Comments on: Last FOCUS mag uploads now on Scribd http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/yulelog/2009/06/09/last-focus-mag-uploads-now-on-scribd/ I am a mongrel - O ma! A gremlin... Thu, 24 Sep 2009 04:34:17 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Yule http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/yulelog/2009/06/09/last-focus-mag-uploads-now-on-scribd/comment-page-1/#comment-10536 Yule Mon, 15 Jun 2009 01:23:49 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/yulelog/?p=1263#comment-10536 It's <b>ALWAYS</b> one of the very first questions that comes up at any public hearing (whether with the community association or at city hall): "Where will people park?" . It's kind of (only kind of) funny. On the one hand, we think the personal mobility device (aka <i>automobile</i>) has brought us so much personal freedom - until we try to ditch, er, I mean, <i>park</i> it and realize it's a g-d ball-and-chain. . Parking is always the issue where we show that we want to eat our cake but have it, too. ;-) It’s ALWAYS one of the very first questions that comes up at any public hearing (whether with the community association or at city hall): “Where will people park?”
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It’s kind of (only kind of) funny. On the one hand, we think the personal mobility device (aka automobile) has brought us so much personal freedom – until we try to ditch, er, I mean, park it and realize it’s a g-d ball-and-chain.
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Parking is always the issue where we show that we want to eat our cake but have it, too. ;-)

]]> By: maria http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/yulelog/2009/06/09/last-focus-mag-uploads-now-on-scribd/comment-page-1/#comment-10535 maria Mon, 15 Jun 2009 01:18:44 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/yulelog/?p=1263#comment-10535 Well, jeez, I live in the suburbs in California, in neighborhoods with houses and gardens both with plenty of space, and probably at most 2 inhabitants per all that square footage, but I still have problems finding a parking space in most of the centers of these small towns.... And yea, the cry often goes up here too about "density" whenever someone (make that a developer with an interesting idea that mixes residential and commercial and public space). So I hear you! Well, jeez, I live in the suburbs in California, in neighborhoods with houses and gardens both with plenty of space, and probably at most 2 inhabitants per all that square footage, but I still have problems finding a parking space in most of the centers of these small towns…. And yea, the cry often goes up here too about “density” whenever someone (make that a developer with an interesting idea that mixes residential and commercial and public space). So I hear you!

