have her drivers licence until i met her and forced her to get it. However, hanging around constantly in east van now i've grown to appreciate the ease in which you can go and be anywhere/do anything when you're that close to DT.

Growing up in Surrey me and my friends used to know people all over, Richmond, Langley, Vancouver, etc. and all of us had our cars, because it was either driving, or longggg ass transit rides. Later in life as the group of friends expanded you'd always run into the people, both in person and online such as here on RS, who are like "lol i dont even know how to get to Surrey"

it might sound asinine, but in reality, unless you had good friends or family there, there is almost no reason to go, where as me and my friends were pretty much forced to go out into the other parts of the lower mainland

[Soundy]

Originally Posted by Hondaracer

if you live east of 200th the idea of "easilly" getting to downtown is a pipe dream anyways. Might as well give up on the idea of having dinners downtown or going for drinks etc. because it's a massive PITA to get back home

I pretty much gave up on hitting metal shows at the downtown clubs, unless it's a good friend's band playing. I love the music and the atmosphere and I have a blast shooting pics, but it's a loooooooong bloody drive, and fighting traffic on the way in. Stopped renewing my Lions season tickets years ago because it cost more to park than the seats themselves. Other than work, like you say, I have practically no reason to go downtown.

[500mph88]

Okay can we deal with the homeless situation first? I think the problem is most of us don't understand that 'humans' are our biggest resource. Let's invest in them first, invest in each other before going all crazy spending my tax money. What about helping them get jobs? How about hiring a math tutor or two to teach the homeless. Calling Vancouver beautiful while we have this 'stain' in our backyard is like driving a Lamborghini with one wooden door. Okay I suck at analogies but you get the idea . . .