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 Posted
7/29/2009 1:00:00 PM
"As with most bold architecture, there will be some people who love it and some people who don't love it. I think it's beautiful, elegant." - Alderman Druh Farrell
"Sometimes there are people who vote against sunshine." - Mayor Dave Bronconnier
The newly unveiled design for Calgary's Peace Bridge reminds me of a middle-aged man going through a mid-life crisis. You know the guy, the one who compensates for feelings of inadequacy and lost youth by overspending on a bright and flashy new toy.
This brightly-colored tube across the Bow River is city council's bright and flashy new toy. There's just one problem. It doesn't fit into it's surroundings. It stands out like a sore cannoli.
The bridge's defenders argue Calgary needs bold, modern architecture. This may be true. In my opinion, Calgary is sorely lacking when it comes to interesting and inspiring design. A city must be more than boring mortar and bricks, it needs displays of character. But this design tries too hard. This bridge might be at home in Tokyo (or on the Jetsons). In Calgary, it's out of place.
There also appears to be a design flaw. The bridge doesn't cross over top of Memorial Drive on the north side. That means pedestrians will disrupt traffic if they intend to continue beyond Memorial Drive.
Despite waves and waves of public backlash and opposition to the bridge, the mayor and other members of council are stubbornly defending this foolishness. Come election time, this may be their bridge to die on. Based on the dozens of comments I received, it would appear many Calgarians agree.
Is there a better way to spend $25 million on a beautification project? What do you think a more appropriate project or design should be?
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Mike Blanchard
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perhaps this is our mayors impression of Marie, Let them sleep under the dome...Will the homeless be welcome to sleep under the bridge.
perhaps the families who can't afford a bike or roller blades can walk to this monument to the poor and havenots' by the haves..WOW GREAT...I'm so proud..not
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Posted By
Nancy
On
8/4/2009 10:48:19 AM
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I am excited about the design of the bridge and I look forward to having another river crossing. Thanks to the provincial gov't for provinding the funding through the Municipal Sustainability Initiative funding and for city council having a vision (excluding Ric McInever.)
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Posted By
CB
On
7/31/2009 11:54:14 AM
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3000 a day may cross this un-needed bridge, 25,000 cars would cross a well needed bridge at the intersection of Shaganappi and John Laurie!!
If the city was well serviced in all other areas such as roads,community arenas,pools,schools, a person could excuse the foulishness of this council, but really do we not have more important thing currently to spend on in this city!!!!
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Posted By
Ken
On
7/30/2009 8:04:30 PM
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I would swear that they should be voted out of office over this. However, this is Alberta, and the only two things you need to be to guarantee an election win are either (a) Tory, (b) an Incumbent or (idealy) both. Voter outrage means nothing here, if it did, then Bronco and Fast Eddie wouldn't be sitting in their respective seats right now.
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Posted By
Robert
On
7/30/2009 1:46:04 PM
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Okay I might be violating terms or something but I had to respond to the last few comments: The Golden Gate, The Empire State Building, and Chrysler Tower were all MASSIVE projects. They generated thousands of jobs, they were good for the economy. This is just a dinky little pedestrian bridge, it's not going to stimulate the economy, it's not going to have any tangible bennefit to the tax payers. And where our money is going is always relevant. Homelessness is a bigger issue? I agree. And that $25 Million dollars would go a hell of a long way to expanding shelters, education programs, you name it. That's the point, there are far better things we can do with out money than build a fancy bridge.
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Posted By
Stephen
On
7/30/2009 10:52:01 AM
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The Eiffel Tower was dispised by the French for years and is now the hallmark of Paris. Sometimes I wish the media would stop following these non-stories that essentially cater to the middle and upper classes (poor, poor people who have to start paying taxes like every other Canadian) and concentrate on real issues like homelessness, environmental degradation...like you know, start acting like real journalists.
Mike's comment: In other words, report the news the way you'd like to see it. There's crappy journalism for you.
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Posted By
tired of crappy journalism
On
7/30/2009 9:09:17 AM
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It seems out of place because the downtown architecture is so banal and pedestrian. In London many people thought Fosters "gherkin" was ugly and ridiculous and didn't fit. Now its a source of pride and is an iconic piece of the London fabric. As for timing , the Golden Gate Bridge, Empire state Building and Chrysler Tower were all built during the depression.Good thing their proponents didn't have your vision back then.
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Posted By
james woods
On
7/30/2009 2:13:32 AM
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I think the bridge looks amazing and is just what the city needs. Kudos to all involved.
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Posted By
Cliff
On
7/29/2009 8:43:22 PM
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This is the most ridiculous waste of money my tax money I've seen yet, and there have been quite a few.
We live in a city where there is hundreds of thousands of dollars in property damage every winter, not to mention injury and death because the city is too cheap to properly maintain the roads and here they are spending 25 Million dollars on a giant candy cane?? Has this city lost its mind?
What we REALLY need is a solid gold path that leads to the door of the Mustard Seed. No wait, lets start a damm coyote patrol, spare no expense.
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Posted By
Stephen
On
7/29/2009 2:41:00 PM
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The Mayor and any city alderman who supported this project should be booted out in 2010. What a complete waste of money and the process upon which they did this reeks of political favoritism and not in the taxpayers best interests. The design should just stick to the type of architecture we already have around the city. We do need more style here but now and with this project is not the time!!!!
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Posted By
Cindy
On
7/29/2009 1:29:07 PM
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