Category Archives: Kondiaronk РMy Montr̩al Experience

Nothing succeeds like excess

Posted on February 12, 2016 by Taylor C. Noakes

The City of Montreal has announced plans to renovate the northernmost section of Dorchester Square at an estimated cost of $4.2 million. A $700,000 contract was awarded to noted local landscape architect Claude Cormier to prepare the design and tender … Continue reading →

Posted in A modest proposal, Commentary, Cultural commentary, Economic commentary, History and Culture, Kondiaronk - My Montréal Experience, Montréal Architecture, Montréal Landmarks, Perspectives on the City, Urban Redevelopment | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Iconic Montreal Architecture – Complexe Desjardins

Posted on January 20, 2016 by Taylor C. Noakes

A quick summation before my screed. Here’s why I think Complexe Desjardins is an exceptional example of Montreal architecture: 1. It’s balanced without being symmetrical. The four towers are of different heights, ascending clockwise like a giant staircase. The tallest … Continue reading →

Posted in History and Culture, Kondiaronk - My Montréal Experience, Montréal Architecture, Montréal Landmarks, Perspectives on the City, Photographs, Urban Redevelopment | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Children’s Hospital Field at Cabot Square®

Posted on December 1, 2015 by Taylor C. Noakes

Urban development news of the day: the former Montreal Children’s Hospital building at Cabot Square has been sold to real estate developer Luc Poirier for an undisclosed sum. The MUHC’s asking price, as reported a few months back, was about … Continue reading →

Posted in A modest proposal, Economic commentary, Kondiaronk - My Montréal Experience, Montréal Architecture, Montréal Landmarks, Perspectives on the City, Social commentary, Urban Redevelopment, Worth reconsidering | Leave a comment

Denis Coderre needs to stop spending money on parks

Posted on November 5, 2015 by Taylor C. Noakes

Another week, another colossal waste of our municipal tax dollars. Tuesday’s announcement: $12 million to renovate Place Vauquelin, the public square between City Hall and the Old Courthouse. Among the many exciting new features: a redesigned fountain, heated granite paving … Continue reading →

Posted in Cultural commentary, Economic commentary, Kondiaronk - My Montréal Experience, Montréal Architecture, Montréal Landmarks, Perspectives on the City, Political commentary, Scenes from the City, Urban Redevelopment, Worth reconsidering | Leave a comment

Sabotaging Viger Square

Posted on July 27, 2015 by Taylor C. Noakes

Here’s a hypothetical situation: A city builds a park costing x millions of dollars with the intent to rehabilitate a given sector of its urban environment and cover over an exposed highway trench. It hires leading landscape architects and local … Continue reading →

Posted in A modest proposal, Arts & the City, Cultural commentary, Kondiaronk - My Montréal Experience, Let's make this an election issue, Montréal Architecture, Montréal Landmarks, Montréal public art, Perspectives on the City, Public art proposal, Social commentary, Unrealized development projects, Urban Redevelopment, Worth reconsidering | Leave a comment

Rethinking Viger Square’s Rehabilitation

Posted on July 1, 2015 by Taylor C. Noakes

This is a bit late, but there’s a petition circulating I urge you to sign. We need to save Viger Square for demolition, as the city now intends to do. In point form, here’s why: 1. Viger Square’s reputation isn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in A modest proposal, Cultural commentary, History and Culture, Kondiaronk - My Montréal Experience, Let's make this an election issue, Montréal Architecture, Montréal Landmarks, Perspectives on the City, Unrealized development projects, Urban Redevelopment, Worth reconsidering | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment