08-30-2023, 09:50 PM
I would be interested to know what the feedback from that first experience was. Based on some of the shots in the film, it looked like a Centennial project (eg 1967) or perhaps it received federal funding which is why the Centennial logo was so prominent.
I would also be interested to know how the population that lived within a 15-20 minute walk of that stretch of King St has changed. Families in general were larger then so a single family home (or 2-3 bedroom apartment above a shop, or in a nearby building) might have 2 to 3 (or 4 or 5) times the number of people living in each residence than does today. Even with the increase in higher-density living, has the overall population increased, or is it just now recovering? Also, 50 years ago, were people more likely to be encouraged to go out in an evening or weekend because there were less options for entertainment (or work) at home? If everything can be delivered to your door, there is little reason to go out. Smaller retail shops (or even larger department stores) can't sustain themselves on limited foot traffic. Even the University area which has much higher foot traffic (and stretching up and down King St from Columbia to William if you want to include areas where the student demographic might go) is very heavily skewed to restaurants and/or bars & pubs (plus barbers and pot shops).
I would also be interested to know how the population that lived within a 15-20 minute walk of that stretch of King St has changed. Families in general were larger then so a single family home (or 2-3 bedroom apartment above a shop, or in a nearby building) might have 2 to 3 (or 4 or 5) times the number of people living in each residence than does today. Even with the increase in higher-density living, has the overall population increased, or is it just now recovering? Also, 50 years ago, were people more likely to be encouraged to go out in an evening or weekend because there were less options for entertainment (or work) at home? If everything can be delivered to your door, there is little reason to go out. Smaller retail shops (or even larger department stores) can't sustain themselves on limited foot traffic. Even the University area which has much higher foot traffic (and stretching up and down King St from Columbia to William if you want to include areas where the student demographic might go) is very heavily skewed to restaurants and/or bars & pubs (plus barbers and pot shops).