Comments on: The Greek goddess at Pine and Park http://spacingmontreal.ca/2008/08/07/the-greek-goddess-at-pine-and-park/ Fri, 12 Mar 2010 19:22:50 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Edward http://spacingmontreal.ca/2008/08/07/the-greek-goddess-at-pine-and-park/comment-page-1/#comment-4441 Edward Sun, 10 Aug 2008 17:54:05 +0000 http://spacingmontreal.ca/2008/08/07/the-greek-goddess-at-pine-and-park/#comment-4441 I think we have a tendency to underestimate people. A roundabout is not so hard to figure out. :) I think we have a tendency to underestimate people. A roundabout is not so hard to figure out. :)

]]> By: Maria Gatti http://spacingmontreal.ca/2008/08/07/the-greek-goddess-at-pine-and-park/comment-page-1/#comment-4439 Maria Gatti Sun, 10 Aug 2008 14:09:57 +0000 http://spacingmontreal.ca/2008/08/07/the-greek-goddess-at-pine-and-park/#comment-4439 I rarely agree with Edward or Shawn as development and "change" usually mean kicking out long-term residents, worshipping the car, or making a quick profit (sadly, sometimes aborting as in the failed SLEB development - took some doing not to succeed in that location!) but I certainly agree that the intersection is depressingly bland. However, I disagree with the roundabout - I don't think drivers, cyclists and pedestrians here are familiar enough with roundabout etiquette and I don't think it would be safe. The intersection is now MUCH more user-friendly - it is safe to cycle there now, and demolishing the échangeur has eliminated a dangerous spot for pedestrians - not just traffic risks, but muggings and rapes, especially of McGill students walking home in the evening. It definitely needs landscaping, perhaps rows of trees?, and a focal point such as a sculpture, fountain or monument, in proper scale. I think a choice was made not to go ahead too quickly with what could be an error, but it certainly does require some kind of development. I wouldn't be averse to some building there too, to create shelters in the wintertime. The corner is quite desolate in the cold months. I rarely agree with Edward or Shawn as development and “change” usually mean kicking out long-term residents, worshipping the car, or making a quick profit (sadly, sometimes aborting as in the failed SLEB development – took some doing not to succeed in that location!) but I certainly agree that the intersection is depressingly bland.

However, I disagree with the roundabout – I don’t think drivers, cyclists and pedestrians here are familiar enough with roundabout etiquette and I don’t think it would be safe. The intersection is now MUCH more user-friendly – it is safe to cycle there now, and demolishing the échangeur has eliminated a dangerous spot for pedestrians – not just traffic risks, but muggings and rapes, especially of McGill students walking home in the evening.

It definitely needs landscaping, perhaps rows of trees?, and a focal point such as a sculpture, fountain or monument, in proper scale. I think a choice was made not to go ahead too quickly with what could be an error, but it certainly does require some kind of development.

I wouldn’t be averse to some building there too, to create shelters in the wintertime. The corner is quite desolate in the cold months.

]]> By: Isabelle M http://spacingmontreal.ca/2008/08/07/the-greek-goddess-at-pine-and-park/comment-page-1/#comment-4426 Isabelle M Sat, 09 Aug 2008 00:33:33 +0000 http://spacingmontreal.ca/2008/08/07/the-greek-goddess-at-pine-and-park/#comment-4426 As of today, friday august 8th I've notice pieces missing from the blue Calliope sculpture... I cycle to work every day morning and evening by the cycling path. As of today, friday august 8th I’ve notice pieces missing from the blue Calliope sculpture… I cycle to work every day morning and evening by the cycling path.

]]> By: Sylvain Carle http://spacingmontreal.ca/2008/08/07/the-greek-goddess-at-pine-and-park/comment-page-1/#comment-4425 Sylvain Carle Fri, 08 Aug 2008 23:28:25 +0000 http://spacingmontreal.ca/2008/08/07/the-greek-goddess-at-pine-and-park/#comment-4425 It was still there a day or two ago, I bike there almost daily to get to work. It got my attention, glad to read the back story! It was still there a day or two ago, I bike there almost daily to get to work. It got my attention, glad to read the back story!

]]> By: Shawn http://spacingmontreal.ca/2008/08/07/the-greek-goddess-at-pine-and-park/comment-page-1/#comment-4423 Shawn Fri, 08 Aug 2008 16:33:17 +0000 http://spacingmontreal.ca/2008/08/07/the-greek-goddess-at-pine-and-park/#comment-4423 Right on, Edward. And good for the artist (though I cannot say if the piece is still there) in trying to get a discussion going, at least. Right on, Edward. And good for the artist (though I cannot say if the piece is still there) in trying to get a discussion going, at least.

]]> By: Edward http://spacingmontreal.ca/2008/08/07/the-greek-goddess-at-pine-and-park/comment-page-1/#comment-4421 Edward Fri, 08 Aug 2008 14:52:35 +0000 http://spacingmontreal.ca/2008/08/07/the-greek-goddess-at-pine-and-park/#comment-4421 The Park-Pine interchange was replaced by something far more efficient and obtrusive yet it is a cop-out. There is no sense of grandeur in this city anymore, zero ambition where NIMBY's almost always win what always turns out to be an anti-development, anti-change battle. The interchange should have been replaced with a roundabout with a fountain or sculptural park in the middle. Park Avenue in front of Mount Royal Park is so grand and elegant and it feeds into downtown as if it were an intersection in Blainville. The Park-Pine interchange was replaced by something far more efficient and obtrusive yet it is a cop-out. There is no sense of grandeur in this city anymore, zero ambition where NIMBY’s almost always win what always turns out to be an anti-development, anti-change battle. The interchange should have been replaced with a roundabout with a fountain or sculptural park in the middle. Park Avenue in front of Mount Royal Park is so grand and elegant and it feeds into downtown as if it were an intersection in Blainville.

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