Calgary - bonny Bonnybrook [Archive]

Jimby

Mar 29, 2008, 10:22 PM

Bonnybrook is an older industrial area south east of downtown. There are houses in between the scrap yards and machine shops.
This is Alberta Distillers where the finest Canadian whiskey is made.

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj184/lumin8_bucket/DSC_0002-2.jpg

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj184/lumin8_bucket/DSC_0003-2.jpg

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj184/lumin8_bucket/DSC_0004-3.jpg

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj184/lumin8_bucket/DSC_0008-3.jpg

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj184/lumin8_bucket/DSC_0009-3.jpg

the blower gang. These guys all had gas-powered blowers and brooms, and they had been blowing the parking lot but now were walking back to their vehicles. I think they were trying to rid the area of spilled grain which was attracting lots of pigeons at the malting mill.

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj184/lumin8_bucket/DSC_0010-2.jpg

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj184/lumin8_bucket/DSC_0012-2.jpg

LADA Niva

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj184/lumin8_bucket/DSC_0013-4.jpg

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj184/lumin8_bucket/DSC_0016-2.jpg

future SE LRT line! There are a couple of houses where the for sale sign is. This is their street.

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj184/lumin8_bucket/DSC_0018-2.jpg

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj184/lumin8_bucket/DSC_0019-2.jpg

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj184/lumin8_bucket/DSC_0020-2.jpg

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj184/lumin8_bucket/DSC_0023-2.jpg

the heavens were smiling down on ABCRC for Earth Hour Day!

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj184/lumin8_bucket/DSC_0025-1.jpg

at the school bus yard
http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj184/lumin8_bucket/DSC_0028-4.jpg

old gut wagon

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj184/lumin8_bucket/DSC_0029-2.jpg

I want that one. I just noticed the footprint on the door.

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj184/lumin8_bucket/DSC_0031-3.jpg

dogs can't see that sign way up there

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj184/lumin8_bucket/DSC_0032-2.jpg

IKO Industries shingle plant has had more fires than any place in Calgary. I don't think they can get fire insurance.

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj184/lumin8_bucket/DSC_0033-1.jpg

my kind of kingdom

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj184/lumin8_bucket/DSC_0035-2.jpg

Aylmer

Mar 29, 2008, 10:33 PM

Can anyone say urban decay?

:)

ScottFromCalgary

Mar 29, 2008, 10:43 PM

I don't know if I would agree with that. Its more just a shabby industrial area.

Cool pics by the way.

CMD UW

Mar 29, 2008, 11:23 PM

Yea, no urban decay, just an old industrial area that has its own vibe and lifestyle.

93JC

Mar 30, 2008, 12:17 AM

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj184/lumin8_bucket/DSC_0003-2.jpg

Nice Scout.

entheosfog

Mar 30, 2008, 12:41 AM

Nice pics! There's something that's always fascinated me about Bonnybrook...maybe it's the fact there's still a few scattered houses among some of the most heavy industries in the city. Or the fact there's always something interesting around every bend. Or maybe it's the smells...
Anyway, not Calgary's nicest area of town but it's always an adventure.

DizzyEdge

Mar 30, 2008, 12:57 AM

Nice pics! There's something that's always fascinated me about Bonnybrook...maybe it's the fact there's still a few scattered houses among some of the most heavy industries in the city. Or the fact there's always something interesting around every bend. Or maybe it's the smells...
Anyway, not Calgary's nicest area of town but it's always an adventure.

I think Bonnybrook was originally supposed to be residential, but it stalled out early in the century, and eventually the industrial just south of inglewood expanded down and overtook the area where a few houses had been built...

Boris2k7

Mar 30, 2008, 2:20 AM

Great thread. I've taken some pics in this area as well, but not as good as these ones.

You should get up to the eastern edge of Highfield. From the top of the hill, you get a pretty good overview of Alyth/Bonnybrook, scrap yards, chemical plants, and all the rest.

