How Vancouver's Waterfront Became so Boring

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 13 ก.พ. 2023
  • Thanks to Urbanarium as always for partnering with me on this video! Check out more of their work at urbanarium.org
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ความคิดเห็น • 2.2K

  • @ishike5449
    @ishike5449 ปีที่แล้ว +1513

    Those voices actually turned out better than I thought lmao

    • @mynameisChesto
      @mynameisChesto ปีที่แล้ว +5

      How did I know it was you before I actually saw you?

    • @ishike5449
      @ishike5449 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@mynameisChesto you know me too well ;)

    • @joshuataylor3550
      @joshuataylor3550 ปีที่แล้ว +19

      Release more stuff, this was great. Vancouverites are so reluctant to talk poorly about their city. Cover the homelessness/drug crisis please.

    • @ibreview4236
      @ibreview4236 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Second this!

    • @jatinpal7735
      @jatinpal7735 ปีที่แล้ว

      music for the wiiii

  • @MichaelCoyle
    @MichaelCoyle ปีที่แล้ว +4449

    I've lived here all my life and I can tell you, the simple answer is that the entire waterfront is geared toward rich residents who do not want to see non residents outside the window of their multi million dollar condos. They worked hard to limit the number of boats that could anchor anywhere in the harbour, they lobby against anything that would attract more people or encourage them to come at night. It's a ghost town by design.

    • @KITTER298
      @KITTER298 ปีที่แล้ว +86

      That sounds delightful in a way.

    • @robertemumford
      @robertemumford ปีที่แล้ว +354

      This could summarize most of Greater Vancouver's problems.

    • @rfwhyte
      @rfwhyte ปีที่แล้ว +371

      Ding ding ding. This is the true answer. Like basically everything wrong in the world today, the problem with the waterfront in Vancouver is rich people.

    • @martinbrook7126
      @martinbrook7126 ปีที่แล้ว +37

      The rich get what they want. Where is it different ? btw : Terry Hui , Mr Concord-Pacific, owns the penthouse in that (to me) unattractive , stunted "tower featured mid-screen @ 08.49 minutes. Just another Erickson blunder . So accustomed to getting-what-he-wants his fellow owners had to sue for access to the common amenities in their own building. Of course we shouldn't forget that by far largest share of (metro) Vancouver land is still zoned single-family. On any given "pleasant weather" weekend the seawall, like it or not, is flooded with folk who decidedly are not westenders. Nearby residents are more prominently noticeable when inclement weather keeps the three zoners home so let's cut that "backyard-owners" NIMBY claim. Vancouver "hiding" from its raison d'etre : We live in a port city.

    • @AaronTheHarris
      @AaronTheHarris ปีที่แล้ว +198

      I don't understand why the "rich" spend thousands of dollars to visit overseas destinations to experience these lively, cultural places while at the same time fighting against having anything like that in their city. No to mention, vacancy tax nonwithstanding, I rarely see lights on in these bottom-floor waterfront residences anyway.

  • @scarlettmi
    @scarlettmi ปีที่แล้ว +1316

    It sounds like the problem isn’t necessarily the parks and walkway, but instead the area next to it being filled with *only* luxury condos. If the surrounding buildings were a mix of homes, shops, restaurants, businesses, concert venues, etc., then a quiet, simple park and path next to those things would be a nice contrast.

    • @thomfitzgerald1801
      @thomfitzgerald1801 ปีที่แล้ว +101

      Exactly. The Halifax waterfront is actually a walking path. The difference is that you can stop for beer every 50 feet.

    • @tristanlau1213
      @tristanlau1213 ปีที่แล้ว +41

      I can see the developers want to gentrify the waterfront in Vancouver to bring up the price of condos but they totally missed the point and the place doesn't look vibrant and luxurious at all. I've been to a waterfront in Hong Kong called Gold Coast and they have a Mediterranean style plaza with luxury diners, arts & craft market and a luxury hotel. The plaza always hold free cultural events to ensure both tourists and the local community can enjoy the waterfront. And the condos do give out the sense of luxury by itself as a prestigious private school is located nearby as well.

    • @meinardsl
      @meinardsl ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Pretty much. If there were any businesses or private homes which could transition into running a business those property values would climb to the moon almost instantly. The opposite is true for luxury condos. And it's not exclusive to condos, pretty much every location with more wealth than the medium is like this. What I find particularly annoying is that this come at the expense of vast majority of tax payers within the city as it is extremely rare for an entire city or town to be a home for only the rich. Vancouver could expand it's local economy through more small businesses and things to do in general to generate more wealth for the average resident OR they could bend over to the few millionaires and corporations who pay close to nothing(if at all) in taxes anyway.

    • @MrDecessus
      @MrDecessus ปีที่แล้ว

      But then it would not be quite or peaceful.

    • @ianwood4406
      @ianwood4406 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      There _is_ a mix of homes, shops, restaurants, businesses, concert venues, etc. - this fellow misrepresents the situation. Look at the segment in Coal Harbour, and then in English Bay, and then in Yaletown (all around), then in Olympic Village, and around Granville Island, There are Restaurants, Brew Pubs, Theatres all along the way...

  • @ceidrenv387
    @ceidrenv387 ปีที่แล้ว +70

    This is what we need in Hilo, Hawaii--where the waterfront was once a gorgeous beach that was paved over to build a highway, and a fence blocks off downtown Hilo from the water. Redeveloping that highway into beach restoration with trees + much bigger walking/biking path would be a dream.

    • @Komainu959
      @Komainu959 11 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

      Oh- I'm from Hawaii as well Oahu. I actually commented that this Vancouver waterfront sounds great to me. Hilo is far more relaxed than Oahu (I actually grew up in Hilo before moving for job).
      Like I just despise Waikiki although I really enjoy Ala Moana beach park. If the bayfront could be built up to be like Ala Moana beach park I think that would be great. But some of that restraint on building actual infostructure in the bayfront area is probably because of the history of the place getting leveled by Tsunami and more recently flood damage as the soccer fields become lakes.

    • @ChatGPT1111
      @ChatGPT1111 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

      I agree, when visiting Hilo, I could not believe how boring it was, even compared to Kona. Your weather is far worse so you need it even more! (Yes, I know a Tsunami destroyed the waterfront but still).

  • @peanutbutterjellytme
    @peanutbutterjellytme 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +23

    Growing up in the '70's and '80's, Stanley Park was a vibrant exciting place with all sorts of activities in the park and at the beaches. The seawater pools were packed, the games areas were busy, people picnicked and walked the trails. Every beach was fun, every park was fun across the whole Lower Mainland. The transition to Nofuncouver started after Expo and has gotten worse throughout the years.

  • @Potato-dx5mc
    @Potato-dx5mc ปีที่แล้ว +915

    Vancouver's Park Board : No restaurants on the Waterfront, they destroy nature and beaches.
    Also Vancouver's Park Board : No cycling roads in Stanley Park, they destroy car traffic to restaurants.

    • @jens_le_benz
      @jens_le_benz ปีที่แล้ว +69

      Parks? Nah man, the only parks we allow are car parks
      -Park Board

    • @penstemona9933
      @penstemona9933 ปีที่แล้ว +15

      Wait until they decide to put railings along all the seawalls 'for safety reasons'.
      Visit Nanaimo's Newcastle Island park to see how much nicer Stanley Park would be without the shoreline destorying seawall.

    • @lukehalmrast7366
      @lukehalmrast7366 ปีที่แล้ว +14

      the members of the park board are all car brains

    • @ultraman72
      @ultraman72 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      They didn’t ban cycling in Stanley, they’re going to remove the dedicated bike lane (which, in my opinion only made cycling dangerous as people disregard signs and ride wrong direction). We will continue riding there and hopefully the police do their job and enforce the speed limit which the majority of the drivers don’t respect

    • @westerlywinds5684
      @westerlywinds5684 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      Okay Vancouver folks. Like it or not, tourism to Vancouver generates annually $7.2 billion. You cannot ignore this. I happen to be a tourist coach / bus driver and we give tours throughout Vancouver and Stanley park. It’s next to impossible to drive a bus and navigate along the tree line there, with the cycle path pylons in the middle of the road. We need a little more space in turns. We drive slower than bicycle speeds, thus bicycles passing us, which is fine. Most cyclists use the seawall lane anyway, over the Stanley designated lanes. It will make much more sense to co-exist on the road. We are safe / professional drivers. We want to represent Vancouver the best as we can to the international community. So, please have patience with us drivers as we turn and navigate 50 ft. of glass & steel through tight corners. ✌🏼😘

  • @strongtowns
    @strongtowns ปีที่แล้ว +53

    Uytae: Hey Kevin, just need a few voiceovers, nothing crazy.
    Kevin Shi: ... hold my pinot. *drops hardest track of 2023*

    • @NamelessProducts
      @NamelessProducts ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Lol. Funny seeing all these urbanist youtube channels comment on each others videos. Good community.

