MF YYC Politics - there, I mega did it

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Slava

Oh no, it's totally separate and I didn't mean to imply that they were included. I just meant that as an example of limits to the idea that " I own this and no one can tell me what to do with it" kind of thing. I just think that applies to a point, but at some stage the broader community gets input (and rightly so).

The community always gets input. There seems to be the mistaken explanation that it should mean something more than literally any other input, though.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Could you have imagined a European style midrise East Village? Would have been incredible.

That is what we got in the University District and it is awesome. Still lots of construction going on but I love the feel and amenities of the area.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

The community always gets input. There seems to be the mistaken explanation that it should mean something more than literally any other input, though.

Yeah, the community gets input...that's exactly what I was saying.

[flamesfever]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Well, you’re part of the discussion, so if there’s no nuance even with you included then what are you bitching about? Guess we’re all in the same club.

What major developments that have positively improved issues in the sphere of adding density/reducing home prices/supporting homelessness in your neighbourhood have you supported?

Do you honestly think those homeless people are going to be buying those $500.000. rowhousess?. The only guy who is going to come out of all of this with a smile on his face is the developer.

If you feel so strongly about your position on rezoning, are you going to go down and give your 5 minute talk to the City Council?

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

This hearing just keeps getting bigger and bigger...

https://twitter.com/user/status/1782417652310491511

Haha, and 720 of them are going to say exactly the same thing in a different voice.

Only 1% will actually be knowledgeable about what facets are affected by this change.

What a waste of time.

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

The community always gets input. There seems to be the mistaken explanation that it should mean something more than literally any other input, though.

The community doesn't always get input. The input, when opportunity given, isn't evenly ranked either.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Bill Bumface

Regarding Glenmore Landing, I'd way way rather have row houses all over the city and mid-rise in places like Glenmore landing adding up to the same number of units. The podium/tower form factor makes pretty crappy neighbourhoods compared to mid-rise/row housing IMO.

Agreed. The older I get, the less enamoured I am by towers, and more convinced that the perfect character neighbourhood has buildings that top out at around 3-5 stories. Go around the world to any city (whether its NYC, London, Sydney...or Calgary), and chances are that the neighborhoods that are beloved by local and visitors are not the ones with the high gleaming towers, but the ones with smaller-scaled buildings that put more emphasis on character, nice pedestrian experiences, quality materials, lots of sunlight, layered variety, etc.

I look at a place like Mississauga, with its rows of 50 story towers, and to me it's just as cold and sterile as any cookie-cutter suburb. They make great skylines and I'm sure they hit whatever density metric is set out, but the "pack em and stack em" philosophy does not make for a great neighbourhood.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

Haha, and 720 of them are going to say exactly the same thing in a different voice.

Only 1% will actually be knowledgeable about what facets are affected by this change.

What a waste of time.

The Slava's of this world must be heard!

[D as in David]

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

Haha, and 720 of them are going to say exactly the same thing in a different voice.

Only 1% will actually be knowledgeable about what facets are affected by this change.

What a waste of time.

But louder.

[topfiverecords]

Chabot throws a wrench in the spokes.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

The Slava's of this world must be heard!

Well this Slava knows that this is a waste of time.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

Haha, and 720 of them are going to say exactly the same thing in a different voice.

Only 1% will actually be knowledgeable about what facets are affected by this change.

What a waste of time.

Originally Posted by Slava

Well this Slava knows that this is a waste of time.

Might seem like a waste of time but at least it is an opportunity to be heard, have some input and maybe change some minds. The other option is to have no public consultation and feedback and we citizen can just take everything in stride that the government throws at us.

[D as in David]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Agreed. The older I get, the less enamoured I am by towers, and more convinced that the perfect character neighbourhood has buildings that top out at around 3-5 stories. Go around the world to any city (whether its NYC, London, Sydney...or Calgary), and chances are that the neighborhoods that are beloved by local and visitors are not the ones with the high gleaming towers, but the ones with smaller-scaled buildings that put more emphasis on character, nice pedestrian experiences, quality materials, lots of sunlight, layered variety, etc.

I look at a place like Mississauga, with its rows of 50 story towers, and to me it's just as cold and sterile as any cookie-cutter suburb. They make great skylines and I'm sure they hit whatever density metric is set out, but the "pack em and stack em" philosophy does not make for a great neighbourhood.

On a somewhat related note, the annual Jane's Walks weekend is happening May 3-5.

https://janeswalk.calgarycommunities.com/

WHO’S JANE
Jane Jacobs (1916-2006) Jane was an urbanist and activist whose writings championed a fresh, community-based approach to city building.

