Eric Allen Montgomery
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President Joe Biden drops out of the 2024 race after disastrous debate inflamed age concerns
65This is GLOBAL news. If you don’t think the outcome of the US election will effect us you’re not paying attention.
9- Eric Allen Montgomery
Name of new Guelph high school now official, but not everyone pleased
GuelphToday 33It's a nice name... but has no context to this school location and neighbourhood. Were there no options that tied into it's Arkell geography?
2- Eric Allen Montgomery
Councillor who voted against plowing bike lanes wants it restored
GuelphToday 14I can't find an up to date map of how many actual bike lanes Guelph has - not a lot of them in the city's overall road system, comparatively. Which just adds to my puzzlement as to why there is this very vocal minority of folks who seemingly hate their existence. I don't bike a lot (and never in winter), but do own one, and am thankful for the lanes in my area (The Ward) when I ride - there are far more problem drivers than problem cyclists. I drive daily - and have yet to be inconvenienced by a bike lane, and rarely by a cyclist other than the odd "middle of the night, no lights, dark clothing, often w extra bike over the shoulder" sketchy type. I truly don't understand why folks are so het up over the bike lanes. But plowing and road conditions? Oh yeah; totally understand issues around that... and can't believe anyone would suggest not plowing to the curb is a good idea.
4- Eric Allen Montgomery
Staff advise against self-cleaning washrooms for St. George’s Square
GuelphToday 13I've just spent a month in France. EVERYWHERE I travelled, from tiny Breton villages to the boulevards of Paris there were public toilets. Easily accessible ones, in easy to find places - usually within a block of the main square, if not within it. Wherever the largest numbers of people congregated, not shoved out of site and blocks away from the main foot traffic areas. The larger the town, the more toilets that were available - in areas of Paris they're every other block. It's almost as if they understand that toilets are needed by all members of society, at all times of the day and night - children, people with mobility issues or aging bladders, and yes, homeless members of society, but also the well heeled out on a bar crawl. Some were filthy, some were spotless; some were simple urinals or squats, others were futuristic self-cleaning robo-toilets... and almost all were free to use. It was CIVILIZED.
3- Eric Allen Montgomery
Former city councillor-turned-artist creates pro-Canada shirt
GuelphToday 12Nice design!Re: "The British set fire to the White House in Washington at one point" - so few people, American and Canadian, know that the "White House" was stone and red brick originally. It was whitewashed to cover the smoke damage after it was torched by the British forces on August 24th, 1814. The attack and burning was itself a retaliation for American damage to Canadian holdings during skirmishes in the Niagara Region and to York (Toronto) during 1812 and 1813.
2- Eric Allen Montgomery
How tall is too tall for Guelph buildings? Council to decide
GuelphToday 10Upward, not outward, should be mandatory for increasing the city's density. But that needn't be a scattering of 18 floor spikes - have more locations but capping heights in the 10-15 floor range would have a more uniform appearance, with staggered heights and varying levels of green roofs or garden terraces adding interest and a break from concrete monotony. Having the ground levels (at minimum) also contain commercial spaces also adds variety and utility to designs, as you can see through much of Europe, and in the majority of Toronto and Vancouvers developments. Anything that does away with the "factory prison" architecture currently favoured by certain developers.
- Eric Allen Montgomery
National rents rise, but Guelph bucks the trend
GuelphToday 8Oh hooray - Guelph rents have plummeted to only 3X what they were when I moved here 15 years ago. Pity wages haven't increased threefold as well.
- Eric Allen Montgomery
Pet supplies store broken into on Speedvale Avenue, lots of damage
GuelphToday 5This is indeed a sad and malicious act - but I'm unsure how this act of vandalism, which took place inside a storefront property not at somebody's home, has anything to do with the proposed bylaws asking property owners to restrict the amount of light (*not* "lightning") on their properties to their own properties. As I understand it, the bylaw just proposes that (for example) security floodlights aim downwards onto the homeowners sidewalk or driveway - not flooding across every backyard on the block and into neighbours windows. Creating a darker sky by concentrating lights on personal properties to the areas in need of protection (cars on driveways, home and garage entrances etc) is unlikely to have any effects on overall crime statistics.
1- Eric Allen Montgomery
Former drill hall to remain intact while city explores possible arts use
GuelphToday 3It’s a great location but it’s a historical heritage building - there are many restrictions on it’s use. And it’s proximity to the railways tracks means it can’t pass residential code.
