Tuesday, May 22, 2007

like crack

I think I need to spend less time on social networks. This time could be spent on more interesting things, like cross-stitch or kirie or sewing a new wardrobe for fall. I'm losing DAYS to these things. And I hate them, yet can't stop looking at them. It's the reinforcement I get when people want to be my friend on them. Like live people aren't enough or something.

The rain has made my head all soft and squishy.

Today on my way home from work I thought about wandering the neighbourhood to take pictures. Just wound up taking a few pictures around Terminal, on Western and Central and Northern. Train-related streets, I'm guessing, since the old railyards still lie in pieces behind the old warehouses that are barely standing.

On my way home last night we went along 1st, east of Cambie. I'm worried I'm not going to get over there again before they start ripping the shit out of some of the bigger industrial buildings. They're behind fences with gaudy advertising, so the end appears to be near. If the weather is fine tomorrow, I might take the no-gear out for a spin after work.

Beware the soapbox.

The president of Heritage Vancouver gave an interesting lecture on restoration projects around Europe that involve similar industrial buildings with great success. I can't understand why Vancouver, specifically, is so unwilling to retain any part of its industrial heritage/history. Terminal Park downtown, near the Marine Building, is laughable and misnamed now that the tunnel mouth is obscured by developments and a new street. If the stupid plan to build a football (soccer) stadium over the train tracks beside Waterfront go through (and you can't convince me that plan is dead, regardless of how hard the City is now making the permit process) then that's a major part of Vancouver's Terminal City history covered up. The redeveopment of South False Creek similarly makes me nervous.

From the Skytrain near Main Street Station, I watch the progression of the encroaching piers built further into False Creek. I know that False Creek has been steadily shrinking because of development since Expo '86; it originally flowed to Clark with smaller streams from East Van draining into it pre-WWII. Still, I thought the Concord Pacific monstrosities on the north side were enough, that something was learned from that mess. But no.

The Olympics will ensure the south side mirrors the north. False Creek South is where the athlete's village will be and the land is being redeveloped for long-term for-profit housing projects, none of which address the problem of the lack of affordable housing. Some days I really wish for a little earthquake, just big enough to make all those stupid glass towers fall over like dominos. I'm pretty sure they're held up with scotch tape anyway.

Currently listening :
Handsome Western States
By Beulah
Release date: 18 November, 1997

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