Archive for March, 2007

Toderian Weighs In
March 30, 2007

Vancouver’s Director of Planning - and Planetizen blogger - addresses the question: Does City Hall stifle good design?
Here’s a highlight:
Some have suggested to me that City Hall sometimes goes too far in shaping the City. That some rules, guidelines or approaches are too prescriptive, too specific, instead of being open minded to better ways to [...]

No Medal for Olympic housing
March 30, 2007

Globe and Mail architectural critic Trevor Boody takes a look at the  designs approved for Olympic-site housing in South East False Creek, and is not impressed.


March 28, 2007

John Burke: the Al Gore of the bike trade?
Interesting take from an industry insider on why cycling is posed for a new boom. And if you’d like to know how that might impact Vancouver, join us tonight for:
Preparing for the Third Wave of Cyclists- Cycling facilities designed for the future cyclists
March 28, 7-9 pm
SFU [...]

No Silver Bullet
March 27, 2007

I usually try to wait a day or so before putting up a post on a hot issue.  But this time I can’t stop myself. 
The following just came in by email:

LIONS GATE JAMS TO QUADRUPLE BY 2021
James Weldon, North Shore News (March 26, 2007)
NORTH SHORE - Lineups to the Lions Gate Bridge will quadruple by 2021, [...]

Inside the New TransLink
March 26, 2007

Thanks to reporter Jeff Nagel, the Surrey Leader provides some of the best regional coverage in the Lower Mainland.
Here’s his piece on the new structure for TransLink.
 ”For those who thought TransLink was unaccountable, that’s nothing compared to this structure,” says Gordon Price, head of SFU’s City program.
“It insulates unelected people with astonishing power that will [...]

Price Tags 91 - Gold Coast of Australia
March 26, 2007

 Download Price Tags 91 here.
Yes, it’s been awhile since the last issue.  But I have a good excuse: three weeks in Australia on a speaking tour, visiting six cities and renewing a host of friendships.  
We begin where change is most dynamic: on the Gold Coast of South East Queensland, where a new regional plan may [...]


March 25, 2007

Approximately 85 years of life in just 40 sec
Makes a nice birthday greeting, too

Vancouver’s Worst Building
March 24, 2007

As in most cities, there’s lots of competition for ‘worst’ building.  Over at Pacific Metropolis, they’re inviting nominations for “a list of those buildings that we’d like to see torn down as quickly as possible - preferably before they’re granted heritage status.” 
Here’s my nomination:
 
The Academy of Music on Vanier Point. Not too many people know [...]

Paris, City of Bike Lights
March 24, 2007

From the Washington Post: 
On July 15, the day after Bastille Day, Parisians will wake up to discover thousands of low-cost rental bikes at hundreds of high-tech bicycle stations scattered throughout the city, an ambitious program to cut traffic, reduce pollution, improve parking and enhance the city’s image as a greener, quieter, more relaxed place.
By the [...]

Must See: Herzog at the Art Gallery
March 21, 2007

I saw the Fred Herzog show at the VAG last night - and I wasn’t alone.  The place was packed, full of under-30s.  Like those of us old enough to remember some of the places captured by Herzog’s camera, they were amazed at the compositional quality and play of colour in his prints. 
The younger ones came, [...]