Jaques Cartier Bridge
Montreal, Canada
For some time the idea for this has been facing me every morning I walk in Lakeside Park. Those who drive may ignore the bridge as such - those who walk certainly don't.
Also - a recent report in the Star lists the 20 most promising Canadian places to visit in 2018. No - not Nelson. All represented by a single picture - the one of Montreal is the lit Jaques Cartier Bridge above.
Han River Bridge
Danang, Vietnam
What
Despite the often over-the-top claims to being special: Nelson's urban attractions are few.
And we lack a visually distinctive core-structure - marker - to identify the City to outsiders - tourists. Before they come.
Nelson's Eiffel Tower sort of thing. Unique!
1.
Our "heritage" buildings are visually generic, varying little from those of other BC towns. We have also known for some time that Nelson never actually wins the title of "most arty small town in Canada" - this claim "phoned-in" from here to the author of the infamous book claiming so. At the time he has never been to Nelson.
Astrid Heyerdahl, Touchstones - stating this most-artiest as a fact in her recent budget-proposal - shows the paucity of outstanding urban attractions.
2.
This central space to possibly become the visual/cultural heart of Nelson turns into a condo/supermarket development. Its image now the single-item background of one of the City's web-pages. This also is telling.
3.
While the CPR Station redo is commendable - the building as such is not special, and similar renos have been done elsewhere. Fernie does it with volunteers as a socio-cultural multi-discipline development to give itself a beating heart - 27 years ago.
See post
Fernie: The Arts Station and How It's Done
8 Feb, 2016
4.
A multi-purpose cultural center for Nelson's Railtown - THE HEART - is first (and several times since) proposed in
Post
To-At-From THE HEART
14 Dec, 2015
but has yet to be actively considered within the Railtown development.
So - be honest - what's truly unique in this town?
Iron Bridge
Shropshire, UK
WHY
While the basis of any major undertaking here should - at all times - be creative focus on the economy - we have been comfortably dawdling over coffee. With good enough being good enough inviting stagnation.
Stuck in self-satisfied/limiting local possibilities, any sustainable development for Nelson needs to come from tourism. In the current climate - there has been little movement past whitish heritage ad nauseam, minimal discretionary shopping - and many, many cups!
(I'm not talking snow-bunnies: a different time and place.)
So we must push ourselves and each other into spaces where nothing short of excellence will do - as a way of life!
Breaking out of our comfy comfort-zone!
Daring to think big!
Canada/US Border
HOW
A visually daring statement-structure is a start - not only visible within Nelson but also when approaching it from either end. Remember the saw-mill's inevitable plume of smoke? Like that - but positive!
It's already there and frequently used in advertising as symbol of Nelson: the (incorrectly referred to as) Orange Bridge.
Shabby-looking in faded two-tone pink, it's currently just a habit needing to be crossed coming/going at the City's north-end.
Harbour Bridge
Sydney, Australia
But imagine it painted: one strong, clean color emphasizing its structure during the day!
Imagine it lit in a brilliant multi-color design at night! And the buzz of crossing it day-or-night, being inside it!
Imagine walking/sitting in Lakeside Park in the evening, listening to intimate live-music performances on the beach - the bridge providing a splendid background!
Imagine its magic even in the rain, a snow-storm!
"At the bridge" becoming a destination. For locals and tourists.
Its image (and imaginative use) recognized far-reaching. And taken home - advertising Nelson - on t-shirts, postcards, trinkets.
An economic blast(-off)!
Picture yourself looking at a single image each representing 5 BC tourism-towns. Heritage-whatever and hanging flower-baskets.The usual. Except one showing a colorfully lit bridge. Which draws your attention?
Enough already with mud-puddle-colored repression: a bright high-energy spark brings the local psyche alive. To eventually even lighting heritage-buildings downtown. Forget Xmas lighting - it's all in the year-around streetscape!
(Another story!)
Tower Bridge
London, UK
Who
While the Rotarians have earlier considered lighting the bridge - this should be taken on collaboratively with the City, it having access to resources the Rotarians haven't. With the bridge run by the Ministry of Transportation, and its highway thundering through town: there is the possibility of a beautiful friendship with benefits between floors in the White Building.
Big Four Bridge
Louisville KY, USA
How Much
Of course - the predictable initial response for not wanting to act (on this) is: there's no money! This reason is the excuse for countless wonderful ideas out there never seeing the light of day.
Mental sluggishness coupled with fear of succeeding!
Which by the way and conceivably could become the reason for Nelson never growing further than it has: a town with pretensions, aiming for solid mediocrity.
Some time ago the figure of 100K+ is mentioned as a possible price-tag for lighting the bridge. Even if it should be more: what is Nelson's sustained future worth to Nelson?
For some perspective: consider the way over 100K already sunk into (remember the?) Cottonwood Market we have yet to see and probably still not finished paying for.
The door to a focused future: willingness to be exceptional!
Bin He Bridge
Yinchan, China
Deb Kozak, Mayor
dkozak@nelson.ca
City Council
nelsoncouncil@nelson.ca
Pam Mierau, Manager - Development Services
pmierau@nelson.ca
Alex Thumm, Development Analyst
athumm@nelson.ca
Sydney Black, Executive Director - Nelson and District Arts Council
info@ndac.ca
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