  • @Killeenster
    @Killeenster ปีที่แล้ว +46

    I used to landscape at several buildings on Vancouver's waterfront including the infamous "Erickson". For the Erickson I serviced the balcony flower beds for each apartment. I was shocked by how many of the apartments laid totally empty (30%), while some had furniture but obviously no one at home for several months (50%). If all the apartments around the waterfront were actually full with living attendees then I think the sea wall would be much buiser.

    • @ironhammer4095
      @ironhammer4095 11 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Yup that's Vancouver. Build lots of condos but sell them all to foreigners and speculators. Drive up the price for locals. And bring in more immigrants for cheap labour and create even more demand for housing and services but invest in nothing to handle it. Good job Canadian elites. You got rich but downgraded the standard of living for all us working schmucks.

    • @monkymind4316
      @monkymind4316 11 หลายเดือนก่อน +7

      Yep Canada being auctioned off to the highest bidders and Vancouver condos are at the forefront.

    • @tabithan2978
      @tabithan2978 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Yeah, the rich Chinese buy condos to park their cash safely. Good move as China and its real estate are crashing.

  • @nanaokyere7141
    @nanaokyere7141 ปีที่แล้ว +98

    This is actually crazy that Vancouver has no lights in their walking path at night. Unlike them, Toronto is transforming its waterfront and it's actually the largest redevelopment in North America right now.

    • @samwalsh205
      @samwalsh205 ปีที่แล้ว +25

      Its because they don't want anyone down there. The cops come down every day at 11 and drive up and down the beach with their lights on and kick everyone out because the beach "closes" how can you close a beach.

    • @nanaokyere7141
      @nanaokyere7141 ปีที่แล้ว +22

      @@samwalsh205 That's weird and dumb. Toronto on the other hand has restaurants and bars by the beach. I guess Vancouver really does live up to its name as being the "no fun city"

    • @dmitripogosian5084
      @dmitripogosian5084 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      Toronto is redeveloping its waterfront since I lived there in the 90-s. It seems to be a forever process :)

    • @dripminic
      @dripminic ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Too bad they leased some of our waterfront to a private company for 95 years

    • @gormenfreeman499
      @gormenfreeman499 11 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Vancouver sounds like a boring place for people who made thier money elsewhere. You probably have to be a sucker to work there for minimum wage. The cost of living is so high your basically a legalized form of a slave working for slave masters who throw you some shelter and food.

  • @bopete3204
    @bopete3204 ปีที่แล้ว +326

    I've been saying that False Creek is basically a high-ish density suburb. It's centrally planned with separated uses and poor connectivity with the rest of the city. The only attraction in many areas is water and grass.
    I think it's a remnant of the 80s, when Vancouverism had to attract suburban office workers Downtown in lieu of building and urban freeway. So they catered to those suburban tastes. But times have changed.
    I was at the restaurant area during the summer, and it was lively with plenty of people there listening to music and playing volleyball. It was really nice and crowded.
    I think going forward, we can't just keep replicating this development model. We have to be able to build commercial streets with mixed use aparmtment buildings. And we can't rely in centrally planning every detail.

    • @innosam123
      @innosam123 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      NEFC was intended to fix some of these issues, but the demolition of the Viaducts looks like it’s in jeapordy, and the entire plan will have to be scrapped and redone due to cost constraints.
      Coal Harbour has some inter-connectivity with community services and restaurants with its seawall, but still pretty limited-especially since 2 lots designated for restaurants are so restrictive that no one wants to build on them.
      Olympic Village is better too, though it’s still designed to get people deeper into the village than having outside frontage onto the seawall.
      South False Creek was scrapped because basically none of the residents wanted to lose their suburban homes next to the Waterfront.
      Basically, you can see a trend in earlier developments being more ‘boring’, and later ones being more ‘commercial’.
      This problem is being solved, slowly.
      Though, Vancouver still has the problem of having too many useless small parks in its developments, rather than a few bigger parks that can become hubs for communities.

    • @professordogwood8985
      @professordogwood8985 ปีที่แล้ว

      I say we fix the past and build the freeway. That'll teach them! Let a city be a city.

    • @adaptercrash
      @adaptercrash ปีที่แล้ว

      You have been banned from the waterfront and you probably need to own a condo just to use it fuck man what a craphole I lived in northvan for 8 months I loved it but 750 000 for 1970 townhouse but the rest of van sucks

    • @AlCatSplat
      @AlCatSplat ปีที่แล้ว

      @@professordogwood8985 no

    • @professordogwood8985
      @professordogwood8985 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@AlCatSplat Whad'ya mean no? This is exactly what the city needs! Freeway access!

  • @Richard24Blair
    @Richard24Blair ปีที่แล้ว +156

    I bounce in and out of Halifax for work semi-regularly, and its harbourwalk is definitely one of my favourite parts of the city. It may only be a fraction the size of Vancouver's waterfront, but it's certainly a vibrant place that also makes for a nice lunchtime walk to stretch your legs. Definitely a highlight of that city's downtown (although more improvements to the pedestrian/transit experience around Water Street are desperately needed to better integrate it).

    • @tezpokemonmaster
      @tezpokemonmaster ปีที่แล้ว +9

      we just need to combine vancouver's transit with halifax's waterfront and old row housing to make the ultimate perfect canadian city.

    • @legendofburb
      @legendofburb ปีที่แล้ว +6

      They are currently reconstructing the cogs well interchange and planning new water street bike/bus infrastructure ! To make it more pedestrian friendly as well

    • @shanewilliams4603
      @shanewilliams4603 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      The Dartmouth side harbour walk is even more unused than Vancouver's though.

  • @Mythos131
    @Mythos131 ปีที่แล้ว +38

    You highlighted an interesting point about the Halifax waterfront that few people mention. The Halifax waterfront has two distinct aspects about it that are both great. In the daytime is is a bustling family and tourist friendly district with tons of diverse activities and food options. At night the waterfront transforms into a completely difference experience with lots of fun, patio experiences and events going on (more in summer obviously). The transformation of the Halifax waterfront over the last 30 years has been amazing.

  • @juan-miguel.basquiat
    @juan-miguel.basquiat ปีที่แล้ว +61

    this is actually why I love it. it's so peaceful, going for walk there is incredibly calming and it's so easy to find a place to sit just to read or have a good conversation with someone. i love it

    • @carolmay7
      @carolmay7 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      I feel the same way. Living in the City without having to always be around people... It's beautiful.

    • @cinemapigeon4898
      @cinemapigeon4898 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      100% agree. This video is just weird cherry picking and exaggeration. I understand *some* spaces could have additions like a restaurant or cafe that are being stopped by NIMBYs, however the sea wall literally has restaurants, cafes, shops, etc... already along it. If you're unhappy with a beautiful bide ride path/walk path not having a place to stop and chill, just ride or walk a few more minutes and you'll encounter one. There's literally Granville island along the path, that alone is huge, also Stanley Park/surrounding area has all that and more as well. Building out every square meter of the seawall would turn it into a strip mall, and I would argue would ruin a lot of the natural beauty and peacefulness to it.

    • @Mgameing123
      @Mgameing123 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@cinemapigeon4898 It doesn't look like a hussle and bussle seawall though. But yeah keeping some park sections would be nice so you get a balance.

    • @cinemapigeon4898
      @cinemapigeon4898 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@Mgameing123 During peak summer, it can certainly get busy. I visited July 2022, will visit again this July. Between the warm weather bringing people out and tourists, the seawall was packed (but still enjoyable). Beaches were full of people, there were little concerts or some sort of event by English Bay beach, and overall just lots of activity.

    • @MrMrtvozornik
      @MrMrtvozornik ปีที่แล้ว +9

      This whole video could be literally boiled down to ''Extroverts hate that there's a city brimming with introverts and architecture that is building for them, instead for the raging party goers.". An oversimplification for sure, but it gets the gist of it. Similarly how there's tons of articles and guides like ''Ten tips to be less introverted and open up" while there are none being tilted "Ten ways you can shut the f*ck up for once".

  • @suhasthobbi7503
    @suhasthobbi7503 ปีที่แล้ว +459

    Cannot appreciate enough the amount of work you put. As a new immigrant to Vancouver, I keep learning social and cultural policies from your videos.

    • @Apollo55_
      @Apollo55_ ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Where are you from that you thought Canada was a better place to go? (Not disrespect but genuinely curious)

    • @libertyoverbondage
      @libertyoverbondage ปีที่แล้ว +5

      @@Apollo55_
      Most native born people are looking to leave, we are priced out of the housing market, high cost of living makes most people live a little above the poverty line at best.

