urbanboom
Active Member
I get your point keithz, but I understand the reasoning behind the Gardiner's fall
1. You may not feel this way but its the "ugly", the "barrier" and the "ugly barrier" factor. This may be a stupid annalogy, but it would be like if you had to go through Regent Park to get to Rosedale. If that were true Rosedale wouldn't be "Rosedale". When I'm downtown, I sometimes consider going to the waterfront, but there is a voice in my head that says Ugh... I'll have to go under the Gardiner...
2. As you pointed out before, the city will make money from its demolition by increased tax revenue from more attractive properties after the Gardiner is gone. You seemed to make this out as a bad thing and the Millar will personally benefit, when it's not! City Hall is already cash-starved. Maybe they could extend the subway or even lower property taxes?
3. We talk about all the waste that goes on at City Hall: Unions, etc. But do you want to know one of the greatest money pits in the city? The Gardiner! $12 million in maintenace every year. This thing will pay for itself in 30 years. This is a long term investment. And that $12 million figure will just keep climbing the longer we wait and the expressway ages.
4. This section of the Gardiner is underused anyhow. Only 14% of traffic continue to the DVP or vice-versa.
5. Some may say that driving will be hell, but if you look at Lake Shore Boul. east of the highway, (an example of what may happen) traffic moves efficiently. The road is pleasant and treelined. (But the steetscape could be much better - this may happen as the land value grows and the portlands de-industrialize.) This is also a great way to use the carrot-stick approch in terms of Public Transit.
Carrot: Transit City, More GO
Stick: Less Gardiner
Well there's my rant for today. You can wake up now.
1. You may not feel this way but its the "ugly", the "barrier" and the "ugly barrier" factor. This may be a stupid annalogy, but it would be like if you had to go through Regent Park to get to Rosedale. If that were true Rosedale wouldn't be "Rosedale". When I'm downtown, I sometimes consider going to the waterfront, but there is a voice in my head that says Ugh... I'll have to go under the Gardiner...
2. As you pointed out before, the city will make money from its demolition by increased tax revenue from more attractive properties after the Gardiner is gone. You seemed to make this out as a bad thing and the Millar will personally benefit, when it's not! City Hall is already cash-starved. Maybe they could extend the subway or even lower property taxes?
3. We talk about all the waste that goes on at City Hall: Unions, etc. But do you want to know one of the greatest money pits in the city? The Gardiner! $12 million in maintenace every year. This thing will pay for itself in 30 years. This is a long term investment. And that $12 million figure will just keep climbing the longer we wait and the expressway ages.
4. This section of the Gardiner is underused anyhow. Only 14% of traffic continue to the DVP or vice-versa.
5. Some may say that driving will be hell, but if you look at Lake Shore Boul. east of the highway, (an example of what may happen) traffic moves efficiently. The road is pleasant and treelined. (But the steetscape could be much better - this may happen as the land value grows and the portlands de-industrialize.) This is also a great way to use the carrot-stick approch in terms of Public Transit.
Carrot: Transit City, More GO
Stick: Less Gardiner
Well there's my rant for today. You can wake up now.