The Chemist

Mar 30, 2008, 2:35 AM

I thought I was going to see pictures of the sewage plant. :D

Nice pictures, living - this is certainly a not-often seen part of the city.

Big Sky

Mar 30, 2008, 6:23 AM

Dynamic pictures Living!

Surrealplaces

Mar 30, 2008, 7:07 AM

Nice pictures Living :tup:

freeweed

Mar 30, 2008, 3:51 PM

Bonnybrook is an older industrial area south east of downtown. There are houses in between the scrap yards and machine shops.
This is Alberta Distillers where the finest Canadian whiskey is made.

Crap, now he's done it. :haha:

freeweed

Mar 30, 2008, 3:53 PM

Can anyone say urban decay?

:)

That was quick.

Although, I thought this more like "grit" or "edge" or "historical".

93JC

Mar 30, 2008, 4:22 PM

Crap, now he's done it. :haha:

They're the only ones in Canada who still make rye whisky with 100% rye... :shrug:

freeweed

Mar 30, 2008, 4:46 PM

They're the only ones in Canada who still make rye whisky with 100% rye... :shrug:

Yes, but "finest" can't possibly mean 100% rye. "Finest" will mean the whiskey drank by the most people, or drank in the grittiest environments, or in the hippest of clubs. Therefore, Calgary whiskey simply can't be considered the "finest".

I'll stop now. Consider this more of an observation that ANY superlative can be twisted around in this fashion. Which is unfortunate because I LIKE Living's commentary - but I now inwardly cringe any time any of us says anything highly positive, just waiting for the inevitable "oh yeah? well here's a top 10 list of why Calgary REALLY sucks".

I know we have some SSP'ers from Tennesse; maybe they can come and extol the virtues of corn whiskey. :tup:

frinkprof

Mar 30, 2008, 4:50 PM

I bought some of that whiskey last night.

Nice pictures LFTC. I don't frequent industrial areas often, but when I do pass through, it is kind of like a whole other world.

niwell

Mar 30, 2008, 10:13 PM

Great pictures! I love those old shacks that are still left standing, and were obviously built before the industrial character of the area took over. I actually hope those aren't torn down.

DizzyEdge

Mar 30, 2008, 10:24 PM

this isn't very high quality, but it gives an idea of the progression in the area... 1924 on the left, 1948 middle, mid 1950s on the right (purple is ogden road which wasn't built in the first 2 aerials, north south route seems to have been present day Bonnybrook Rd)

http://img259.imageshack.us/img259/161/bonnybrook19241948mid50st8.jpg

DizzyEdge

Mar 30, 2008, 10:48 PM

Plus this is kinda cool, of the 49 or so buildings in the 1950s pic to the left, it appears 7 are still standing in the present day aerial, however you can see the outlines of a lot of the old buildings in the ground, from the air anyway, it would be interesting to see what those impressions look like from the ground.

http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/647/bonnybrookbuildingstb1.jpg

Wooster

Mar 31, 2008, 1:18 AM

I love the pics. The one of the scrap pile of car body parts is epic! Almost Edward Burtynsky like!

www.edwardburtynsky.com

Boris2k7

Mar 31, 2008, 2:25 AM

^ Anyone who likes Ed Burtynsky would be interested in picking up Manufactured Landscapes. It's not exactly a fast documentary, but I would say that it is powerful and deep.

Not to mention that the last 20 minutes of the film is devoted to Shanghai's rapid urban transformation.

Deepstar

Mar 31, 2008, 4:16 AM

Nice pictures LFTC!

bendecido

Mar 31, 2008, 5:49 AM

Bravo on your shots. Great eye. I remember driving through that area a few years back and felt depressed afterward. Not to sound snooty, but it was just so depressing. If only there was some decent landscaping or trees or something.

Since the land is so valuable, is there any chance the city could reclaim it, re-zone it for housing and mix use stuff and have these businesses relocate? Are there any plans to create a new industrial area outside of the core?

