The Barrel Yards | 25 fl | U/C

[urbd]

Thank you for describing it like this. I've had similar thoughts but haven't been able to articulate it well. I can agree with the general impression that the urban design is largely a shitshow but there's a lot of very interesting corners in that neighbourhood and I think the fact that student populations tend to be a lot less concerned about how a neighbourhood changes lends itself to a place where more experiments (many of which will be terrible, no doubt) can occur with less push back about building heights and more natural pressure for walkability-driven experiences. Most of the population moves around on a daily basis with active modes of transportation and opportunities to cater to that will occur. 

Barrel Yards is an intentional, planned neighbourhood, explicitly targeting people of a certain income level and with specific lifestyle preferences. It's got a lot going for it in many ways and the contrast between the two styles of making spaces and the two (broad) types of residents they're trying to attract is pretty interesting.

I would have thought that neighbourhood amenities like outdoor cafes, performance spaces, high-end retail and services go with those income levels/lifestyle preferences, but Barrel Yards seems devoid of same, unless you include Proof.

Barrelyards was designed as a luxury suburban community which happens to be in high rise buildings in the middle of the city. This is the problem when one developer buys a huge piece of land and develops it all by themselves, instead of severing and selling smaller pieces for smaller individual buildings that become part of the urban fabric. Keep in mind that what we see being built at the Barrelyards now is the product of a planning vision from 15 to 20 years ago when the city was trying to get someone to develop the land. Another problem with huge master planned developments - that the planning and construction world take so long that when the projects are finished they reflect a different era of design and urbanism.