    • @Apollo55_
      @Apollo55_ ปีที่แล้ว

      @@libertyoverbondage So basically anywhere is better is what I'm picking up? How do people make money to survive? I know there has to be some absolutely horrible jobs some have to do just to scrape by.
      Edit (Just read your username, are you talking about Canada? If so forget about the last part with the jobs lol)

    • @mantisshrimp.
      @mantisshrimp. ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@Apollo55_There are not many countries that you can immigrate to with knowing only English, so yeah.
      Is Canada worse than US/UK right now though?
      That’s cool to have a Canadian Passport that allows you to go back to your country anytime you want. Most immigrants are going slowly but steadily to their final goal. Staying in different places that might be better than the other ones for that particular time won’t get them a New passport.
      I’ve been to Flemish part of the Belgium for 3 month, everyone knows English very good, but almost every job require Dutch, you get what I’m saying?

    • @WiseOwl_1408
      @WiseOwl_1408 ปีที่แล้ว

      ​@@libertyoverbondage few are leaving Canada. If you mean leaving the bugman zone please don't. Bugmen are not welcomed in the country side.

  • @jamalgibson8139
    @jamalgibson8139 ปีที่แล้ว +234

    This video perfectly illustrates the concepts that Jane Jacobs made in her book. Building a park just to have a park, with no understanding of the surrounding land uses will get you this disjointed style park, where it's virtually abandoned at certain times of the day.
    With only mid density residential nearby (yes, I know those look like high density apartments, but at that price point there are probably only a few families living in each one), the expected visitors to the parks are limited to people coming and going in the morning and evening. If you had some offices and commercial properties, you could increase the amount of people who visit at any time of day.
    Hopefully Vancouver will right this wrong; it's not okay that a publicly built park, subsidized by all citizens, is subject to the whims of the wealthy landowners nearby. There needs to be a diversity of land uses everywhere, even if the wealthy dislike it.

    • @jwu1950
      @jwu1950 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      LOL !!! A park is a park, not a 24 hours casino, okay ???
      May the love and the peace of Jesus be with us.

    • @mrjmc1989
      @mrjmc1989 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      ​@@jwu1950lmao

    • @2000sborton
      @2000sborton ปีที่แล้ว

      Good luck with that. Our democratic governments, (despite what they proclaim), have always catered to the wealthy. They probably always will too.

  • @Acrossthewest
    @Acrossthewest ปีที่แล้ว +91

    Great subject. Im torn though. Some parts should remain quiet while others almost need to be woken up. I lived there for 4 years and was an avid cyclist. I biked that entire sea wall several times a week and appreciated how I could keep a pace because most people were trying to get some exercise too. But at the same time it was a very lonely ride. There were definitely a couple locations along it and across the water, at Lonsdale Quay and the ferry inlet, that could have more social experiences. They felt disturbingly abandoned or forgotten. I was glad to see what was done with Lonsdale Quay went I went back last. A better use of that post industrial space. Some ecologically significant areas of Greater Vancouver became so developed and disturbed by tourists they were ruined from what they used to be back during my childhood visits (I won’t say because I don’t want them to get even worse). But the sea wall, other than in Stanley Park, is already in a highly urban setting and so either the useless grass patches could be converted to some better bioengineered spaces to buffer more city runoff and/or be host to more festivals/music/art in the park. The vibe can still be laid back if done well. Then future cyclists could stop and take a break, maybe make a new friend, or actually meet the love of their life in real life again. Haha. Just aim for connection I think. That’s what it’s missing.

    • @michaellukaniuk5074
      @michaellukaniuk5074 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      "Meet the love of your life!' All cities should be designed around that mission.🥰🥰😃🥰

  • @Komainu959
    @Komainu959 11 หลายเดือนก่อน +47

    I live in Hawaii. Honestly a beach walk with little to nothing around it sounds like bliss. There are endless places to go to if I want a park and nearby food, entertainment, etc. A huge quiet space- that sounds great.
    Go into the heart of Waikiki and tell me that isn't so.
    Keep your quiet, undeveloped park Vancouver. Once you lose it, it will be near impossible to restore.

    • @jparsit
      @jparsit 11 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      I lived in SF, Hawaii, and now Phuket; every waterfront is different but all ended up with the same desire---MONEY. Waterfront and everywhere except slums belong to the rich. Hawaii is not much of westerners area. It remains and belongs to the local, not white supremacy.

    • @andybea6352
      @andybea6352 11 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      I agree. I like the nice and quiet waterfront in Vancouver

  • @tylerlynch2849
    @tylerlynch2849 ปีที่แล้ว +75

    nobody else combines great production value with such interesting arguments! thanks for the video

  • @rileynicholson2322
    @rileynicholson2322 ปีที่แล้ว +68

    I think you could have easily compared the waterfront to the Victoria waterfront nearby. We have plenty of walking trails, but we also have a bustling waterfront near downtown and other attractions scattered around like dog parks, the breakwater, etc. It's not boring because there is variety, but there's not shortage of distance if you want to go for a jog.

    • @newtron1
      @newtron1 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Gotta say that Victoria has fantastic trails. World class in fact. We spent 3 winter months in 2019 and 2020 as Snowbirds. Our main form of entertainment was going for long walks. So enjoyable. Never boring. I miss u Victoria.

    • @alexflavoie
      @alexflavoie ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Nanaimo, Penticton, and plenty of other cities in BC have done a much better job. Its a shame Vancouver is so boring in comparison.

    • @fringe_minority
      @fringe_minority 11 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@alexflavoie not sure it's a good comparison. Vancouver's narco population is larger than those cities

    • @wickedslick3000
      @wickedslick3000 11 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

      I think Victoria's waterfront has swung too far to the opposite side of the pendulum and is a little too commercialized/touristy for my liking. It would be nice if there were restaurants etc down there that charged normal prices, not just what they think Americans will pay :P

    • @Spudst3r
      @Spudst3r 11 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Victoria has no congruent seawall, and this is largely thanks to wealthy people building houses directly next to the coast.

  • @AwokenEntertainment
    @AwokenEntertainment ปีที่แล้ว +164

    the idea of a nature getaway in the middle of an urban city is so underrated..

    • @areguapiri
      @areguapiri ปีที่แล้ว +31

      But nobody is "getting away" because it is so boring.

    • @jwu1950
      @jwu1950 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      @@areguapiri Exactly. Boring compared to spending days and nights in 24 hours casinos.
      May the love and the peace of Jesus be with us.

    • @boctunes1853
      @boctunes1853 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      @@areguapiri No it's not, it is perfect.

    • @CampingforCool41
      @CampingforCool41 11 หลายเดือนก่อน +29

      It doesn’t look like much of a nature getaway when most of it seems to be ugly grass lawns

    • @jwu1950
      @jwu1950 11 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

      @@CampingforCool41 You can get a plastic green and beautiful lawn, but that's not natural. Nature is ugly sometimes, naturally.
      May the love and the peace of Jesus be with us.

  • @samsee_ca
    @samsee_ca ปีที่แล้ว +10

    4:57 the b-roll of two people playing with a volleyball at that park is such a satisfyingly perfect edit (5:18) can’t believe he actually got that

  • @rowanz
    @rowanz ปีที่แล้ว +132

    Interesting take! As someone who loved visiting Vancouver while living in Seattle though, I'd still take Vancouver's boring waterfront over its southern neighbor, Seattle's any day. It's industrial with lots of car traffic on the west, and in the east there's mostly mansions with private docks that block the lakefront entirely. Vancouver's waterfront is really a tremendous public space, even if it could be made more interesting/lively.

    • @averychilco
      @averychilco ปีที่แล้ว +14

      I've lived in Seattle and Vancouver, In Seattle it's nothing for a stranger to walk up start a conversation and the both of you grab a coffee. In Vancouver it's nothing to think you're going to go out on a pleasant walk with your kid and have several bicyclist A-holes shout obsenities because you're not walking in a designated lane. And o yea, forget about any strangers starting a conversation or grabbing a coffee for that matter. Seattle has many problems but socialization isn't one of them. (No, Canadian's aren't nice or friendly.)

    • @anonymous47873
      @anonymous47873 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      @@averychilco you get it, most don't. congratulations! I don't have a prize, but it's nice to hear someone who has a normal opinion.

    • @pbnotj1
      @pbnotj1 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      a public green waterfront is appreciated and not being filled with privatization is a good problem to have . how to make it friendlier for social interaction is a good problem to have . Maybe the bigger issue is the neighborhoods around the parks being nothing but multi millionaires real estate investors and no regular families able to live there ? The areas I have been to that had cafes and restaurants businesses close the park like waterfront trail seemed nice 👍 .

    • @averychilco
      @averychilco ปีที่แล้ว +5

      @Khameleon I notice Canadians do not have a limit on how far they will dive into your personal business, but the conversation runs cold when you asked them (a Canadian) the most basic thing. Perhaps a bunch of self righteous know it alls.

    • @averychilco
      @averychilco ปีที่แล้ว

      @KhameleonYou're right! I attracted you didn't I.🤣

  • @dorarie3167
    @dorarie3167 ปีที่แล้ว +11

    So glad you mentioned Halifax. The waterfront has always been an attraction, and a favourite place of mine, but the city has improved it even more recently.

