Town Squares (white flight, suburban, names, park)

[urbanlife78]

Originally Posted by nei

The Boston area is full of "squares". But most are just intersections between three+ streets [happens a lot without a grid]. Here's Porter Square:

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Porte...309.12,,0,6.79

The use of the word "square" often times refers to key places. Though town squares can also be called plaza and such.

[Ohiogirl81]

Originally Posted by nei

The Boston area is full of "squares". But most are just intersections between three+ streets [happens a lot without a grid]. Here's Porter Square:

I like the stripes.

[Rozenn]

Originally Posted by nei

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=londo...340.25,,0,7.84

Not only does not seem like what I'd expect of a public square; it's not public at all (according to Wikipedia), it's closed to the public and fenced off.

It's a water reservoir. I think they've done a good job at hiding it. A more obvious one near me:
https://maps.google.fr/maps?q=L%27In...47.08,,0,-5.61


Here's a pic I took of a small parking lot on an European square:
http://imageshack.com/a/img819/2900/layl.jpg

As ABQConvict said, they used to be more common back in the 80s.


A "square" I'm familiar with:
https://maps.google.fr/maps?q=toulou...,174.24,,0,3.1

It's surrounded by heavy traffic, but feels isolated from the huslte and bustle.

[urbanlife78]

I totally forgot a great urban square, Union Square in San Francisco. Which combines an underground parking garage to the plaza.

[sorupaa]

they should have elevated ones so the cars and trains go under. just use the area below for indors

[urbanlife78]

Originally Posted by drum bro

they should have elevated ones so the cars and trains go under. just use the area below for indors

What should have elevated whats? Not sure what this is in reference to.

[sorupaa]

a elevated town sqare that goes over the roads and its up aganst the buildings. under the town squar would be a place when its cold or to get away from the head.

you would get up to it with stares inside the buildings surounding it then you could charge people money if you had a big show.

you could have the buildings open up so the buildings could be part or the quare if it was elevated

[nei]

Originally Posted by Rozenn

Here's a pic I took of a small parking lot on an European square:
http://imageshack.com/a/img819/2900/layl.jpg

As ABQConvict said, they used to be more common back in the 80s.


A "square" I'm familiar with:
https://maps.google.fr/maps?q=toulou...,174.24,,0,3.1

It's surrounded by heavy traffic, but feels isolated from the huslte and bustle.

While I don't mind that much the lack of greenery, a large paved/stone paved space looks like it could be rather sterile and blank without some decor whenever there's few people. Why don't they add a few decorations or trees?

These proposals to pedestrianize some Manhattan avenue suggest using a paved surface for maximum usable space:

Pave, pave, pave. The surface of the promenade is largely covered with functional brick and stone pavers, minimizing maintenance while maximizing the area for human use (which includes weekly farmers' markets).

Click on the link for and see some photos, which would very nice.

Old Urbanist: New Plans for Old Avenues in New York City

[cisco kid]

Originally Posted by Ohiogirl81

You should move out into the country if traffic vexes you so.

Nah. Better to try and fix the problem or at least try to improve the situation
then to flee from it. Fleeing is the coward's way out.

[urbanlife78]

Originally Posted by cisco kid

Nah. Better to try and fix the problem or at least try to improve the situation
then to flee from it. Fleeing is the coward's way out.

That's how suburban growth took off.