Toronto Ridiculous NIMBYism thread

[Skeezix]

Yes, and I have no doubt there was at least an open house/community meeting regarding the new intersection and at least some public consultation for the public art options (that might be bundled together with park improvements).

Cities don't inform citizens of everything, but they usually do inform the public on mid-sized larger projects that often include these smaller issues. It doesn't need to be a full-scale Honest Ed's level of public participation, but there is some level of public consultation/newsletters that inform the public of plans.

In this case, it was a private donor, so it seems like this step was skipped in favor of committee meetings and a council vote.

No. The new lights were approved by motion at Council. There was no open house or community meeting - jeez, if every traffic improvement in my area generated an open house, the city would need to build a facility to house all the open houses. There was no public consultation on the art - certainly the local community was not notified.

As I said, municipalities can't function if they notified people of every improvement. This donated art in a park isn't a "mid-sized larger project". Like I said earlier, Markham likely doesn't have a notice requirement for this kind of art because people aren't usually this petty (and because it has no real impact on local residents).

 

[JasonParis]

This furor over public art reminded me of the fuzz over the Corten piece at Leslie and Sheppard.
AoD

Did that ever get removed? I'm trying to remember how that played out.

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

Did that ever get removed? I'm trying to remember how that played out.

Still there as of last year (and I am sure it hasn't change) -

https://goo.gl/maps/ZkV7eTTw4pn

AoD

 

[salsa]

Still there as of last year (and I am sure it hasn't change) -

https://goo.gl/maps/ZkV7eTTw4pn

AoD

People got angry over that too? Good lord.

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

People got angry over that too? Good lord.

http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/2002/agendas/council/cc020521/plt6rpt/cl011.pdf

http://www.slha.ca/fr_pics_rustyrail.html

The world has clearly ended 15 years after the installation of that piece. And of course, delicious irony that the then councillor of Ward 33 is back in the news of late, and not necessarily in a good way.

And from CBC:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/cow-art-markham-1.4224030

"It's just very odd," he said. "We have a very austere look to the neighbourhood. A lack of embellishment is kind of the undertone of our design here.

Mwahahaha! From the sound of it I'd thought Tadao Ando built that neighbourhood and not some frilly faux-Victorian quasi-chaste with some equally frilly light standards that are anything but austere.

"We don't like it. It scares the children,"

They do scare easily, don't they. I meant the parents.

AoD

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

From CTV:

Homeowner Danny Da Silva cited numerous potential issues with the cow, such as neighbourhood aesthetics, safety and its potential effect on property values.

He added that it’s bizarre to see a giant chrome cow idol in the middle of the Cathedraltown neighbourhood, which is named for the nearby Cathedral of the Transfiguration that towers over the area.

“We’ve all seen ‘The Ten Commandments,’ and know what the raising of a calf is, and it’s just not a good thing, especially in Cathedraltown,” he said.

The 1956 film featuring Charleton Heston includes a scene in which Moses’ Israelites, during a period of hedonism, fashion a giant gold calf to worship. Moses shows up in the middle of their party and smashes the freshly written 10 Commandment tablets upon seeing how far his people have strayed from God.

http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/moooove-it-residents-have-beef-over-giant-cow-statue-1.3521166

So apparently it's an idol (because of the movie Ten Commandments) now - which is doubly odd because the landowner funded the cathedral and the widow didn't have a problem with the piece, and indeed chose it for the park.

AoD

 

[jje1000]

Interesting design presentation on the cow:

http://www2.markham.ca/markham/ccbs... Presentation, Charity Public Art Minutes.pdf

 

[PinkLucy]

From CTV:



http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/moooove-it-residents-have-beef-over-giant-cow-statue-1.3521166

So apparently it's an idol (because of the movie Ten Commandments) now - which is doubly odd because the landowner funded the cathedral and the widow didn't have a problem with the piece, and indeed chose it for the park.

AoD

Sorry Danny Da Silava. Cows were there long before you, your house, or the Cathedral were.

 

[tripwire]

Assuming it passes safety regulations (and it must have), I think it's pretty cool. I think it's odd that it's on stilts and right smack in the center of the field though. I'm more curious if there are any usability impacts of if no one was using the park anyways.

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

And from the Star, laying out the rationale behind the piece:

https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/20...ust-one-of-family-developers-design-cues.html

AoD

 

[Johnny Au]

Apparently, neighbours in Cathedraltown must hold a grudge against Chicago for having the CowParade. Toronto had its version one year later, albeit with moose.

 

[JasonParis]

Not reported much, but the artist is Ron Baird (best known for the Expo 86/Barrie "Spirit Catcher" sculpture).

 

[gregv]

HaHa

Neighbourhood NIMBYs publicity brings people seeking selfies with Charity. City installs barricades to protect her from crowds.

https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/20...less-steel-cow-prompting-more-complaints.html

 

[junctionist]

Not reported much, but the artist is Ron Baird (best known for the Expo 86/Barrie "Spirit Catcher" sculpture).

He also designed those futuristic electric substation doors at Dupont subway station.

 

[JasonParis]

For a minute I thought I was The GTA's Next Top Model, but then realized it was Charity...
https://twitter.com/1236/status/891714345675223040