  • @JuliandratheGreat
    @JuliandratheGreat ปีที่แล้ว +149

    This all helped Vancouver’s reputation over the last 20 years to be referred to as “no fun city”. Its seawall is an incredible opportunity to infuse more culture and community into a city that would easily result in more fun. I remember when they installed a piano on the seawall underneath the Cambie Bridge. I was so excited that this would give way to more arts and culture involvement. Unfortunately, it seemed to not spread very far along the paths.
    While living on the False Creek side of the seawall, I always thought it would be such a wonderful idea to include various home business food and beverage carts. Even little kiosk-type shops would be wonderful! (Think running supplies, touristy souvenirs, sunglasses, etc.)
    The seawall became yet another example of how the 1% dictates the laws in Vancouver.

    • @jwu1950
      @jwu1950 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Vancouver is paradise on earth. There is no point turning paradise into a ghetto.
      May the love and the peace of Jesus be with us.

    • @JuliandratheGreat
      @JuliandratheGreat ปีที่แล้ว

      @@jwu1950 Vancouver has devoted itself entirely toward greed, envy, and pride… among other sins. You might as well be thanking Satan for what Vancouver has become.
      Hair Baphomet! Hail Lucifer! Hail Beelzebub!

    • @jimness5902
      @jimness5902 ปีที่แล้ว

      There are some facilities especially on the N side of False Creek for commercial activities that are empty. However they fail because of cost, red tape and lack of diversity. Why start a business there when you face a very good chance of not making it

    • @jwu1950
      @jwu1950 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@jimness5902 Exactly. No one wants a ghetto in paradise.
      May the love and the peace of Jesus be with us

    • @JuliandratheGreat
      @JuliandratheGreat ปีที่แล้ว +4

      @@jwu1950 and hail Satan!

  • @AbsolutePixelMaster
    @AbsolutePixelMaster ปีที่แล้ว +34

    There is no reason the sea wall can't be mixture of both commercial/public space and an escape to nature. I for one would love to see large portions of it, especially those directly connected to the urban fabric already, developed into large public plazas full of small businesses, while retaining much of the nature in other areas such as around Stanley Park.

    • @dianasandberg7854
      @dianasandberg7854 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Absolutely!! The seawall in Stanley Park should of course remain a place to connect with nature, but those lo-o-o-ng stretches of grubby grass and nothing else *aren't "nature"*, by any meaningful definition. This is public space; it belongs to all of us. Let's get some life and community happening.

    • @cinemapigeon4898
      @cinemapigeon4898 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I have only visited Vancouver as a tourist, however isn't the seawall exactly that already? If parts of the seawall are too peaceful and "dead" for your liking, just walk or ride your bike a few more minutes and you'll have some cafe or whatever. There's literally Granville island along the seawall, also Stanley Park/surrounding area has everything this video is advocating for and more. Building out a random cafe, restaurant, shop, or whatever every square meter of the seawall would ruin it. Sure there's a few spots where some smart additions could be made, but perhaps it's pretty darn good the way it is?

    • @jimness5902
      @jimness5902 ปีที่แล้ว

      The Sea Wall is facing an enormous challenge as it in need of serious and expensive rehabilitation right now est. are are 100 plus million maybe 200

  • @downhillupside
    @downhillupside ปีที่แล้ว +127

    It's true, Halifax has done a surprisingly good job of redeveloping their waterfront in the last couple decades. It wouldn't be a bad idea to develop sections of water front in Vancouver in a similar style. Certainly it doesn't need to be the whole thing, or even a majority, but it could be better. Some of my favourite places on the waterfront are where it interfaces with shops (Olympic village/Yale Town/Convention Centre).

    • @fraslex
      @fraslex ปีที่แล้ว

      It's only "surprising" because Canadians look down on Maritimers.

    • @downhillupside
      @downhillupside ปีที่แล้ว +5

      @@fraslex I'm from Halifax and have been living in Vancouver for the last 10 years. I've literally heard nothing but positive comments about the maritimes from other Canadians.

    • @ieatstheinternet
      @ieatstheinternet ปีที่แล้ว +2

      I've lived in both cities as well. I don't really like Halifax's waterfront tho and I found many locals don't particularly like it much either. Its out of the way, with little (and pricy) parking and bad transit, its very touristy, pricey, little in public services like washrooms or rest areas, especially when its busy. It can smell bad and has a knack for being cold and windy even when its nice in other parts of town. Its also an island from other destinations around the city being surrounded by mostly office buildings and a uphill walk. Outside of taking the ferry or living/working down there, few locals visit the waterfront much at all in my experience. The exception being special events like Buskers and Jazzfest which can being entertaining and fun enough to draw people down there.

    • @downhillupside
      @downhillupside ปีที่แล้ว +4

      @@ieatstheinternet I grew up in Halifax, and people loved it down there, including the locals. One of the most popular bars in town is down there. And it's 10 times better now than it ever was. I'm not sure who you were talking to, but it certainly wasn't my experience in my first 30 years of life.

    • @Mythos131
      @Mythos131 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@ieatstheinternet I don't agree with that assessment at all. Hard to classify the waterfront as out of the way when it is the number one destination in Halifax. Everything not on or near the waterfront it out of the way. It rarely smells and and certainly smells less often than other downtowns. The downtown and the waterfront are thriving entertainment districts. There are nearby office towers but they are a backdrop compared to the bustling entertainment areas. The only people who don't like the waterfront are people who prefer to stay on their sofas or in their cars.

  • @Leo-eb1wl
    @Leo-eb1wl 11 หลายเดือนก่อน +14

    It’s a place to escape the city, I actually really like it. One minute you are in the hustle and bustle of the city and then the next minute you are walking in forested areas with water sounds, it’s peaceful and relaxing.

  • @aggregatejeff
    @aggregatejeff ปีที่แล้ว +62

    I actually loved how quiet the seawall is when I was a tourist there

    • @modernwonders9896
      @modernwonders9896 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      @aggregatejeff I live here and run and ride my bike regularly on the sea wall so I can confidently say this is just another misleading, agenda driven video by this guy. Walk a minute east of this highlighted area and you have Athletes Village with restaurants, cafes, retail, entertainers and space for events like Vancouver’s Dragon Boat Festival, and walk two minutes west and you’ll find Granville Island with a market,theatres, restaurants, buskers, and retail (exactly like he showed in other cities like Halifax but conveniently left out) and in between just out of frame you’ll find more restaurants, along with parks. Oh green space, oh no let’s fill that to make it more exciting for this guy. What he doesn’t mention is that the pathway narrows at points and filling it with buskers and smaller food carts is actually problematic when you have people, biking, and on all sorts of of forms of transportation going both ways. This is just another video from this guy creating a false narrative, where he picks and chooses parts of the truth to fit his message driven agenda. If that critique feels unfair then appreciate that if you leave out important facts you are deliberately spreading misinformation, a lie, false narrative and then sharing it with the world. Fortunately there are some common sense comments here acknowledging that having some green space, quiet spots, where you can enjoy the space and the skyline is actually a good thing. What’s worse though with this video, and I’ve seen it with his other videos, is that this guy deliberately turns property owners into the enemy - how dare they stop us from having food carts, buskers, and circus side shows on the edge of their waterfront properties - those entitled jerks don’t they know that I can’t stand being bored? Truth is he has an agenda - let’s rezone, let’s redevelop because that serves our purpose. What’s curious as well is the poor level of research in this video as London was in fact one of the first modern cities to develop green spaces and parks, influencing other cities around the world including Barcelona and New York. Anyone who lives in Vancouver knows that these green spaces are regularly used in spring and summer months for music festivals, protests, annual fundraising walks and runs, and yes even outdoor yoga. Just another weak video from this guy meant to serve an agenda and create division.

  • @Basta11
    @Basta11 ปีที่แล้ว +33

    The problem is not the waterfront itself, its the lack of such places in the exciting areas. Imaging if you just through the business district/downtown with a walking path like this, it'll be full of life and exciting, and actually used to move people to where they need to go.

    • @kevinle5460
      @kevinle5460 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Agreed. That's what makes Central Park in NYC so cool. The contrast

    • @GrantMoore3D
      @GrantMoore3D ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Totally agree, if Granville wasn't a disaster and instead were cleaned up with pedestrian only streets and public seating throughout, you'd have the bustling community life some folks are looking for.

    • @RedroomStudios
      @RedroomStudios ปีที่แล้ว +3

      no, the problem is the failure of bringing exciting places along the entire length of the seawall. talk about completely missing the point of the video!

    • @fallenshallrise
      @fallenshallrise ปีที่แล้ว +1

      A city could either bring businesses, nightlife, food, music to a place people are already walking and biking and sitting - or bring walking and cycling and seating areas to a street that already has food, music and nightlife.
      It's an interesting idea, either way would work but in Vancouver while there is only a 5% chance of bringing more fun, food, festivals to our waterfront there is a 0% chance they'd ever close a street like Davie to car traffic and make it exclusively pedestrian.

