Ongoing Calgarians complaining about pedestrian bridges thread

[KOgear]

^lol that is ugly. I'm surprised no one has brought up the $245 downtown library.

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/ca...598/story.html

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by KOgear

^lol that is ugly. I'm surprised no one has brought up the $245 downtown library.

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/ca...598/story.html

That's just a massing, not an actual rendering.

[nik-]

I'm excited to see what they do with the Library, it's a huge opportunity to do something amazing, I hope they make the most of it. It will also be awesome when they can eliminate the feeling that the wall of City Hall's ass end creates when you're in that area.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by GP_Matt

I like the comment that private developers are paying for it making it seem free. The developers are paying for it as part of a deal to get something else. If they paid the city for what they wanted and the city paid for the bridge would it suddenly cost the city money?

Yeah I liked that to. "[I]n exchange for land use changes", it wasn't a donation, it was the city forking over something worth what they figured was a comparable amount.

[BlackArcher101]

Originally Posted by KOgear

^lol that is ugly. I'm surprised no one has brought up the $245 downtown library.

I've been tempted to ever since this thread was bumped. IMO, there should be more outrage over the library price (and timing) than the bridge, but not sure why there isn't.

[bomber317]

Originally Posted by BlackArcher101

I've been tempted to ever since this thread was bumped. IMO, there should be more outrage over the library price (and timing) than the bridge, but not sure why there isn't.

Somebody will just start a "Burn the books" campaign.

http://boingboing.net/2012/06/16/awa...rning-hoa.html

[SebC]

Originally Posted by BlackArcher101

I've been tempted to ever since this thread was bumped. IMO, there should be more outrage over the library price (and timing) than the bridge, but not sure why there isn't.

Well, the library isn't late or at risk of going over budget (yet).

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by BlackArcher101

I've been tempted to ever since this thread was bumped. IMO, there should be more outrage over the library price (and timing) than the bridge, but not sure why there isn't.

Libraries are good. At least you can make a case that downtown is in need of a new library. I would have been less opposed to the Peace Bridge in the beginning if it didn't have Druh Farrell's dirty finger prints all over it and the fact that it turned out to be an overpriced mess pretty well justifies my disdane for her.

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Libraries are good. At least you can make a case that downtown is in need of a new library. I would have been less opposed to the Peace Bridge in the beginning if it didn't have Druh Farrell's dirty finger prints all over it and the fact that it turned out to be an overpriced mess pretty well justifies my disdane for her.

As I understand it this is the chronological series of events that led to the bridge (roughly, correct me if I am wrong):

-Calgary Centre City Plan study was conducted
-The study identified the need for a new pedestrian bridge(s) and chose that location
-City employees were the ones that chose the sole sourcing to Calatrava
-Druh Farrell and everyone else were then informed
-Being in her ward she championed for it
-The Calgary Sun squeals in delight and Rick Bell probably got way too excited
-The bridge finally opens and Druh actually had city of Calgary security with her opening day because of death threats (you can't make this stuff up)

I don't see eye to eye with Druh on everything, but I will give her credit for sticking to her beliefs and championing a piece of infrastructure for her ward. No different than what the other alderman do every single day. The fact that she has to put up with so much hatred and vitriol and even the death threats speaks to how strong a woman she is.

[SebC]

Even if the whole thing was Druh Farrell's idea, "Drew Farrell sucks, therefore her bridge sucks" is faulty reasoning.

[jammies]

Someone made death threats over a bridge? That's some serious lack of perspective.

[Addick]

Originally Posted by nik-

I'm excited to see what they do with the Library, it's a huge opportunity to do something amazing, I hope they make the most of it. It will also be awesome when they can eliminate the feeling that the wall of City Hall's ass end creates when you're in that area.

It might be really cool if they split the building in two and had an open area/courtyard that allowed people to flow from City Hall into the EV. There could be glass +15's connecting the buildings where they could provide meeting spaces or reading areas that would look upon the courtyard/pedestrian path. The courtyard/pedestrian path could hold an array of interesting features (e.g. a children's reading area/mini-amphitheatre).

[Addick]

I just took another look at the massing rendering and it looks like my idea would be even harder as they are probably going to want to span the building over the tracks. Nevertheless, I think it would be possible to include a pedestrian path through the site but quite challenging. Hopefully the challenge can breed brilliance.

[SebC]

I think the city intends to connect extend Stephen Ave through City Hall and the new library, but I suspect the connection will be at +15 level.

[Addick]

Originally Posted by SebC

I think the city intends to connect extend Stephen Ave through City Hall and the new library, but I suspect the connection will be at +15 level.

Although I'm not the biggest fan of +15's, I can see why they do intend for the connection to be made this way but I can see it being built in a way where it would connect to the main western entrance area of the new library where people could circulate to all parts of the building (i.e. second floor and main floor/courtyard area).

[ken0042]

Somebody should really start a library thread. Sounds like a good discussion that may be lost in a 4 year old thread about a bridge.

[CaptainCrunch]

I'm all over the Library, I think a good central library has a better return on investment then a lot of other public buildings, bridges etc.

My only concern with a library is it gets built but the funding doesn't continue at the level that it needs to continue at.

God knows we don't need people researching something at the Library where the books describe the civil rights movement as trouble in the south.

Or someday man will land on the moon using a canon and a giant solar sail

[crazy_eoj]

Originally Posted by SebC

You're never gonna have super tall things adjacent to the river due to the shadowing laws, but 3 Eau Claire will look awesome behind the bridge.

Finally some decent architecture coming to this city!

[Sylvanfan]

I am a bit late to this party on the peace bridge. A good source informed me a few weeks back that two Alberta steel suppliers in fact had lower prices, but they picked one from the Architects home town in Spain...than the Alberta company hired to fix this mess by Graham are on the verge of bankruptcy. The sub contractor hired to fix this mess and make the bridge safe should get paid,screw those clowns in Spain, maybe collect from the architect who obviously was influencial in who they chose.

This is why companies should stay away from controversial tax payer funded projects. Iconic structures especially are grossly underestimated. The Edmonton arena will end up like this bridge except 20 times worse.

[Addick]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

I am a bit late to this party on the peace bridge. A good source informed me a few weeks back that two Alberta steel suppliers in fact had lower prices, but they picked one from the Architects home town in Spain...than the Alberta company hired to fix this mess by Graham are on the verge of bankruptcy. The sub contractor hired to fix this mess and make the bridge safe should get paid,screw those clowns in Spain, maybe collect from the architect who obviously was influencial in who they chose.

This is why companies should stay away from controversial tax payer funded projects. Iconic structures especially are grossly underestimated. The Edmonton arena will end up like this bridge except 20 times worse.

As it was subcontracted, shouldn't the blame for not hiring the cheaper local company lay with the general contractor that hired that the subcontractor? I’m sorry, I guess that wouldn’t be very convenient...