12-17-2019, 10:47 AM
(12-17-2019, 09:58 AM)ijmorlan Wrote: My objection is to the reflexive rejection of weather-protected spaces.
I think there is a reflexive rejection, but I don't think the reflexive rejection is about weather protection, it's about the risk of making private versus public spaces. I don't have a great reference, but I also think that Jane Jacobs was a strong advocate of people being active at street level - "Streets and their sidewalks -- the main public places of a city -- are its most vital organ" is the most representative quote I found after a short search.
For what it's worth, I think a strong covered pedestrian network through porticos is a wonderful idea. I think it's easy to see the effect that precipitation has on activity in Downtown Kitchener, especially between like 11am and 2pm. I think porticos would make it a lot easier for people to continue to pop out for a coffee or lunch, even in inclement weather and I think they would make the street level more consistently active.