According to nelsoncommons.ca: the latest plans of what may determine the downtown-core - possibly for a generation or two - are now before Council and City staff.
1 Brick
There are so many images of very similar-looking apartment+store buildings to be found on the Net - one must wonder how the Co-op's architect arrived at his concept. The image shown here is from among them - not the Co-op project!
It is hard to see (literally!) how anyone could be enthusiastic about the Co-op design - potential buyer, concerned Co-op member or just interested citizen - based on the indistinct very-mini website-renderings, totally lacking detail. Clicking on individual pictures at different times goes to loading - possibly forever - I give up.
What with the overall appearance of this latest version essentially very little different from that presented in the recent update to/in the Committee Of The Whole: a boring apartment-block duly seen by Councilor Macdonald as unremarkable - the question presenting itself:
How does Nelson envision its core, and do the current Co-op plans represent a definitive version of that - for the City today and tomorrow?
Deirdrie Lang's enthusiastic initial announcement of the coming manifestation of the very center of the universe at Extra - had been tantalizingly promising while leaving unclear what exactly. At this point we know what exactly, and this is not exactly what we had been maneuvered to believe was coming.
Whatever Nelson's vision of itself in/for years to come could be - unfortunately the City does not seem to have one beyond the Waterfront & Downtown Plan's predigested generalities (thus may be tempted to buy into this one!) - it must not be: turning its center - thus Nelson-as-a-whole - into Kelowna-generic.
2 Bricks
It seems once the Co-op's early euphoria had worn-off, the visionaries got stuck in hands-on practicalities: not finding a developer (why?) thus putting together a local team and having to sell apartments. With that focus only - context eventually went! While - in order to make this development a true Commons - building-plus-environment as a unit would need to be no less than wrap-around exceptional. Much more than the presented retirement-housing for just living in but not looking at: downsized living-space and downsized aesthetics downsizing Nelson permanently!
With the City's aspiration: to be seen by all as special and cool and far out - and profit to be derived from that! - this central development must be a crucial building-block in creating a tourist-destination instead of being just a stop-over! Not just an in-and-out supermarket - but the promised environment where to spend quality-time in interesting company.
Yet Nelson Commons now seems like a very pretentious name for a parking-lot.
3 Bricks
There's much great architecture out there everywhere: combining aesthetics, functionality, environmental concerns in inventive use of materials and space. Why not here - in artistic, with-it Nelson, looking for an identity by the way. Great architecture is not necessarily determined by what it costs - but inventiveness applied. This Co-op design is not great - not even adequate. Just getting a job done.
If approved as is - the building and its environment would not be the heart of Nelson but its congenital heart defect. If not approved as is - a Botox-quickie alone won't do. No matter how much more work that may entail - sorry Co-op but you waded into this one with eyes wide-shut. This whole non-concept needs reworking to get back on track initially envisioned by the Co-op and now expected by all.
Pile Of Bricks
Unless it never was meant to be more than what we're looking at now - and we've been duped all along. I know, I know: a nasty thought, but the building-design has not really evolved since day one, and there never was one specifically of the Commons-aspect: the initial kicker getting us excited! Who's excited now raise your hand!
One hopes that City Hall - and prospective buyers! - will swat their way through the Co-op's smarmy come-on and look past it at the project's unattractive looming reality - then make their decision.
No matter what the outcome: this project will determine the current Council's legacy.
You owe it to all of us to get on with what you're good at.
W.H. Auden
Poet
Image: Russell Scott Steedle & Capone Architects, Inc.
I notice in the latest drawings of the Nelson "Commons" that they have a lot of balcony space for the people in apartments, so they can hang out and walk above the storefront(s). And, what happened to the talk about a public square in the big parking lot? Instead, they plan to usurp current parking lot space with condos/storefronts, and then maybe put in a little gazebo.
ReplyDeleteOtherwise, the project certainly doesn't live up to it's namesake. There's nothing "common" about this proposed development except for the noveau riche look common to haphazardly "planned" Okanagan big-whoopee development.
Any talk of budget concerns on this project baffles me; the sheer size and number of windows in some of the units is hardly cost prohibitive designing.
I agree that this is an opportunity to keep Nelson unique.
ReplyDeleteSo on one hand, you complain about lack of parking. But on the other, that they've sacrificed park for parking. So.... what do you want? You can't have both.
ReplyDeleteAnd this: "There's much great architecture out there everywhere: combining aesthetics, functionality, environmental concerns in inventive use of materials and space."
Show some. Please. Go find some designs that you want to see.
Right now, this design reflects what you'll find in other communities. There's a reason for that. It's called "contemporary design". Other buildings in Nelson are not unique at all. They're very much in keeping with other buildings everywhere else in the Western world of the period in which they were built. Much like this design is for our time period.
You seem to want some magical fairy design that you're incapable of articulating. Please try.
I do appreciate comments - but I don't engage with "Anonymous".
DeleteI've commented before and used my name, but you didn't reply there either. I'm John Paolozzi. The 4 comments which appeared on various posts last night are all mine.
ReplyDeleteI don't at all believe that people shouldn't ask tough questions about the project, but it seems there are too many people out there who question the vision without any realistic suggestions.
For example... "the Coop isn't providing enough green space! And there's not enough parking!"
So what to they do? Provide loads of parking, or more park. And if the answer is "well, neither, they just shouldn't do this sort of project", I don't think that's reasonable after they got the go-ahead to proceed with a project like this from their membership, and that a project of this nature is not significantly different from developments you'll find elsewhere.
It's not like they're trying to inject a Costco into the downtown here. This is the Coop, after all, and as the vision takes shape, all of the hippie values/aesthetics of the current store will materialize around the new one.
As for the parking lot / green space... That may come yet if we do indeed become a post-car culture. And if not... then they've done a good job of balancing parking for tenants and customers with the needs of a pedestrian friendly downtown.
My point is that they did NOT get the go-ahead to proceed with a project like this: a predigested condo-block. Members voted on moving funds into the construction-fund because they were lead to believe there would be a regional cultural center. As per Deirdrie Lang.
Delete'Nuff said!
Did they challenge this at the recent AGM? I haven't heard anything on that.
ReplyDeleteWhat kind of culture centre were they promised? At no point did I ever see anything about that.
http://www.nelsonstar.com/news/139259593.html
Is it possible that somebody just said "we could feature a cultural component"? I did think there would be more green space, and that's a bit disappointing, but it's not a deal breaker for me as a coop member, and a Nelsonite. I still see this project as a boon to that end of Baker.
Besides, creating green spaces and parks are not really the domain of businesses or social enterprises such as the coop. That's a city responsibility.