Imagine the Spaces…

Posted on Feb 3, 2011 in Urban Examples | 1 comment

Imagine a Dundas St. where no buses ran, where bus-bays and parking spots were converted into spaces that could be used more effectively by the population.

Imagine spaces where multiple people could sit, relax, chat and socialize.

Imagine the spaces that could be; full of patios, great food, family and friends; conversations, art and everything in between.

Imagine the spaces.

The concept is simple: street space is limited and valuable. To that end, New York has been evaluating whether the highest and best use for street space along narrow sidewalks is storing cars. Like a glorified Park(ing) Day spot made (semi)permanent and held on high, these pop-up cafés invite pedestrians to imagine their city in new ways.

“The Pop-up Café has been like night and day for our business, transforming a loading zone full of trucks into an attractive space that makes our storefront much more visible and accessible to potential customers,” said Lars Akerlund, owner of Fika Espresso Bar.

- GOOD

Look beyond the fact that this type of thing is happening in New York and San Francisco and start asking yourself “Why Not London, Ontario?” Why can’t we be doing this? We have the spaces, we have the creative nature and we have people that are both willing to build, support and uses these spaces.

Just another great example of what could be, and what can be if we decide we really want these spaces.