06-21-2022, 09:30 PM
(06-21-2022, 05:14 PM)ac3r Wrote:(06-21-2022, 04:26 PM)ijmorlan Wrote: It occurs to me they probably contribute more, on average, to the community. Somebody who lives in an apartment of that size probably wants to get out once in a while. If somebody lives in a 6 bedroom McMansion, there is really no need to go elsewhere.
So true. I mean...who is more likely to go out and enjoy and even contribute to a growing, vibrant downtown? Geriatric old white people that probably don't even go outside now because "we're becoming like Toronto! Crime, traffic, homelessness!"...or progressive, young people looking to make the Region of Waterloo a cool place to be now that they've made it their home? Spoilers: certainly not the angry old people who are going to be in a retirement home in the suburbs in 5 years.
Both demographics and types of built environments are capable of having a strong community, I don't think it's a competition. I think it's also true that the form community takes between the two can be drastically different and incompatible, so it's no surprised that the established community views this as the beginning of the end for their community. I spent most of my life suburban or rural, and always had a strong sense of community in my neighbourhood, which is completely non-existent for me living downtown, not because community doesn't exist here, but because it takes a completely different form than what I'm compatible with.
Though, while acknowledging the potential for community in high density environments, I still believe highrise buildings have additional challenges in community building. You yourself even replied to my comments, with additional sources backing up my position. What happened to that position of yours? Is pride in your work here (which despite my distaste for highrises, is an attractive design) colouring your judgement, or have your arguments changed for other reasons?
Regardless of my above thoughts, I don't believe this project should have been rejected. It's made even more insulting by the IN8 projects going ahead.