The latter reference in the title directed towards men who recently divorce and move to Docklands to live a wild life.
London has a Docklands area, and it it is a huge development of high rise buildings a little blended with historic areas. There are so many waterways, to a foreigner, it is very confusing. I really don't know if the development of the London's old docks area has been judged as successful. Fun60?
Melbourne's docklands area redevelopment to high rise apartment blocks has not been judged as successful. The areas was taken from City of Melbourne to the Docklands Development Authority, and if the authority tried to do a bad job of its task, it succeeded.
No matter what money, festivals, fireworks and community celebrations have been thrown at it, as a great place to live and visit, it has been a failure.
The Docklands area is a soulless and a barren windswept area full of high rise towers but little street activity.
Where I live, a street full of apartment buildings and office blocks, there is constant activity on the street. I remember stepping outside a few years ago on a warm summer night at about 9pm and I could not believe the number of people out and about.
The development of Docklands happened under the then Premier Jeff Kennett, just another, white, male, born to rule, rich politician c***. I tire of them, both conservative and Labor.
Lol about Soho and Notting Hill. I think Professor Burke might have it right.
Former premier Jeff Kennett once described Docklands as a rare species of plant that takes a while to bloom. Demographers predicted it would become Melbourne’s Soho or Notting Hill, a waterfront spectacular and an urban oasis.
Swinburne University housing researcher Professor Terry Burke made a more stinging assessment in 2006: “They should blow it up and start again.”
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'Blow it up and start again.' I suppose that's one option:)
ReplyDeleteNever heard of the term dockland.
ReplyDeleteDockland is rather sad. I totally agree
ReplyDeleteOuch! I did a quick search and found all kinds of "what to see and do" lists. lol What are those sharpened pencil looking posts in the water? Whatever their purpose, the things are hideous.
ReplyDeleteOn a local note, I keep wishing our city would do something along the Great Miami River besides upkeep on the extensive bike path. Efforts are being made to update the downtown. It is a ten year project but so far in this early stage I am unimpressed.
Best wishes, Andrew.
Never seeing people out and about is a sure sign of a not-nice area. Unless it is mid-winter and they are all huddled inside.
ReplyDeletefull of high rise towers but little street activity! That's it in a nutshell.
ReplyDeleteJane Jacobs was a pioneer of valuing street life over brutalist architecture! I love the activity of Waikiki and enjoy stepping out to join the never ending stream of people!
I assumed you lived in Utopia!
ReplyDeleteI had never heard of Docklands, but pouring money into something to revitalize it is a familiar story here. The phrase 'lipstick on a pig' comes to mind.
I can think of lots of places that should be blown up!
ReplyDeleteIs one of them Mar-a-lago?
DeleteWhat a shame there is no activity around there. Coffee shops??
ReplyDeleteMarvel stadium is in the Docklands?
Planned developments often feel so soulless, Andrew.
ReplyDeleteSounds like your apartment is in a nice area, Andrew. Enjoy your day;)
ReplyDeleteThat's a shame. I wonder if the apartments there are owned by people who live in them, or by foreign investors. In many cities, units in newer buildings are bought up by people who never intend to occupy them. They're just investment properties, and the buildings wind up feeling like empty ghost towns.
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of the term dockland.
ReplyDeleteI wonder why docklands is so underwhelming?
ReplyDelete