  • @michaeldiez5264
    @michaeldiez5264 ปีที่แล้ว +13

    Dude, my girlfriend saw you in the train last holiday season. She said you're the first celebrity she's seen since we moved to BC last year -- we watched a lot of your videos prior to moving here. Great content + production!

    • @ktowniecity7269
      @ktowniecity7269 ปีที่แล้ว

      lol it was probably another Asian. There are a few around hongcouver. Disclaimer: Lets see how many woke nimbys this post attracts that claim one thing yet vote another way. nothing worse than fake hypocrites

    • @Bryan-eq6nt
      @Bryan-eq6nt ปีที่แล้ว

      His videos are nice but he's no celebrity 😂

  • @noahalter7592
    @noahalter7592 ปีที่แล้ว +75

    I lived in Vancouver right by the waterfront for two years while at the moment I live in Toronto which has a much more lively waterfront. I always thought the quiet nature of Vancouver's waterfront was a reflection of Vancouver's more sleepy culture in general. It's a place on the rim of the Pacific, at the very edge of the continent, separate by mountains from the rest of the country and by an ocean from the rest of the world. You can feel it in the atmosphere between the two cities. Toronto is always on the go, Vancouver is laid back. Toronto is full of drunken partygoers, Vancouver is full of stoners.
    To give a good example of this, when I was living in Kitsilano I used to go to smoke joints in the back alley late at night and I would marvel at how absolutely silent it would be. Toronto is never like that, no matter where you are or what time it is you're always hearing cars moving in the distance.
    In Vancouver I could go for long walks at night just to think about things and have the benefit of silence to do it. Toronto's much more distracting even in the quietest of places, you can really feel like your trapped in unrban sprawl. Whereas in Vancouver, it almost feels like a rural area which just so happens to have 2 million people living there.
    I can see what you mean by Vancouver having a loneliness problem, but I think the trade-off may be worth it if the seawall reflects Vancouver's unique culture, which I think it does. I see the benefits of both Toronto and Vancouver's way of doing things, but personally I found Vancouver fit my personality more.

    • @bearcubdaycare
      @bearcubdaycare ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Interesting take. So it's alcohol versus cannabis?

    • @MrMrtvozornik
      @MrMrtvozornik ปีที่แล้ว +26

      This whole video could be literally boiled down to ''Extroverts hate that there's a city brimming with introverts and architecture that is building for them, instead for the raging party goers.". An oversimplification for sure, but it gets the gist of it. Similarly how there's tons of articles and guides like ''Ten tips to be less introverted and open up" while there are none being tilted "Ten ways you can shut the f*ck up for once".

    • @frajoladellagato
      @frajoladellagato ปีที่แล้ว

      @@MrMrtvozornik 👏👏👏

    • @roman2011
      @roman2011 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Yes I find the quiet space precious and a luxury as a city dweller.

    • @jwu1950
      @jwu1950 ปีที่แล้ว

      Exactly. Vancouver parks are polluted with the smell of weed. Fortunately, there are better getaways like casinos where smoking is banned.
      May the love and the peace of Jesus be with us.

  • @maple4633
    @maple4633 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    This is a great concept. I live in Auckland, NZ, and there are two main parts to the waterfront in the CBD. One part has businesses which thrive from about 9am to 2am, there's a constant bustle (especially in summer), and people will go down just to wander around and look at the boats honestly. However, maybe a km away is a walking path which goes along the seaside between the CBD and the harbour bridge, which, while used, is never ever as busy as the waterfront where the museums and cafes and other businesses are.

  • @igorpissarenko4949
    @igorpissarenko4949 ปีที่แล้ว +18

    I live in Halifax and the waterfront is the place to be, arguably year round. It gets sort of dead in the winter, but in the summer it’s a gem! Restaurants, pop up cafes, souvenir shops, festivals, people docked on the boats and just vibing, it’s quite a scenery that also brings tons of money to the city and community. Visited Vancouver last fall and absolutely loved it, but I’m sure it could implement and improve on things that Halifax is doing. Thanks for your work on this video!

    • @martyshwaartz971
      @martyshwaartz971 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Halifax waterfront is sooooo great compared to Vancouver. Love it there!

    • @alecc4137
      @alecc4137 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I actually love the water front in the winter for that very reason but man is the board walk ever slippery.

  • @gnyphq6405
    @gnyphq6405 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    It's interesting how North Vancouver has started to address this.....

  • @joeldb
    @joeldb ปีที่แล้ว +51

    Some parts of the seawall could definitely use cultural hubs, but the purpose of most of it is as an escape from urban settings. It's what makes it such a great part of the city

    • @areguapiri
      @areguapiri ปีที่แล้ว +3

      A "boring" part of the city.

    • @TheInfectous
      @TheInfectous ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@areguapiri listen, if you like spending all day on your computer or inside shopping that's fine, but not everyone wants to be a consumerist slave. some of us haven't ruined our brains attentions spans such that we can still enjoy things which are proven to give large mental health benefits, namely, nature.

    • @TheInfectous
      @TheInfectous ปีที่แล้ว

      @@areguapiri listen, if you like spending all day on your computer or inside shopping that's fine, but not everyone wants to be a consumerist slave. some of us haven't ruined our brains attentions spans such that we can still enjoy things which are proven to give large mental health benefits, namely, nature.

    • @SeventhDeadlySins
      @SeventhDeadlySins 11 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@TheInfectous but people aren't enjoying it. The Vancouver population loves going outside they love nature! look at the beaches on a sunny day or any hike during the weekend its downright crowded. These spaces don't attract people simple enough while other spaces like trails and beaches are overcrowded they should be revamped to be made better use of.

    • @shrimpy7862
      @shrimpy7862 11 หลายเดือนก่อน

      ​@@TheInfectoushow do you enjoy nature in such an unnatural environment? And why you gotta be a condescending arse

  • @RandomActsOfMusic1
    @RandomActsOfMusic1 ปีที่แล้ว +38

    As a Vancouver local who busked, I will say thank you for this well researched video. I have come up against some of these issues trying to play music at the beach and various parks in Vancouver. I hope that one day there can be "fun zones".

  • @amfm889
    @amfm889 ปีที่แล้ว +11

    Props to Vancouver for at least keeping its waterfront open and accessible. Down here in Seattle they tore down the 1950s double-decker Alaskan Way Viaduct downtown and are mostly replacing it with... a 6-lane surface road speedway. But, hey, we've got a Ferris wheel!
    I love your Seawall. But not on a gray, rainy, winter day. Nice pants.

  • @michaelzhuhovitsky3889
    @michaelzhuhovitsky3889 ปีที่แล้ว +11

    It's a good day when you upload.

  • @SacredLadys
    @SacredLadys ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Those b-roll shots would look very different in the spring and summer. The seawall is absolutely buzzing during the warmer months - it's hardly boring. And there are plenty of restos along it as well: Carderos, Cactus Club Cafe (2x), Lift, Beach Ave Bar and Grill, Ancora, Provence Marinaside, OEB, SeaHouse, H Tasting Lounge, Dockside Cafe, Mahony's, Tap & Barrel, Chop Steakhouse. Let's also be grateful that we have access to the waterfront DESPITE the condos and townhomes lining it.

    • @lw8099
      @lw8099 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      Disagree. Maybe one or two of those restaurants are for everyone. But most of them are overpriced or barrier to entries for most people who live in Vancouver. That does not seem very fair at all. Plus those places to be honest are near areas of busyness….Coal Harbour, Yaletown, Olympic village. What about every other spot along the sea wall?

  • @maryamel3296
    @maryamel3296 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    My graduation thesis at Uni was about reclaiming urban waterfronts in another country. The cases that I analyzed in European countries had many activities and public buildings connected to water. I suggested a project that did the same defending it would bring life into what I called "thematic promenades", such as museums, libraries, cultural centers, playgrounds, soccer fields, restaurants, squares, forums, plazas, etc. When I lived in Vancouver, I did wonder why all I could do by the sea was walk, pretty much. But I did enjoy it. Nice video as usual, content, and production. Thank you!

  • @alexandrechabot6433
    @alexandrechabot6433 ปีที่แล้ว +173

    Very interesting video as usual. Please make more.
    I think the boring use of the Waterfront is more a cultural thing in Canada. I realize it more after spending last month in Mexico. Everything was feeling more alive there. In Canada we don't have the same sense of community, it's more of a selfish place and it reflect in many aspects of our country. The Waterfront if built around that selfishness concept.

    • @tezpokemonmaster
      @tezpokemonmaster ปีที่แล้ว +20

      canada is also obsessed with having very strict control of businesses of any kind. anything that sets up can't just do it willy nilly like in mexico (I assume mexico has rules about it but they have to be less strict), like a food stand needs a business license, a permanent location to produce food, and tons of stuff that makes where they can be and how expensive they are to set up a huge issue.

    • @alexandrechabot6433
      @alexandrechabot6433 ปีที่แล้ว +21

      @@tezpokemonmaster true, we need a minimum set of rules but Canada is going way too far on many aspects. That kills entrepreneurship

    • @fionasteinbrecht60
      @fionasteinbrecht60 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      You're right, more selfish people, they don't want to mix a lot. I left and live in Germany where they mix it up more.

