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People are very superstitious, and quite hysterical. Google isn't building a city, they're building a neighbourhood in one small section of Toronto that most To

People are very superstitious, and quite hysterical. Google isn't building a city, they're building a neighbourhood in one small section of Toronto that most Torontonians never went to anyhow, and are under no obligation to go to after it has been rebuilt. Postwar Urban development is fucking monotonous and largely the same everywhere. We should experiment and try different things. If you don't like it, fine. Get together with a few thousand like-minded people and build your own neighbourhood, the way you like it.

dade_ 7y ago
It's the public waterfront and one of the busiest recreation trails in the city pass through it, so actually it really does matter. Google, rather Sidewalk labs, screwed up royally, but what they learned is invaluable. No idea if this particular project can be salvaged, but anyone wanting to build a smart city should study the lessons.
- Fricken 7y ago
  Will you no longer be able to pass through it recreationally after Google builds there? I was out this morning in Edmonton riding my bike through the urban blight and stopping to climb at my favorite buildering spots, on retaining walls and bridge abutments, sound barricades and shuttered buildings where no one will bother me, but I would much prefer it if that whole section of my city was actually a functional, aestheticly appealing and economically productive neighbourhood.
  - selimthegrim 7y ago
    Inquiring minds wonder which section?
    - Fricken 7y ago
      Various spots along the Northeast LRT corridor, between 115 Ave and Station Point Park.
mthoms 7y ago
Torontonians never went there because it was an industrial wasteland. But it's being re-zoned, and Toronto waterfront is quite possibly the most desired real-estate in the entire country outside Vancouver. >If you don't like it, fine. Get together with a few thousand like-minded people and build your own neighbourhood, the way you like it. Ridiculous. In what modern world is this actually possible? Certainly not Canada (nor the U.S. to the best of my knowledge).
- Fricken 7y ago
  Yes, it's ridiculous and it shouldn't be. I'd love to live in a place where there are people and services, but no cars. Such a place does not (to my knowledge) exist in North America. We can't even have one place like that. It's gotta be the same shit everywhere.
sunir 7y ago
This is an extremely bad argument. All neighbourhoods, houses, even cottage docks are controlled through planning in Ontario. Sensible people recognize that the city will continue to exist hundreds of years into the future. We do not let any crazy person build whatever comes into their minds because failures end up being a problem for neighbours and the government ultimately to fix, which means other taxpayers. If we don’t like it, we follow the law and complain to the planning committee. Like normal people. I don’t really get your position.
- Fricken 7y ago
  Google's plan really isn't that crazy. If all the weird things they want to do didn't work out, you'd be left with a fairly conventional neighbourhood in keeping with progressive low-car urban design principles. It's not like Google has carte blanche to do whatever they want, they've been in ongoing consultation with city planners from the start.
  - tomcam 7y ago
    Can you point me to what Google’s plan is? Can’t find much concrete.
    - sunir 7y ago
      They are presenting at Collision this week. We will find out.
- wmil 7y ago
  That's not actually true. Docks are controlled because they may interfere with navigable waterways. But you can build any house you want on unincorporated land (no municipality).
  - sunir 7y ago
    In Ontario all buildings must adhere to the Ontario Building Code. No exceptions. This is Canada. There are no municipalities in the Constitution. There is no land that is not controlled by the government. Docks are also regulated because of their ecological impact and safety. I was kind of shocked by your comment so I googled to make sure. Here is an article saying the same things. https://cottagelife.com/realestate/inspections-in-unincorporated-townships/ https://cottagelife.com/realestate/inspections-in-unincorpor...

dade_ 7y ago

It's the public waterfront and one of the busiest recreation trails in the city pass through it, so actually it really does matter. Google, rather Sidewalk labs, screwed up royally, but what they learned is invaluable. No idea if this particular project can be salvaged, but anyone wanting to build a smart city should study the lessons.

Fricken 7y ago
Will you no longer be able to pass through it recreationally after Google builds there? I was out this morning in Edmonton riding my bike through the urban blight and stopping to climb at my favorite buildering spots, on retaining walls and bridge abutments, sound barricades and shuttered buildings where no one will bother me, but I would much prefer it if that whole section of my city was actually a functional, aestheticly appealing and economically productive neighbourhood.
- selimthegrim 7y ago
  Inquiring minds wonder which section?
  - Fricken 7y ago
    Various spots along the Northeast LRT corridor, between 115 Ave and Station Point Park.

mthoms 7y ago

Torontonians never went there because it was an industrial wasteland. But it's being re-zoned, and Toronto waterfront is quite possibly the most desired real-estate in the entire country outside Vancouver. >If you don't like it, fine. Get together with a few thousand like-minded people and build your own neighbourhood, the way you like it. Ridiculous. In what modern world is this actually possible? Certainly not Canada (nor the U.S. to the best of my knowledge).

Fricken 7y ago
Yes, it's ridiculous and it shouldn't be. I'd love to live in a place where there are people and services, but no cars. Such a place does not (to my knowledge) exist in North America. We can't even have one place like that. It's gotta be the same shit everywhere.

sunir 7y ago

This is an extremely bad argument. All neighbourhoods, houses, even cottage docks are controlled through planning in Ontario. Sensible people recognize that the city will continue to exist hundreds of years into the future. We do not let any crazy person build whatever comes into their minds because failures end up being a problem for neighbours and the government ultimately to fix, which means other taxpayers. If we don’t like it, we follow the law and complain to the planning committee. Like normal people. I don’t really get your position.

Fricken 7y ago
Google's plan really isn't that crazy. If all the weird things they want to do didn't work out, you'd be left with a fairly conventional neighbourhood in keeping with progressive low-car urban design principles. It's not like Google has carte blanche to do whatever they want, they've been in ongoing consultation with city planners from the start.
- tomcam 7y ago
  Can you point me to what Google’s plan is? Can’t find much concrete.
  - sunir 7y ago
    They are presenting at Collision this week. We will find out.
wmil 7y ago
That's not actually true. Docks are controlled because they may interfere with navigable waterways. But you can build any house you want on unincorporated land (no municipality).
- sunir 7y ago
  In Ontario all buildings must adhere to the Ontario Building Code. No exceptions. This is Canada. There are no municipalities in the Constitution. There is no land that is not controlled by the government. Docks are also regulated because of their ecological impact and safety. I was kind of shocked by your comment so I googled to make sure. Here is an article saying the same things. https://cottagelife.com/realestate/inspections-in-unincorporated-townships/ https://cottagelife.com/realestate/inspections-in-unincorpor...