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I haven't had any real moment where I felt threatened in DTK but I know of an incident years back, when homelessness wasn't as big of a thing ironically and I think the person got punched.
Also, a I recall (as I was working in DTK either thar same time or shortly thereafter) a lady that got hit by a car that mounted curb (not really a curb there more flat?) At Queen and King. Dual leg fractures and more. Luckily survived.
Driving in KW in general is becoming a ln effing shitshow. My own street is horrible. I've had to write to the City. Some speed bumps eventually installed but I was told for any law infringements, to call police. Oki doki that's going to fix it! It's a joke.
Back to the Subject at hand, I'll concede and say we could use more pedestrian only zones sure. And this Joseph, to Vic, to King to Queen could be the perfect box for it if we make an amazing attraction therein (all previously noted)
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I’ve had my own fair share of experiences just on my semi-suburban street in Cambridge with lots of pedestrian traffic.
It annoys me to no end and scares my wife - and yet I know it’s happening everywhere. If downtown Kitchener has people disturbing the peace, it’s a way bigger issue than just Kitchener. The best that local leadership can do is keep making the place better with iterative changes, more housing, and investing in real infrastructure, not making new car sewers and parking lots that don’t actually create places people want to be in…
local cambridge weirdo
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I must be an anomaly. I'm a pedestrian 95% of the time but rarely ever experience situations where I feel an automobile is a threat to me. Then again, I look before I cross the street. Similarly with biking, I usually don't feel unsafe but I also don't bike like I own the road. When I drive and nearly hit someone, it's usually some idiot staring at their phone/earphones in OR one of those awful bAn CaRs!!! type cyclists that almost seem to go out of their way to get killed.
When it comes to homeless and general crazy vagrants, I can't seem to make it down a city block without some bozo addict bugging me for spare change, cigarettes or just going off on some schizo monologue these days. It's never a genuine problem because I'm a guy and capable of defending myself but for children, women, the elderly, foreign students or guys who are unfortunately small and timid I can see it feeling intimidating.
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(12-12-2024, 07:25 PM)ac3r Wrote: When it comes to homeless and general crazy vagrants, I can't seem to make it down a city block without some bozo addict bugging me for spare change, cigarettes or just going off on some schizo monologue these days. It's never a genuine problem because I'm a guy and capable of defending myself but for children, women, the elderly, foreign students or guys who are unfortunately small and timid I can see it feeling intimidating.
Panhandling really isn't a threat, no matter who you are, and it has been around as long as cities have been. And the people talking to or yelling at no one in particular? Annoying but also not threatening.
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(12-13-2024, 01:16 PM)tomh009 Wrote: (12-12-2024, 07:25 PM)ac3r Wrote: When it comes to homeless and general crazy vagrants, I can't seem to make it down a city block without some bozo addict bugging me for spare change, cigarettes or just going off on some schizo monologue these days. It's never a genuine problem because I'm a guy and capable of defending myself but for children, women, the elderly, foreign students or guys who are unfortunately small and timid I can see it feeling intimidating.
Panhandling really isn't a threat, no matter who you are, and it has been around as long as cities have been. And the people talking to or yelling at no one in particular? Annoying but also not threatening.
I agree with this. But the reality is, that panhandling turns off folks, esp your pearl clutchers of the world.
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(12-13-2024, 01:16 PM)tomh009 Wrote: (12-12-2024, 07:25 PM)ac3r Wrote: When it comes to homeless and general crazy vagrants, I can't seem to make it down a city block without some bozo addict bugging me for spare change, cigarettes or just going off on some schizo monologue these days. It's never a genuine problem because I'm a guy and capable of defending myself but for children, women, the elderly, foreign students or guys who are unfortunately small and timid I can see it feeling intimidating.
Panhandling really isn't a threat, no matter who you are, and it has been around as long as cities have been. And the people talking to or yelling at no one in particular? Annoying but also not threatening.
It's threatening to those who perceive it as threatening. Perception wins over reality.
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(12-15-2024, 10:45 AM)panamaniac Wrote: (12-13-2024, 01:16 PM)tomh009 Wrote: Panhandling really isn't a threat, no matter who you are, and it has been around as long as cities have been. And the people talking to or yelling at no one in particular? Annoying but also not threatening.
It's threatening to those who perceive it as threatening. Perception wins over reality.
Arguably correct. And yet, changing those perceptions is likely even more difficult than reducing the number of panhandlers.
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I was in downtown Kitchener last week with a couple of friends of mine. One lives in North Waterloo and the other in St. Jacobs. I suggested that we do lunch at the boathouse. I told them that I had been there and that it was really nice and had a nice view. They both replied “you mean the homeless camp on the island”. I explained that was gone now but we ended up eating in uptown Waterloo.
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That is really sad that you couldn't get your friend your friends to try a new venue and see that is is actually safe. And quite beautiful right now I might add...
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How is the Boathouse food?
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So I just got back from Miami. I was taking in a lot of inspiration, seeing what could-be for KW on a smaller scale.
Specifically with this space, the Frost Science Museum would be absolutely perfect. It had what I described in earlier posts...outdoor terrace space for a eatery/cafe and this neat dog/cat statue path, a planetarium and about 5 floors of museum, plus a next door/below parking garage - we would need to slightly winterize it a bit so less of the outdoor elevator access (or have both!), but I'm telling you this is perfect for this space. It's unoffensive- every age group was getting a kick out of it. Planetarium was a 180deg style above/in front of head screen (this could be a feature rented out too or modded for acoustics to second as an orchestra area or some IMAX if we want more range).
Anywho it's an idea.
Also, lean into the graffiti like the Wynwood Walls in Miami. Just go ham with murals. I feel like we were heading there then stuff got sidetracked (no more Night/Shift etc)
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Planetariums (Planetaria?) are a bit old fashioned, no?
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(01-27-2025, 09:58 PM)panamaniac Wrote: Planetariums (Planetaria?) are a bit old fashioned, no?
Given the loss of the night sky due to light pollution, a planetarium could be more useful now than ever.
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Not that Kitchener would ever spend the $$$, but I think something like a Canadian Museum of Industry, Invention, and Design might be interesting, and honour the City's industrial past. Other than the Science and Technology Museum in Ottawa, I don't think there's anything similar elsewhere, is there? You could even put it into part of the old Krug Furniture plant, for atmosphere.
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(01-27-2025, 07:33 PM)Momo26 Wrote: So I just got back from Miami. I was taking in a lot of inspiration, seeing what could-be for KW on a smaller scale.
Specifically with this space, the Frost Science Museum would be absolutely perfect. It had what I described in earlier posts...outdoor terrace space for a eatery/cafe and this neat dog/cat statue path, a planetarium and about 5 floors of museum, plus a next door/below parking garage - we would need to slightly winterize it a bit so less of the outdoor elevator access (or have both!), but I'm telling you this is perfect for this space. It's unoffensive- every age group was getting a kick out of it. Planetarium was a 180deg style above/in front of head screen (this could be a feature rented out too or modded for acoustics to second as an orchestra area or some IMAX if we want more range).
Anywho it's an idea.
Also, lean into the graffiti like the Wynwood Walls in Miami. Just go ham with murals. I feel like we were heading there then stuff got sidetracked (no more Night/Shift etc)
I miss the old Planetarium in Toronto. Sucks that it closed. Unsure how well it would do in K-Dub if it can't make it in a larger city like Toronto. But it would be a place I would visit.
I imagine with today's tech, you could make a pretty epic planetarium.
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