    • @TheKnightXavier
      @TheKnightXavier ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Unfortunately one can only agree with the sentiment, selfish posessiveness is far too abundant.

    • @rook1196
      @rook1196 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      american here, we thought you well.

  • @lukeothedukeo
    @lukeothedukeo ปีที่แล้ว +13

    I'm a big fan of the Brooklyn waterfront, as I think it does a good job of incorporating activities and restaurants while still letting you talk a quiet walk or bike ride in a city where that's often hard to find.

  • @ajrothBU09
    @ajrothBU09 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    All great points. I love how this series always goes a layer deeper. It’s not just about Housing density, but what kind of density, and where, and here are all of the stakeholders and the legitimate arguments of detractors. Walkable spaces are nice, but there has to be a reason to walk there, and it can’t be only for the rich, and here are the reasons we built it the way we did…

  • @AlexBlack-xz8hp
    @AlexBlack-xz8hp ปีที่แล้ว

    really solid video! I appreciate you posing the question. I think it's super important that we consider these questions and don't just do the safe thing, but actually evaluate based on the context and the social need.

  • @aceshigh5338
    @aceshigh5338 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Every time you make a video it's an absolute treat! Keep up the good work. As an urban planning student in WA State and close to Vancouver BC, I always learn so much and find these videos so interesting. I can't wait to visit the city soon!

  • @tracylissner7608
    @tracylissner7608 ปีที่แล้ว +88

    Parks continue to be created in Vancouver in part to help reduce the heat island effect. Also, consider that a public walking path is much better than private waterfront ownership, which is quite common all over the world. We are fortunate in Vancouver that the seawall was built well before property values soared.

    • @kathywatt7555
      @kathywatt7555 ปีที่แล้ว +18

      Lovely to not have to buy something from businesses by the water to be able to enjoy the sea wall. One can bring a picnic.

    • @user-ed7et3pb4o
      @user-ed7et3pb4o ปีที่แล้ว

      The parks could be a lot better though. Even just having more trees and some public art/sculptures would drastically improve the space

    • @kayak2hell
      @kayak2hell ปีที่แล้ว

      Parks in Vancouver only exist so developers can buy land and get away with paying zero taxes until such time as they decide to replace it with a condo.

    • @baruchvalenzuela1679
      @baruchvalenzuela1679 ปีที่แล้ว

      Heat Island? Vancouver BC? Ahahahahahahaha. What will we do if it gets over 80 degrees? We will melt!

  • @atche8004
    @atche8004 ปีที่แล้ว

    dude i just found your channel, i am not from Vancouver and was not born there, but most of my family lives there, or has at one point. ive been many times for long periods of time and I hope to live there one day. you just earned yourself a new subscriber man, great content! keep it up!

  • @martinlutz5446
    @martinlutz5446 5 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    When I was in Vancouver as a tourist in 2022, I really was amazed by the fact that such a major city had calm and nature oriented spaces like the seawall and the adjacent parks for people to take a break from the busy streets. Maybe the seawall itself could use a handful of restaurants, cafes and such, but I think it should be stay as it is for the most part (not that I have any say in that matter as a non-Canadian)

  • @frostman9661
    @frostman9661 ปีที่แล้ว +24

    With how massive the seawall is, there is zero excuse for at least a couple short stints become commercialized. You CAN have both. It doesn't need to be a dichotomy.

    • @yysydney
      @yysydney ปีที่แล้ว +3

      exactly - not sure why it has to be so black and white in the public discourse

    • @fwizzybee42
      @fwizzybee42 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      The struggle is always that no one want to agree to have “their” part commercialized. Personally I like living right across from a coffee shop and with lots of restaurants around, the foot traffic makes me feel safer being out at night. Yet if I want to be out when it’s quiet usually all that takes is being out before ~11 on a weekend (easy with a dog getting you up anyway). But clearly the people in those condos (or at least the loud ones) don’t think that way.

  • @NickDostal
    @NickDostal ปีที่แล้ว +31

    Amazing vid man, see this same problem occurring in many greenways/pedestrian zones/waterfronts etc where instead of creating a vibrant, multituse place, you often end up with an empty, boring space. It’s no wonder such places end up desolate in some spots when they’re set up for failure to begin with. More effort has to be put into making such places interesting and enjoyable for people to spend time in.

  • @kidkarvi
    @kidkarvi ปีที่แล้ว

    this entire video is AWESOME, great job!

  • @kennyp2531
    @kennyp2531 11 หลายเดือนก่อน +21

    My fav thing about the seawall path is that it is NOT cluttered. It's quiet and peaceful. You only need to go less than a block away to have all the businesses and all of what you are looking for. I sure hope they keep it this way

  • @humanecities
    @humanecities ปีที่แล้ว +52

    In Calgary, we have some great multiuse pathways. The primary ones go through Fish Creek Park, follow the Elbow and Bow Rivers, or loop around the reservoir. But they have this similar issue you’re talking about. There’s not much to do around them. They’re great for exercise, seeing nature, and active transport (depending where you’re going). But they’re also kinda placeless.
    I love these parks, and don’t think we should just add a bunch of shops, but it would be nice to cycleways and pedestrian paths with a little something of interest. Thanks for giving me something interesting to think about today!

    • @nao_chan_
      @nao_chan_ ปีที่แล้ว +4

      go through fish creek at night in the summer on your bike, watch rabbits part like the red sea. no joke its crazy. thats about the most interesting thing that I have ever experienced in fish creek. kind of a boring walk zone otherwise.

    • @carbonblack6880
      @carbonblack6880 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Prince's island park has a few cafes and the enmax stage which are really nice additions. Hopefully eau claire market is redeveloped into something that has a community focus in mind.

    • @humanecities
      @humanecities ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@carbonblack6880 It’s true, we’ve got a few cool things downtown! Really hopeful about the Eau Claire changes. I’m also interested in how we might liven up the pathways throughout the rest of the city.

    • @humanecities
      @humanecities ปีที่แล้ว

      @@nao_chan_ We had sooooo many rabbits last year 😂

    • @lawiebe
      @lawiebe ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Hopefully things will open up in Eau Claire when the Green Line goes through. I find it can be pretty busy downtown though. It's nice

  • @jinaeasmr4196
    @jinaeasmr4196 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Oh my god Nova Scotia!!! I live there, thank you so much for the recognition, I love our waterfront!

  • @canada7713
    @canada7713 11 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    i love the seawall.. I have lived and visited many parts of the globe where the water front is totally inaccessible to the regular folk---it is so hard to access. I love how the seawalls create public space next to the ocean that is super accessible. I think we do need that nature hit even in Vancouver. I like how there are mini pockets of commerce (Olympic village, yaletown, gastown ) if you want to veer off and have some commerce. I like that I can go there and nap, meditate, stretch, it is that quiet. I also have have an injury which makes sitting difficult so I walk a ton--and being on the seawall is so much better for my nervous system than around cars and on city streets. I really love it. I like how folks in wheelchairs and elders can access it. I'm glad for the break from commerce and I often walk with friends. I love the voice clips and the yoga pants.great video and history of the city!

  • @PaigeMTL
    @PaigeMTL ปีที่แล้ว +162

    J'ai beaucoup ri.
    J'espère que les gens qui travaillent sur le redéveloppement de Molson verront ça.
    Des restaurants flottants, ce serait cool.

    • @teddymacrae
      @teddymacrae ปีที่แล้ว +16

      Café McBarge

    • @Darklife66
      @Darklife66 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Would be lovely indeed ! Enlever le stationnement derrière le quai de l'horloge et avoir des commerces et plus d'activités la bas serait aussi un gros plus !

    • @SomeDudeQC
      @SomeDudeQC ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Sucre lantic is my favourite part of the waterfront

  • @lostleblanc
    @lostleblanc ปีที่แล้ว +387

    Well said! So much more could be done with the space

    • @sathingupta9443
      @sathingupta9443 ปีที่แล้ว

      Hiiii

    • @shayanraj7840
      @shayanraj7840 ปีที่แล้ว

      Wow , out of nowhere , you came here

    • @river6302
      @river6302 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      it's by design. The city of Vancouver doesn't want that area busy with ppl all hours of the day. They want the walkway quiet and peaceful

    • @jimmyzhao2673
      @jimmyzhao2673 11 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Condos. More Condos.

  • @mikekaufmann5311
    @mikekaufmann5311 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    You think lack of restaurants render the waterfront a ghost town after dark? If you and a friend are sitting quietly on the beach after 10 pm, police will come and drive you off, under threat of arrest.

  • @Mienarrr
    @Mienarrr ปีที่แล้ว

    Here in Vienna, Austria, our „waterfront“ goes throughout our city as the big Danube river. It has several canals through busy parts in town and two big main canals more outside of the city.
    Outside, they and the surrounding areas are used as places for people to swim and house a lot of small buildings and gardens for people. Inside the city the smaller canals are lined with so many different things though. Clubs, restaurants, bars, walkways, parks, cycling lanes, man-made beaches to play volleyball and more. It truly feels like a space that is well intregrated into the city itself. I love it!