]]> By: Yule http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/yulelog/2009/06/09/last-focus-mag-uploads-now-on-scribd/comment-page-1/#comment-10533 Yule Sat, 13 Jun 2009 22:46:56 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/yulelog/?p=1263#comment-10533 I agree, Maria - it's quite possible that the preservationists don't care about preserving the bridge because it's not Potemkin enough. (Its guts and structure actually work and aren't just a charming facade.) . Also, this bridge will get ripped down to "rationalize" car traffic. There's no end to the people screaming about the allegedly "difficult" curve in the road leading up to the bridge on the western side. (It's really just a bit of a curve, but to hear some, it's an insult to their ability to speed full steam ahead.) . As a friend of mine suggested - and I'd give him credit, but he wishes to remain anonymous - this bridge would find its defenders if it weren't for the fact that most people are still totally married to their cars (and this in a pretty walkable and bike-friendly city - but cars still rule). IOW, if you oppose replacing the bridge, you're implicitly pitting yourself against the automobile-centric mindset - and that means you're on the losing end as far as the general consensus goes. (Yes, people talk a pretty game about car alternatives, but when push comes to shove ...well, you know...) . For example, on Facebook a while back, I pointed to my <a href="http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/yulelog/2009/06/08/urban-density-and-social-media-tools/" rel="nofollow">earlier post about density</a>, and one of my Victoria contacts complained in response about how we have enough density already. And to "prove" it she wrote that when she drives downtown, she can't find a parking space. The complaint is preposterous. First, she lives in a core neighborhood that's walking distance to downtown, plus it has pretty good bus connections to downtown. But even if she wants to drive into downtown, there are 4 city-owned parkades that charge a pittance for parking ($1 per hour - I ask you, where else can you park for a buck an hour?), and they're never filled up. If one is full, it's almost a guarantee that the next one is empty. But the problem is that for people like her (and I fear she's typical), "parking availability" means finding a spot <i>directly in front of the store</i> that she wants to visit, not off-street parking 2 blocks away. Of course, those same people will think <b>nothing</b> of going to a big box mall outlet that has acres of parking and will park the equivalent of 2 blocks away from the mall entrance (and happily walk many more blocks within the mall). Yet somehow when they're expected to do that downtown, they freak out. . With thinking like that, it's no wonder people here jump up and down about all the wrong things. I agree, Maria – it’s quite possible that the preservationists don’t care about preserving the bridge because it’s not Potemkin enough. (Its guts and structure actually work and aren’t just a charming facade.)
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Also, this bridge will get ripped down to “rationalize” car traffic. There’s no end to the people screaming about the allegedly “difficult” curve in the road leading up to the bridge on the western side. (It’s really just a bit of a curve, but to hear some, it’s an insult to their ability to speed full steam ahead.)
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As a friend of mine suggested – and I’d give him credit, but he wishes to remain anonymous – this bridge would find its defenders if it weren’t for the fact that most people are still totally married to their cars (and this in a pretty walkable and bike-friendly city – but cars still rule). IOW, if you oppose replacing the bridge, you’re implicitly pitting yourself against the automobile-centric mindset – and that means you’re on the losing end as far as the general consensus goes. (Yes, people talk a pretty game about car alternatives, but when push comes to shove …well, you know…)
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For example, on Facebook a while back, I pointed to my earlier post about density, and one of my Victoria contacts complained in response about how we have enough density already. And to “prove” it she wrote that when she drives downtown, she can’t find a parking space. The complaint is preposterous. First, she lives in a core neighborhood that’s walking distance to downtown, plus it has pretty good bus connections to downtown. But even if she wants to drive into downtown, there are 4 city-owned parkades that charge a pittance for parking ($1 per hour – I ask you, where else can you park for a buck an hour?), and they’re never filled up. If one is full, it’s almost a guarantee that the next one is empty. But the problem is that for people like her (and I fear she’s typical), “parking availability” means finding a spot directly in front of the store that she wants to visit, not off-street parking 2 blocks away. Of course, those same people will think nothing of going to a big box mall outlet that has acres of parking and will park the equivalent of 2 blocks away from the mall entrance (and happily walk many more blocks within the mall). Yet somehow when they’re expected to do that downtown, they freak out.
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With thinking like that, it’s no wonder people here jump up and down about all the wrong things.

]]> By: maria http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/yulelog/2009/06/09/last-focus-mag-uploads-now-on-scribd/comment-page-1/#comment-10528 maria Thu, 11 Jun 2009 03:38:16 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/yulelog/?p=1263#comment-10528 I really enjoyed reading this article -- and though I spent very little time in Victoria, the Johnson Street Bridge is something I remember very well, like a landmark, back from decades ago now. You make a very important point when you describe those who opt for a clean slate and those who integrate the past (or make the "roots" of a city stronger). Obviously, this is not just philosophical hairsplitting, because these "point" turn into a cityscape. One thing I can think of is that the historical preservationists might not find the bridge "charming" enough -- that is, there is nothing romantic or possibly "nostalgic" about that workhorse for an industrial age that happened to be golden around the time the structure went up. I really enjoyed reading this article — and though I spent very little time in Victoria, the Johnson Street Bridge is something I remember very well, like a landmark, back from decades ago now. You make a very important point when you describe those who opt for a clean slate and those who integrate the past (or make the “roots” of a city stronger). Obviously, this is not just philosophical hairsplitting, because these “point” turn into a cityscape.

One thing I can think of is that the historical preservationists might not find the bridge “charming” enough — that is, there is nothing romantic or possibly “nostalgic” about that workhorse for an industrial age that happened to be golden around the time the structure went up.

]]> By: Yule http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/yulelog/2009/06/09/last-focus-mag-uploads-now-on-scribd/comment-page-1/#comment-10524 Yule Wed, 10 Jun 2009 06:17:43 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/yulelog/?p=1263#comment-10524 That's the <strong>June</strong> article you're looking at, Mat. The article that has the editing error is the <strong>May</strong> article, and it's missing the first twelve words. That’s the June article you’re looking at, Mat. The article that has the editing error is the May article, and it’s missing the first twelve words.

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