Street-Scape - The Good, The Bad and The Hilarious

[flare]

Originally Posted by Citizen4012

It's amazing how relatively simple resurfacing/repaving work can completely change the feel of a place.

From dingy, rundown-looking and decidedly dodgy, side street (off Long Acre) to somewhere that is far more approachable:

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I agree! Two big issues councils face with these kind of street improvements are:

1. The maintenance costs of the upkeep of these streets are much higher than normal asphalt, often councils have the budget for the improvement itself but it's often difficult to get an ongoing commitment.

2. Utilities companies digging up the road and replacing with black top. While the utility companies have a responsibility to replace like with like they have 6 months to undertake the replacement. Most councils don't have the resources to keep track or chase non-compliance.

I work for a London Council and my remit includes streetscape/design. Thankfully haven't seen an bad/ugly examples from my borough yet....

Love the Leyton improvements by the way!

[outofcontext]

flare makes good points about mainenance and costs. I remember not so long ago Tower Hamlets installed faux "cobbles" along the entirety of Brick Lane. They only lasted a short number of years (I guess about 7?) and have recently been lifted and replaced with tarmac.
Personally, I feel that "cobbles" can also look a tad nostalgic, even Disney, and there are noise issues with them.

[UrbanG]

pedestrian routes should be more strategic and joined-up somehow so one can walk east to west and north to south across central london

[davidaiow]

This is the thing with cobbles. I thought that they were unsuitable for urban spaces and that they were more noisy and costly. However, I recently went to Rome where most of the streets appear cobbled and it was fine. The cars were zooming along them just grand. This is London too, so it's not as if they will be zooming.

When I lived in Camden, my road (Agar Grove) was torn up and resurfaced. Underneath was the most beautiful road surface. It seems such a shame to have tarmac over it once more

[Citizen4012]

Whitechapel Road is actually not too bad, at least in good weather. I'm also happy to see the Royal London Hospital go - it may be a site of historic significance, but it is also a dilapidated eyesore with a boring facade and crumbling internal infrastructure.

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More sunny weather streetscapes:

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[potto]

Originally Posted by WallyChops

Really inspirational - there's no reason why it shouldn't be rolled out elsewhere.

I'm sure the benefits to local retailers/businesses and residents more than justify the costs.

perfect for Holloway Road

[carlspannoosh]

Originally Posted by potto

perfect for Holloway Road

And indeed and for virtually every other main shopping street in Islington bar Upper Street unfortunately. Caledonian Road and Seven Sisters Road are every bit as grim if not even more so.

[london lad]

Article on the Olyumpic Street improvements here.

Shows not every shopkeeper wants to be involved even if they don’t have to pay for it. Its quite common for shopkeepers to not give a monkeys about the streetscrape . Just witness all the dire fried chicken shopfronts for example where there must be some sort of competition to see who can deface and ruin the high st the most.


Makeover for the Olympics splits East End high street

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/londo...internalSearch

[flare]

Originally Posted by carlspannoosh

And indeed and for virtually every other main shopping street in Islington bar Upper Street unfortunately. Caledonian Road and Seven Sisters Road are every bit as grim if not even more so.

Bits of Caledonian Road are changing very quickly. Essex Road too. Stroud Green Road is ok.

You're right, Seven Sisters Rd is horrible. As is Blackcock Road.

[cnapan]

I don't have a picture of it, but the linear water feature in 'more london' which leads the eye between the Shard and Tower bridge is good. The only bad thing really is that the ground level of the buildings lining this vista is mostly utterly sterile , which is such a shame. Still, makes for some good photos.

[carlspannoosh]

Originally Posted by flare

You're right, Seven Sisters Rd is horrible. As is Blackcock Road.

I think you mean Blackstock rather than Blackcock

[delores]

Originally Posted by cnapan

I don't have a picture of it, but the linear water feature in 'more london' which leads the eye between the Shard and Tower bridge is good. The only bad thing really is that the ground level of the buildings lining this vista is mostly utterly sterile , which is such a shame. Still, makes for some good photos.

Its the best part of More, the cut through, the paving and water features really is exceptional, It's just unfortunate most of the buildings that surround it are so generic and boring especially 2 more London which is atrocious.

[siberian dreamer]

Seven sisters still feels dodgy at mid day as you get into Tottenham; just in such a state.

[Tinpusher]

Originally Posted by WallyChops

Really inspirational - there's no reason why it shouldn't be rolled out elsewhere.

I'm sure the benefits to local retailers/businesses and residents more than justify the costs.

It would be brilliant if this sort of work was rolled out nationwide and completed by NEETS, apprentices, or people on Community Service Orders...I imagine the private sector would have a thing or two to say about it robbing them of business though.

But, since nobody can be arsed to pay for their shops doing up on a tatty high street because "why bother, nobody else is, so it's a wasted effort!" The private sector is not really missing out.

Making a high street look more welcoming is one way to compete against out of town shopping, no need to surrender to orange 1970s signs, rotting window frames and overflowing dustbins.

[DanLondon]

A small pilot scheme is happening in High Barnet (yes - zone 5! But still London) - will try to get some snaps one day when it's all done - think its still a work in progress

http://barnet.moderngov.co.uk/docume...s%20Public.pdf

[Mr Bricks]

Manchester.

Originally Posted by jrb

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http://www.flickr.com/photos/elsie/7160968351/

Originally Posted by jrb

Pictures by Love Charlie.

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[ill tonkso]

The last pic will be a lot better when the second city crossing is built. That square will be closed to traffic (exc the crossing street) and will become a huge public space/tram interchange.

[danm]

Heddon Street (just off Regent Street) has been dramatically improved in recent years:

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Late Friday evening street party on Heddon Street with DJ playing for Capital FM by jaimelondonboy, on Flickr

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Heddon Street by Faleiry, on Flickr

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Late Friday evening street party on Heddon Street with DJ playing for Capital FM by jaimelondonboy, on Flickr

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Heddon Street, London. by Paul Phear, on Flickr


and the pedestrianised street has now been repaved:


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Summer night in London by jaimelondonboy, on Flickr

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Summer night in London by jaimelondonboy, on Flickr

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Summer night in London by jaimelondonboy, on Flickr

[larven]

Great space.

If only we had the weather to allow 'al fresco' drinking and dining all year round.

[beefykeefy]

Originally Posted by danm

Heddon Street (just off Regent Street) has been dramatically improved in recent years:

image hosted on flickr

Late Friday evening street party on Heddon Street with DJ playing for Capital FM by jaimelondonboy, on Flickr

image hosted on flickr

Heddon Street by Faleiry, on Flickr

image hosted on flickr

Late Friday evening street party on Heddon Street with DJ playing for Capital FM by jaimelondonboy, on Flickr

image hosted on flickr

Heddon Street, London. by Paul Phear, on Flickr


and the pedestrianised street has now been repaved:


image hosted on flickr

Summer night in London by jaimelondonboy, on Flickr

image hosted on flickr

Summer night in London by jaimelondonboy, on Flickr

image hosted on flickr

Summer night in London by jaimelondonboy, on Flickr

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