  • @rezastella777
    @rezastella777 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    Hey man, I just wanted to say I really appreciate the amount of effort you put into these videos. also the voiceover was pretty funny.

  • @23ofSeptember
    @23ofSeptember ปีที่แล้ว +8

    Yes, the locals think that once you start building restaurants, cafes, public toilets, etc, then the tourists start showing up and it gets more crowded and the pan handlers and druggies start showing up too. Keep it simple.

  • @jemrealalcaraz9593
    @jemrealalcaraz9593 ปีที่แล้ว

    just found this channel and i need moreeee ahhh this is great

  • @adamleeeo
    @adamleeeo ปีที่แล้ว

    Love you analysis, great work mate

  • @natalyaporter5730
    @natalyaporter5730 ปีที่แล้ว +14

    As an introverted cyclist I love biking there at night! There’s no one around and finally time to think. I love it.

  • @erich1394
    @erich1394 ปีที่แล้ว +49

    Interesting - I spent 10 years in Chicago and I've seen parts of the lakefront that were both bustling and desolate. I would say that a mix of the two is nice to have! It's easy to underestimate the importance of finding outdoor space to be alone in a large city. That being said - Vancouver's waterfront is def leaning towards desolate. That restaurant around 4:00 is a perfect example of a much-needed cultural waypoint, NIMBYS be damned. Edit: Go figure - the rest of the video covers the "escape" part. I honestly think both are important.

    • @nickgoodall578
      @nickgoodall578 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      Strong agree. I think it's important to not confuse a "place" like Granville Island, or the Olympic Village with an "artery" like the seawall walk/bike/roll path. I have a lot of use for both things. I can't run all the time. When I stop it's nice to sit down and have a bite or something to drink, but when I want to move, I don't really enjoy running through a restaurant patio!

    • @erich1394
      @erich1394 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@nickgoodall578 "when I want to move, I don't really enjoy running through a restaurant patio!" Great way of putting this aspect of your point!

    • @fallenshallrise
      @fallenshallrise ปีที่แล้ว +3

      It's REALLY easy to create that sense of quiet space - just don't have a road or parking nearby. Most people will not walk more than 50 feet from their car. Even now all along the Seawall you have busy spots and super quiet spots but this could be way better curated by drawing people into hot spots where there are food trucks and cafes and seating and then quiet zones with no amenities and no parking, just trees and shoreline.

    • @erich1394
      @erich1394 ปีที่แล้ว

      ​@@fallenshallrise For sure! That's kind of what I was going for. Chicago does a pretty good job of this and it definitely has some longer stretches without amenities that I valued as a distance longboarder when I used to live there. It also has big clusters of lakefront that have almost nonstop amenities, particularly places like Montrose Beach and Grant Park. I think the level of granularity between amenity and less-amenity zones should probably scale inversely with the population density.

    • @mauricehopes9105
      @mauricehopes9105 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I agree a mix is important. And you're right in chicago you can find parts of the lake front to be alone in if you want. Or be surrounded be tons of people. It's all about where you want to go.

  • @tannerdobson2451
    @tannerdobson2451 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I remember the walking path along Miraflores, Lima had basic gym equipment. Every 50 metres or so there would be bars and benches for pullups / dips etc. As a tourist I remember having a hard time actually finding a free space because the equipment was getting such use from the assumed local population. Made for some great evenings fitting in some exercise while the sun set.
    I would love to see more of that along the Vancouver water front.

  • @8Xrealestate
    @8Xrealestate ปีที่แล้ว

    Incredible work as always

  • @nancyneyedly4587
    @nancyneyedly4587 ปีที่แล้ว +10

    A walking path by the ocean isn't a cookie cutter idea, it is what you would be doing there if there wasn't a path anyway really. People like to walk on the beach and the shoreline, and this is accessible to more people too. I agree it should be an escape from the city, it should be a respite. There is walking along the shore, and there is walking along shops and restaurants, and they don't do the same thing for people's mental health. I prefer the respite from the city, no shops or cafes.
    Also, the parking issue, if the shore were to become a "destination" with shops and restaurants. I know this channel think everyone should take the transit and rides bikes, but Van is a Big city and that's just not how it works. I think it's perfect the way it is, there is a nice mix of paths, parks and a few destinations.

    • @carsonho9338
      @carsonho9338 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      I think most users local or travellers will enjoy the so called ‘boring’ seawall

  • @nickgoodall578
    @nickgoodall578 ปีที่แล้ว +14

    So you’re not a runner then?
    I went away and had a nice long uninterrupted think about this video. In my favourite place to be alone with my thoughts, the seawall. I believe it's valid to see ways that the seawall could be improved, but I think this video glosses over a lot of things the seawall does offer.
    It's accessible to a wide range of users. You can walk, run, ride (slowly please), wheel, push a stoller, roller blade etc.
    it's free.
    It's easy to get to. It has decent connectivity to sky train and Canada line, and with Sea bus it's actually a resource for people from all the suburbs served by Metro Van mass transit.
    So I think could be better, and I think it might be a little over-hyped, but even as it is, it's pretty good!

  • @MannyJehad
    @MannyJehad 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Dude your videos are great!!

  • @ThomasGuerrerolives
    @ThomasGuerrerolives ปีที่แล้ว

    Great video. I am glad that people are talking about these type of things more. We need parks + not just parks everywhere.

  • @daniova
    @daniova ปีที่แล้ว +30

    I like it without so many restaurants and invasive comercialism. I love running on it and getting a nature tour at the same time. Besides, it gets SUPER packed summer as it is. That's the beauty of Van, to have a metropolitan city and a natural escape.

    • @menace3507
      @menace3507 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      I agree I don’t want invasive commercialism but more of both is def lacking. It’s not the 1900’s anymore and the city is rapidly growing. Nobody is saying to destroy the escape just more balance for the sake of culture and vibrance. Nature will never be too far away in this town.

    • @areguapiri
      @areguapiri ปีที่แล้ว

      Except NOBODY is running on it.

    • @user-ed7et3pb4o
      @user-ed7et3pb4o ปีที่แล้ว +2

      There’s not much nature there, just grass. At least plant some flowers or something

    • @kylecunningham719
      @kylecunningham719 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Agreed. It's already very crowded at times.

    • @MagnifiedGiant
      @MagnifiedGiant ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I guess nature means something completely different to city people. It is a thin strip of grass. You have actual nature all around your city. Just poke your head out and you will see it. Actually leave the city and experience real nature.

  • @kathywatt7555
    @kathywatt7555 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    I like being able to see grass and trees, see the waves onto the beaches and rocks. In a dense city, it’s nice to be able to get into green space so nearby.
    There’s no lighting after night to discourage people from being there after dark. Vancouver has a real problem with addicts and mentally unwell people. Safer to encourage people to avoid park land in downtown Vancouver.
    Thanks for the video.

  • @IndesliciveMelon
    @IndesliciveMelon ปีที่แล้ว

    How did i just find this channel... subbed and onto the other 14 videos!

  • @gavinyu21
    @gavinyu21 ปีที่แล้ว +10

    Great content. Melbourne had a valuable waterfront in Docklands that could make it compete with Sydney harbour. Too bad they filled it with luxury apartments and it's now one of the deadest parts of the city.

    • @Satopi3104
      @Satopi3104 5 หลายเดือนก่อน

      So true. I stayed in a hotel there and it was so dead and it was so annoying that anything I wanted to do was so far away. Overall Melbourne was just really spread out and not as enjoyable as Sydney, which felt compact and walkable and overall much more interesting.

  • @J.5.M.
    @J.5.M. ปีที่แล้ว +64

    I like how peaceful it is. I think it's rare and makes it unique compared to most other cities where the waterfront is crowded by businesses. We have the rest of the city for that.
    But I agree that some of the parks you mention could be improved!

    • @jjsvideos715
      @jjsvideos715 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      I agree, I like the idea of having a quiet place to walk and bike by the water, especially in the heart of the city and at night. And I generally have very progressive views regarding urbanism, walkability, and public transit. Perhaps the best solution would be to open up some parts of the seawall to commercial development, while still preserving the majority of the path for public parks.

    • @cinemapigeon4898
      @cinemapigeon4898 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      I understand some spaces could have additions like a restaurant or cafe that are being stopped by NIMBYs, however the sea wall literally has restaurants, cafes, shops, etc... already along it. If parts of the seawall are too peaceful for your liking, just walk or ride your bike a few more minutes and you'll have some cafe or whatever. There's literally Granville island along the seawall, also Stanley Park/surrounding area has everything this video is advocating for and more. Building out every square meter of the seawall would ruin it.

    • @areguapiri
      @areguapiri ปีที่แล้ว +2

      ​@@jjsvideos715Except NOBODY is walking, running, or biking on it.

