A former Windsorite has some bright ideas for the Goyeau St. Parking Garage that many find dirty and in disrepair.
Michael Hoppe is Creative Director at San Francisco based Geopogo. He's come up with a basic design that could see the site become a bright and colourful space that will draw-in more than just vehicles.
On the west-coast, Hoppe has seen a shift in how parking building are being presented from the outside, no longer painted institutional colours like the Goyeau St. garage currently is.
"They've become very run down and they need to be completely re-painted," he says. "A lot of the garages here [in California] are repainted white, then in select areas with very popping colours like greens, blues, and reds."
He says most parking structures that were once seen as a filing cabinet for cars are now becoming community hotspots.
The use of pop-up retail spaces is one way they're making the space more appealing to the public.
He says the rooftop of the garage is another opportunity to set aside some space for residents to simply enjoy the view.
"Inviting people to go on top of them and hang out and lounge and have coffee, there are great views," says Hoppe. "Me and my friends used to go up the Goyeau garage when we were younger and we'd sit out and overlook around the city. It's a great opportunity for public space."
Hoppe says with just $4-million the garage could be transformed from an eye sore to a gathering place.
— with files from AM800's Rob Hindi