In Ottawa, in this era, placemaking is something for planners to talk about, but Must Not Be Implemented, lest anyone think we have big thoughts. Nice Enough is almost going too far. Have you noticed how often newish strip malls and big box plazas are trying to look like they are a real place? Some, like Mashapee Common (featured here last year) are quite successful in trying to create a new townscape. More often, though, “architects” and developers simply graft on the appearance of something cute and villagey onto a regular strip mall. We previously looked at the horrid “downtown” … Continue reading Placemaking, facadism, ignoring opportunities, etc.