Comments for Michael Cumming http://michaelcumming.com Sun, 21 Feb 2010 20:04:48 +0000 hourly 1 Comment on Urban destruction in the heart of Brantford, Ontario by Lloyd Alter http://michaelcumming.com/2010/02/urban-destruction-in-the-heart-of-brantford-ontario/comment-page-1/#comment-109 Lloyd Alter Sun, 21 Feb 2010 20:04:48 +0000 http://michaelcumming.com/?p=784#comment-109 you nailed a key point: "When you demolish an old, sketchy part of town, you usually displace marginalized businesses (e.g. tattoo parlours, head shops, crack dens) and marginalized residents (e.g. prostitutes, drug addicts and those on welfare). Getting rid of a venue for such things lets people imagine that they don’t exist." it is the oldest development trick in the book; turn a building into a noxious use and then use that as an excuse for demolition. you nailed a key point: “When you demolish an old, sketchy part of town, you usually displace marginalized businesses (e.g. tattoo parlours, head shops, crack dens) and marginalized residents (e.g. prostitutes, drug addicts and those on welfare). Getting rid of a venue for such things lets people imagine that they don’t exist.”

it is the oldest development trick in the book; turn a building into a noxious use and then use that as an excuse for demolition.

]]> Comment on Urban destruction in the heart of Brantford, Ontario by michael http://michaelcumming.com/2010/02/urban-destruction-in-the-heart-of-brantford-ontario/comment-page-1/#comment-104 michael Fri, 19 Feb 2010 21:24:46 +0000 http://michaelcumming.com/?p=784#comment-104 Thanks Paul. Your blog post explains more of what is going on. Brantford seems like it could really use a 'back to the core' movement. Thanks Paul. Your blog post explains more of what is going on. Brantford seems like it could really use a ‘back to the core’ movement.

]]> Comment on Urban destruction in the heart of Brantford, Ontario by Paul http://michaelcumming.com/2010/02/urban-destruction-in-the-heart-of-brantford-ontario/comment-page-1/#comment-103 Paul Fri, 19 Feb 2010 15:47:28 +0000 http://michaelcumming.com/?p=784#comment-103 I've been blogging about the impending destruction of the downtown core over the last month: http://tinyurl.com/yhpp2fw is my latest I’ve been blogging about the impending destruction of the downtown core over the last month: http://tinyurl.com/yhpp2fw is my latest

]]> Comment on Urban destruction in the heart of Brantford, Ontario by Michael http://michaelcumming.com/2010/02/urban-destruction-in-the-heart-of-brantford-ontario/comment-page-1/#comment-102 Michael Fri, 19 Feb 2010 15:24:30 +0000 http://michaelcumming.com/?p=784#comment-102 Agreed. In this case it seems like it's not just about the monied interests but also about a bizarre form of cultural nihilism that has wide support from within the community. Probably, the downtown is not a popular place to visit for many residents. Having no knowledge of the place and its history, it's unclear why this is so. Completely unclear... Agreed. In this case it seems like it’s not just about the monied interests but also about a bizarre form of cultural nihilism that has wide support from within the community. Probably, the downtown is not a popular place to visit for many residents. Having no knowledge of the place and its history, it’s unclear why this is so. Completely unclear…

]]> Comment on Urban destruction in the heart of Brantford, Ontario by Laurel http://michaelcumming.com/2010/02/urban-destruction-in-the-heart-of-brantford-ontario/comment-page-1/#comment-99 Laurel Fri, 19 Feb 2010 04:17:27 +0000 http://michaelcumming.com/?p=784#comment-99 Ahh yes! Downtown Brantford - having worked in the core in the early 1990's, I was witness to the decay then. The "stilt" homes are similar to the one's in downtown St. Catharines which is also experiencing the demise of its' downtown core - once a great source of shopping and eateries it now boasts empty storefronts. I too am appalled by the decisions of the cities and towns to simply eradicate historical gems for the sake of progress - or let's just call a spade a spade - monies placed into the hands of developers who operate on the basis of greed and have no intention of preserving that which is part of Canada and indeed Ontario's history! Ahh yes! Downtown Brantford – having worked in the core in the early 1990’s, I was witness to the decay then. The “stilt” homes are similar to the one’s in downtown St. Catharines which is also experiencing the demise of its’ downtown core – once a great source of shopping and eateries it now boasts empty storefronts. I too am appalled by the decisions of the cities and towns to simply eradicate historical gems for the sake of progress – or let’s just call a spade a spade – monies placed into the hands of developers who operate on the basis of greed and have no intention of preserving that which is part of Canada and indeed Ontario’s history!

]]> Comment on Art Barker: Standing-Seam Roofer by ostrov http://michaelcumming.com/2009/09/art-barker-standing-seam-roofer/comment-page-1/#comment-24 ostrov Wed, 02 Dec 2009 18:38:42 +0000 http://mc_blog.michaelcumming.webfactional.com/?p=117#comment-24 Thank you, very interesting article Thank you,
very interesting article

]]> Comment on Participatory art: loot conquers all by michael http://michaelcumming.com/2009/10/participatory-art-loot-conquers-all/comment-page-1/#comment-8 michael Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:00:14 +0000 http://www.michaelcumming.com/?p=279#comment-8 Thanks for your comment Lynn. You never know quite when Cornelia will set down her bag and decide to attract a crowd! Thanks for your comment Lynn. You never know quite when Cornelia will set down her bag and decide to attract a crowd!

]]> Comment on Participatory art: loot conquers all by Lynn Hubbs http://michaelcumming.com/2009/10/participatory-art-loot-conquers-all/comment-page-1/#comment-7 Lynn Hubbs Fri, 30 Oct 2009 09:16:19 +0000 http://www.michaelcumming.com/?p=279#comment-7 So sorry we didn't walk by and get to participate. I would have to agree, Cornelia has a certain charisma that would have easily attracted a crowd! Enjoyed reading about the event from your perspective as "event photographer". So sorry we didn’t walk by and get to participate. I would have to agree, Cornelia has a certain charisma that would have easily attracted a crowd! Enjoyed reading about the event from your perspective as “event photographer”.

]]> Comment on Participatory art: loot conquers all by Mahesh P. Butani http://michaelcumming.com/2009/10/participatory-art-loot-conquers-all/comment-page-1/#comment-5 Mahesh P. Butani Sat, 10 Oct 2009 04:17:25 +0000 http://www.michaelcumming.com/?p=279#comment-5 <b>Michael</b>, This is brilliant and you should share this experience broadly in Hamilton - and have Cornelia host a similar event in Downtown soon! Your piece below is also very timely. Best, <i>Mahesh</i> Michael,

This is brilliant and you should share this experience broadly in Hamilton – and have Cornelia host a similar event in Downtown soon!

Your piece below is also very timely.
Best,
Mahesh

]]> Comment on Pittsburgh and Deindustrialization by michael http://michaelcumming.com/2009/09/141/comment-page-1/#comment-4 michael Mon, 05 Oct 2009 16:42:46 +0000 http://www.michaelcumming.com/?p=141#comment-4 (Hi Jen!) There are steep stairs, crumbling churches and sketchy next-door neighbours. I'd say it was typical. (Hi Jen!) There are steep stairs, crumbling churches and sketchy next-door neighbours. I’d say it was typical.

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