General Urban Kitchener Updates and Rumours

[ac3r]

Part of the darker issue may have to do with the orientation of King Street.  In Uptown, the street is more north-south with few tall buildings blocking late afternoon sun.  In Downtown, the street is more NW-SE with taller buildings.

Yeah, the orientation actually plays a huge part in that. It's a concern that many cities must take into consideration. Downtown is a bit gross and scummy, but it's not really that bad in terms of public safety or anything like that. If the city could actually put their heart into the space, it could be great despite its age. Get rid of the schizos and drugs on every block and then hire different landscape architecture firms to create pleasing, bright, welcoming spaces and it wouldn't feel so yucky. That's really one of the main issues and probably the biggest one that prevents people from wanting to actually go and hang out downtown for any reason.

Then why do you live here?

I own a home in Kitchener but I don't live or work here, I live in downtown Toronto. The only reason I give any thought to Waterloo Region is because I spent some years growing up here. That's the frustrating part because I have a doctorate in architecture and understand what cities - even small ones like these tri-cities - are capable of becoming if people actually care. But very few actually do and those who do seem to be so willing to accept complete shit because "it's better than nothing".