2- Eric Allen Montgomery
Former drill hall to remain intact while city explores possible arts use
GuelphToday 3““We believe decisions related to the use of the drill hall for arts and culture should be made in a community-engaged way… said [Michelle] Peek”.The City put out an open call for expressions of interest over two years ago. Any and all artists were welcome to put together proposals, as were any other groups. It’s my understanding that the GCVA and the Guelph Chamber of Commerce were the only groups to act and submit a vision for the drill hall. The GCVA took the time to incorporate, research potential options and understand the limitations of use given the heritage status, helped push for a city staff led tour of the building, and gathered hundreds of signatures in support of their vision - which is inclusive and aimed at providing affordable studio space to all members of Guelph’s creative community. They spent hundreds of hours reaching out to engage Guelph’s creative communities and trying to integrate the interests of all who responded. The GCVA deserves support and recognition.
1- Eric Allen Montgomery
Cambridge man frustrated by enclosed mobility devices on city sidewalks
GuelphToday 1So it's okay to be out in your electric wheelchair in the pouring rain, but put a roof over it and suddenly it's a problem?I do understand that many of these micro vehicles are used by folks who've had DLs removed for DUI, not by folks with legitimate mobility issues. And that some of those drivers are still driving these while intoxicated, making them a hazard whether on a rod, sidewalk, or trial. But surely those with legitimate mobility issues need more support, not more restrictions?It seems to me that the micro vehicles need to be conspicuously marked as belonging to a legitimate wheelchair or mobility scooter user, and allowed to operate anywhere a wheelchair can operate.
3- Eric Allen Montgomery
Guelph Tool Library launches Trove, a loose parts project
GuelphToday 4This is brilliant! Every household Blue Box has a plethora of art projects waiting to happen. And hopefully local artists and craftspeople can share some of their stockpiles too.
- Eric Allen Montgomery
Downtown's Dimar keeps dying art of cobbling in the family
GuelphToday 4Thank you for the background on this wonderful shop. I've gone to them many times over the years I've been in Guelph - shoes and boots reheeled or soled, coat zippers repaired... always timely, immaculate work, and reasonable prices for finicky "by hand" techniques. If they ever offer workshops I'd love to sign up!
- Eric Allen Montgomery
The government realizes there's still a housing crisis, right?
GuelphToday 3This goes decades beyond blaming the Trudeau government. Until wages are matched to cost of living, and rent controls (including strong regulations around short term rentals) are in place, nothing will change.
- Eric Allen Montgomery
Downtown buildings could reach 24 storeys tall
GuelphToday 3Of course developers want limits removed to "be bolder"; more money for them. I expect they also "requested" fewer parking spaces, little to no ground floor retail zoning, and little if any green spaces incorporated. It'd be nice to be wrong on all those points - there's many examples worldwide of densely packed inner cities that are still beautiful, vibrant, and liveable... but Guelph has trouble emulating those it seems.
- Eric Allen Montgomery
Staff recommends the city put no more money into historic Drill Hall
GuelphToday 2The Mayor, Council, and everyone involved in the research to date understands the lack of affordable housing in the city - and also understand that this building is completely unsuitable for residential use. Because of it's Historic designation, it's close proximity to the rail system, lack of parking options, and that converting it's current gutted situation into residential would double to triple the projected costs, it's just not an option. This has been presented and discussed constantly since the proposal for an arts hub was first suggested.
- Eric Allen Montgomery
The government realizes there's still a housing crisis, right?
GuelphToday 2Declining to vote only means that "They" win. There may not be very satisfactory options to vote FOR, but there's _always_ someone to vote AGAINST.
- Eric Allen Montgomery
Cambridge man frustrated by enclosed mobility devices on city sidewalks
GuelphToday 2It's NOT multi-passenger, or (as suggested above) 4 passenger - it's FOUR WHEELED.
- Eric Allen Montgomery
An inside peek at Guelph's art world
GuelphToday 2This is always a fantastic event. Guelph has a great creative community but limited opportunities to see their work - meeting the artists in their homes and studios makes for an even more unique opportunity to see their artworks, discuss their inspirations and techniques, and purchase beautiful things to enrich our own home lives. Like Art in the Street, I look forward to this every year.
- Eric Allen Montgomery
Mural paintings headline annual Art on the Street event
GuelphToday 1Art on the Street is always an excellent event - a wonderful variety of talented artists and beautiful work. The Mural Project was an especially cool addition this year - fascinating to stop by at several point during the day and watch the paintings come to life. Even with such an array of talent all around, there's still folks that have no idea what actually goes into the process of making the work being displayed, whether paintings or pottery, woodwork or wearables. The public being able to watch these talented painters going through their different steps helps dispel what I call "Keebler Syndrome" (people think it's made by elves!). Great work - I look forward to seeing it all installed around town, and hope that this becomes an ongoing seasonal addition to Guelph's "artscape".
- Eric Allen Montgomery
