Thursday, July 14, 2011

Out With The Old...

A reader snagged this photo of the new retro-looking, and much brighter, streetlights going in along Wilson.  This is right across from Uplift.  We like how the new lights look and we've spoken to shop owners on Wilson who really like how much brighter they are than the previous ones.

17 comments:

  1. I think the new lights are almost too bright, and contribute way too much to light pollution. Can we at least have something above the light source, so we aren't wasting so much energy by sending half of the light waves directly into the sky where they do no good?

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  2. good grief. is there anything in this neighborhood that doesn't set people off complaining? I think safety and good lighting is a little more important at this juncture in our ward. Lights too bright? Keep some sunglasses on your person.

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  3. Yes "light pollution" sucks! We should take a cue from Mr. Burns on The Simpsons and create a device the blocks out the sun and get rid of that terrible "light pollution".

    Sounds like OneDayAtATime needs to find a hippy commune in middle of the the woods somewhere and hug a tree or two and enjoy the complete darkness of the nights there. BTW why do you live in the city if you hate "light pollution"?

    Let's get real! I welcome the lights with their "light pollution"; creates less dark places for criminals to lurk. I prefer walking down a well lit street at night.

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  4. @Ray - Couldn't have said it better myself.. Well put.. Let's stop complaining..Geeeez! Sometimes I wonder if UU is only posting the complainers..

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  5. @Ray- Couldn't have said it better myself. Lets stop complaining people. We have a lot of complainers in here even if it is something positive.. I recall somewhere by the YMCA at Sheridan where a particular spot was very dark and needed some light.. Now here we are and we somehow find a way to complain of something good that is going around in our Uptown. Sometimes I wonder if UU only posts the negative comments on something positive.. Do you UU?

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  6. That area of Wilson needs all the help it can get. The new lights are a definite improvement!

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  7. Light pollution is relevant in rural or wooded areas as the light can upset nocturnal creatures way of life. It is an element considered when designing certain LEED certified buildings. Obviously, light pollution is not a relevant argument in the city.

    I presume these are the new 'old-looking0 lights with two bulbs with glass cover things. If you look at the glass carefully, you'll see they are actually shaped lenses that, I presume, intend to focus the light the the horizontal plane.

    I like the way they look too! Glad we are getting these upgrades. Broadway looks a ton better.

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  8. Uptown Unity said: "Light pollution ... can upset nocturnal creatures way of life."

    Precisely why I'm in favor of it in Uptown. There are quite a few nocturnal creatures who I'd like to see disappear from Wilson and its surrounding streets.

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  9. I can't remember the last time I heard a public safety or crime expert say that a great way to reduce crime would be to make it darker...

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  10. ouch, I think OneDayAtATime just got served...

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  11. I'll side with OneDayAtATime. I'm all for brighter streets, but why does the sky need to be brighter? Do these criminals fly into our neighborhood like bats? Do they only come out when they see the moon like a wolf? No, of course not. There's a reason why the City's own Green Alleys have lights that aim their luminance DOWN and not up.

    Yay for new lights, but why aren't there reflectors to direct the light down to street level?

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  12. I think the new style of lights were chosen more for aesthetics than for functionality. Yes, a downlight has less 'pollution' than a traditional lamp but it does not have zero light pollution. The downlights we see being removed are more reminiscent of the 70's-90's and I believe the city is looking for a more classic look.

    Afterall, the lights don't operate during the day (unless, oddly enough you live on the 4400 block of Hazel) and their appearance is relevant 24/7. There are also some new fixtures with two lights; a downward facing street light and a 360 degree lamp along Sunnyside and other side streets. These provide fantastic illumination without the retro look.

    I am suddenly wondering why I am so observant of the street lighting in our neighborhood.... hmmmmm

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  13. And here I read OneDayAtATime's post and thought they were kidding. I guess not? Laugh out loud at this one. Uptownchitown should have a ball with that one.

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