    • @kennykenevil57
      @kennykenevil57 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@areguapiri Man, there are literally thousands of people walking, running and biking on it on any given day during the warmer months.

  • @TheIrreverent
    @TheIrreverent ปีที่แล้ว +40

    I see a new About Here video, I upvote immediately. Excellent commentary - it's so interesting to see how often things come down to land use, and what values those land use decisions reinforce year after year. Metro Vancouver seems particularly focused on decisions that inhibit vibrant community spaces, like most North American cities.

  • @alecc4137
    @alecc4137 ปีที่แล้ว

    Wow i was super happy you talked about hailfax waterfront! I've lived in Nova Scotia and have enjoyed our waterfronts including Halifax, Dartmouth, Lunenburg, and other smaller towns since I was a little kid.

  • @TeraGreene1
    @TeraGreene1 ปีที่แล้ว

    Was not expecting those lavender pants and yet, I’m here for it lol❤

  • @alukuhito
    @alukuhito ปีที่แล้ว +13

    I like it how it is. If you want to go to a busy area, go to a busy area. It's not like Vancouver doesn't have them.

  • @Vancouver_Dan
    @Vancouver_Dan ปีที่แล้ว +25

    Ahem - you could have compared Vancouver's seawall to the spirit trail in North Van - which is becoming very vibrant with concert space, summer beer gardens, a night market and even an ice rink. Aside from that quibble - thanks for an informative and thought provoking piece.

    • @flare2000x
      @flare2000x ปีที่แล้ว

      The North Van (and even the west Van to av extent) waterfronts do indeed have areas that are more vibrant than the CoV.

    • @fallenshallrise
      @fallenshallrise ปีที่แล้ว

      I live here in Vancouver and I've never heard of that "trail". Last time I tried to ride over there it was mostly painted bike lanes on main roads with a ton of traffic with some detours on multi-use paths. Most of that coast line is blocked by private owners, business and industry so I don't think a seawall is ever going to be possible over there. Maybe I should give it another shot.

  • @PHDPool
    @PHDPool ปีที่แล้ว

    Atlanta’s Beltline started out as just a mixed commute route but now is the primary attraction of the city because sooooo much of everything (parks, restaurants, stores, markets…) are all attached to it on the sides

  • @AndrewVanBeekOttawa
    @AndrewVanBeekOttawa ปีที่แล้ว

    Excellent video and a concept very transferable to Ottawa with many kilometres of canal and river front. Our problem is the constant closure of paths for construction projects.

  • @darrenronson
    @darrenronson ปีที่แล้ว +28

    The reason it's like this, and I can tell you I've lived here forever, is because vancouverites want the park to be public. When a restaurant or volleyball court or whatever cousins claims the space for themselves, others can no longer use it. It's essentially privatizing the park, and nobody wants that, it's the slippers slope to having no park at all!

    • @Z_Y89
      @Z_Y89 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      it is a good point, but i do not think it is a show stopper reason. There are 20km plus coastline, we can for sure find space for a street of restaurants and courts. It just needs to be planed/regioned well. But I agree, if too many restaurants along the coast, it becomes a problem.

    • @DubmanicGetFlazed
      @DubmanicGetFlazed ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Ya. I actually agree. Vollyball courts on spanish banks means that noone else can use that part of the beach when the organized vollyball tournaments take over in the summer.
      Also commercializing stuff where there is businesses everywhere and economic activity is tiresome. The whole point is to excape that stuff.
      I mean, granville island vibe could be expanded farther east into false creek and I would have no problems. But theparts that are west of the burrard st. bridge I think are fine actually.

  • @GeorgeMcKenzie-ox7qi
    @GeorgeMcKenzie-ox7qi ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Good video. I have to say that there is already commercialization along parts of the seawall. There are numerous restaurants and many shops within a block or two. Many people in Vancouver don’t realize that there used to be a long pier with a bandstand in English Bay right in front of the Sylvia Hotel. It was completed around 1908 and you can still see the piles of rocks where it was at low tide. I think it would be a great idea to rebuild it because English Bay is the most accessible and historic beaches in the city. Most of the rest of the seawall should be left pretty much as is. If you’re bored just walk into the downtown core and fill your boots!

  • @rafaelmoreno9597
    @rafaelmoreno9597 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Great episode!

  • @zada2423
    @zada2423 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Lived in Vancouver for years, there are areas along the seawall that have 'life' to them. Olympic village. Around science world you will always find people playing the street pianos or bringing guitars and amps and singing. Sometimes there are little shows going on. And, though not 'the seawall' Lonsdale Quay is pretty lively with music, restaurants, they have a water park, market, hotels.

  • @BradLancaster86
    @BradLancaster86 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    Rain, if you want to show Halifax looking great film it in the summer, if you want to make Vancouver look miserable film it after it rains. I've lived in both cities and we spend way more time out side in BC than any where else in the country, we just don't like eating food and hanging out in the rain, that's why people go to places with cover and the investment on that shows. The parks are there to make the city feel less ugly, yep that's the point! Remember every city has different stuff to offer, also the sea is way warmer in the marinates so they have a different expectation and life style.

  • @t.a.k.palfrey3882
    @t.a.k.palfrey3882 ปีที่แล้ว +13

    Welcome back. We've missed you. The Sea Wall has become the Sea Yawn and Queue. I don't want this iconic walk to simply become Robson on the Water. Lisbon has a great mix of uses on its 8 km waterfront walk. One may walk forever along the waterfront at Alicante. Even the Cornich in Abu Dhabi offers more today.

  • @techmarc7878
    @techmarc7878 ปีที่แล้ว

    Voice over talent is godlike! Subscribed

  • @Southpaw128
    @Southpaw128 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    This is why I love New York's waterfront. You get bicycle and walk paths on the west side highway, boat restaurants, parks, sports facilities, and multi-use piers, Coney Island's boardwalk on the southern end of Brooklyn, Brooklyn bridge park with its amazing views, green spaces, soccer and basketball courts, domino park in Williamsburg and more. The problem is connecting all of these distant waterfronts that have a shared coastline. The Brooklyn greenway initiative is trying to tackle this and developments of the east side of Manhattan is trying to fill in gaps too. I just really hope they create something new and dynamic and not recreate Vancouver's waterfront.

  • @forkes1776
    @forkes1776 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Milwaukee, where I live, has two waterfronts, ones a riverfront and the others a lakefront. The riverfront is pretty commercial with some restaurants being there most of em are closed and the lakefront is a park like you've described. The only difference is there is a huge gap, a road and a hill, between housing and the lake making it so there are some lake side attractions, restaurants, a beach and stuff. I only wish there were more there cause everything outside the beach is pretty barren but at the same time I like walking down by the marina and enjoy the quietness and darkness at night. I just hope one day Milwaukee is as cool as you've made Vancouver out to be in your videos!
    Now you know a little bit about Milwaukee!! Hope anyone reading this visits the city if you're ever in the Midwest!

  • @Ankianki33
    @Ankianki33 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    OMG another about here video, what a great way to start the day!

  • @danielt6219
    @danielt6219 ปีที่แล้ว

    Vancouver just gives the vibe that they are friendly but not really warm so honestly I’m not surprised. A great example of warmth and nice sea side is Montreal’s old port

  • @RosiePerera
    @RosiePerera ปีที่แล้ว +4

    I love our distinctly quiet and non-commercial waterfront. It is so pleasant to walk there. There are plenty of restaurants and other activities elsewhere in the city. We don't need them along the seawall. Encouraging walking, not stopping to eat/socialize is good for the health of the population.

  • @deepblue2
    @deepblue2 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    I would have to say it's the same with Toronto's waterfront path on the Lakeshore. I'm of the opinion to have half-n-half, meaning I'm fine with having some events or commercial spaces here and there, but I also don't want it to be overcrowded or too noisy. Walking from the top of High Park all the way down to the Lakeshore waterfront path and all the way to Union Station along the path is a real enjoyable experience for me every single time.

    • @michaelgodard3998
      @michaelgodard3998 ปีที่แล้ว

      Totally agree, as a runner I like paths that aren’t too overcrowded. Plus if they do have activities then make them wide enough for everyone.

  • @AceLeach
    @AceLeach ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I love the attention to detail of wearing bright yoga pants after mentioning them lol.

    • @Peter_Channel
      @Peter_Channel ปีที่แล้ว +1

      gotta love that little ‘motion’ blurring effect too lol

  • @VanTran-ne4yf
    @VanTran-ne4yf 11 หลายเดือนก่อน

    They create an open space make you fell relax and peaceful, a place where you can think about your life , your work, your children, your family. There is a big different when you walk in the city centre and walk along the waterfront or parkland.

  • @jasonsymes2127
    @jasonsymes2127 ปีที่แล้ว

    Nice video! Its good that access to the waterfront is available to all people.

  • @basinova
    @basinova ปีที่แล้ว +4

    I love everything you do! Keep it going!