She saw cities as ecosystems that had their own logic and dynamism which would change over time according to how they were used. With a keen eye for detail, she wrote eloquently about sidewalks, parks, retail design and self-organization. At the core of her work and thinking was the need to get out and walk your city and observe how people, through their actions and interactions, create communities with a strong sense of belonging.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by flamesfever

Do you honestly think those homeless people are going to be buying those $500.000. rowhousess?. The only guy who is going to come out of all of this with a smile on his face is the developer.

If you feel so strongly about your position on rezoning, are you going to go down and give your 5 minute talk to the City Council?

No, but I know Slava also hates the idea of living next to anything geared towards alleviating homelessness.

I’m not really sure if you understand supply and demand. The developers being the only ones happy is basically impossible. If nobody wants these things and they aren’t going to solve anything… guess what… they’re not going to get built… because developers are not really in the game of spending their own money to develop things that nobody buys, and people aren’t going to buy things they don’t like or need.

I don’t really see any value in talking for 5 minutes, though. Those things are usually reserved mostly for people who do things like complain about immigrants in their neighbourhoods… speaking of, what time slot did they give you?

[Slava]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

Might seem like a waste of time but at least it is an opportunity to be heard, have some input and maybe change some minds. The other option is to have no public consultation and feedback and we citizen can just take everything in stride that the government throws at us.

I think that there is one guy (Evan Spencer) who has a decision to make. Aside from him though, I think that most of the positions are entrenched. My councilor definitely is. And, in light of that, and the fact that I don't feel that strongly about this, it's not worth it.

I do think that we need more density, I just think it should not be carte-blanche.

[Cappy]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Agreed. The older I get, the less enamoured I am by towers, and more convinced that the perfect character neighbourhood has buildings that top out at around 3-5 stories. Go around the world to any city (whether its NYC, London, Sydney...or Calgary), and chances are that the neighborhoods that are beloved by local and visitors are not the ones with the high gleaming towers, but the ones with smaller-scaled buildings that put more emphasis on character, nice pedestrian experiences, quality materials, lots of sunlight, layered variety, etc.

I look at a place like Mississauga, with its rows of 50 story towers, and to me it's just as cold and sterile as any cookie-cutter suburb. They make great skylines and I'm sure they hit whatever density metric is set out, but the "pack em and stack em" philosophy does not make for a great neighbourhood.

The "missing middle" is a big issue in many North American cities, and directly contributes to the random high-rises being placed in areas.

More row houses, 3-5 story apartments etc. will reduce the need for block towers. As calgarygeologist noted, university district is a pretty good example. Surround that inner core with townhomes etc, and it would be great.

Montreal is such a great example

[Slava]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

No, but I know Slava also hates the idea of living next to anything geared towards alleviating homelessness.

I’m not really sure if you understand supply and demand. The developers being the only ones happy is basically impossible. If nobody wants these things and they aren’t going to solve anything… guess what… they’re not going to get built… because developers are not really in the game of spending their own money to develop things that nobody buys, and people aren’t going to buy things they don’t like or need.

I don’t really see any value in talking for 5 minutes, though. Those things are usually reserved mostly for people who do things like complain about immigrants in their neighbourhoods… speaking of, what time slot did they give you?

haha, no you don't. You're just making things up.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by slava

haha, no you don't. You're just making things up.

ok

Originally Posted by slava

i really don't think my thought on this is too hard to figure out. These people need to be somewhere, and i support that. i actually support things like rehabilitation, safe injection and those types of programs...somewhere else. i've seen these homeless camps in large us cities and i'm not ashamed to admit they're frightening. It's not an exaggeration to say that it scares me, and makes me entirely uncomfortable.

So, yeah, i do have concerns about having one of these near me and my family. You can take a run at me for that and make your hilarious "my fwamiwy" comments or whatever. It really doesn't change my opinion that "we" shouldn't be accepting and normalizing this.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

ok

yeah, because safe injection sites are to alleviate homelessness also?

And who in their right mind wants to live next to that after seeing the situation with the Sheldon Chumir? And I don't think that saying I don't want to live beside a homeless camp is the same as the angle you're trying to push here. I'm definitely not the only person who thinks that we need density and also doesn't want to live beside a homeless encampment. Are you suggesting that is a NIMBY attitude now?

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Slava

yeah, because safe injection sites are to alleviate homelessness also?

And who in their right mind wants to live next to that after seeing the situation with the Sheldon Chumir? And I don't think that saying I don't want to live beside a homeless camp is the same as the angle you're trying to push here. I'm definitely not the only person who thinks that we need density and also doesn't want to live beside a homeless encampment. Are you suggesting that is a NIMBY attitude now?

You also said rehab centres and programs “like that.”

And yeah, safe injection sites help. You’re saying you’d actually be fine living near drop-in centres and rehabilitation centres then? If so, obviously I have you pegged wrong.

High density low/no income housing is fine?