Policy Wonk

Mar 31, 2008, 6:08 AM

I would imagine the city would take a dim view of many alternate issues for that area given the sewage treatment plant which may double in size over the next 40 years.

It is pretty hard to fit this into mixed usage, photo by me.

http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/1130/scummywaterfacingnorthwuy8.jpg

frinkprof

Mar 31, 2008, 6:32 AM

Since the land is so valuable, is there any chance the city could reclaim it, re-zone it for housing and mix use stuff and have these businesses relocate? Are there any plans to create a new industrial area outside of the core?
I suppose there is a chance for some of the area, but as Policy Wonk mentioned, some of the uses (namely sewage treatment) there are essential and couldn't go very many other places. Also, I'd imagine a lot of the land would need environmental remediation before residential uses are even thought of in the area.

As for new industrial areas, as far as I know, the area enclosed by Deerfoot Trail, Stoney Trail, Country Hills Blvd. and the CP Rail line is slated for industrial. Also, a lot of industrial is starting to move to Airdrie and Strathmore, among other places.

Bassic Lab

Mar 31, 2008, 6:35 AM

Bravo on your shots. Great eye. I remember driving through that area a few years back and felt depressed afterward. Not to sound snooty, but it was just so depressing. If only there was some decent landscaping or trees or something.

Since the land is so valuable, is there any chance the city could reclaim it, re-zone it for housing and mix use stuff and have these businesses relocate? Are there any plans to create a new industrial area outside of the core?

There are constantly multiple industrial areas being developed. Lately portions of the SE have been filling in, 82nd Street north of Glenmore is one such area. It isn't like industrial expansion ever just stopped.

Boris2k7

Mar 31, 2008, 7:07 AM

I (and ProudlyCanadian, as well as a few others) did a big huge project on this subject a year ago. We envisioned a long term project to coordinate development of the area. It would involve many, many partners, huge amounts of infrastructure being built, and tons of money. HOWEVER, the Central Industrial Areas represent Calgary's best opportunity for urban renewal, looking past the Beltline and Downtown. I'm actually quite convinced, having taken time to examine the area and work through several proposals, that it is more than likely to happen eventually.

Several challenges will be redoing the confusing array of infrastructure throughout the area, the sewage treatment plant, the remaining industry in the area (and incorporating mixed-use, including future industrial uses), and environmental remediation (which isn't as big of a problem as it sounds, really).

That land is very valuable, and massively underdeveloped. Some of the sites are even abandoned. All it takes is time and confidence. Give it a chance.

EDIT: I'll also mention that the SE LRT could really be a catalyst for change. Once you have stations... boom, you have station area plans. And if the East Village works out in the meantime, the Calgary Municipal Land Corp. will be entrenched and the Community Redevelopment Levy will have proven itself as an effective tool.

DizzyEdge

Mar 31, 2008, 8:10 AM

I would imagine the city would take a dim view of many alternate issues for that area given the sewage treatment plant which may double in size over the next 40 years.

It is pretty hard to fit this into mixed usage, photo by me.

http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/1130/scummywaterfacingnorthwuy8.jpg

Question: does the city already own properties that would allow that doubling in size?

DizzyEdge

Mar 31, 2008, 8:12 AM

Bravo on your shots. Great eye. I remember driving through that area a few years back and felt depressed afterward. Not to sound snooty, but it was just so depressing. If only there was some decent landscaping or trees or something.

Since the land is so valuable, is there any chance the city could reclaim it, re-zone it for housing and mix use stuff and have these businesses relocate? Are there any plans to create a new industrial area outside of the core?

It has been happening already, for example ramsay exchange... I think there will be a slow expansion of Ramsay/Inglewood into their adjacent industrial areas.. and as Boris mentioned, once the lrt goes through other uses might develop around the stations. At some point the sewage plant may halt commercial/residential spread, but there's a lot of land at the north end of bonnybrook that wouldn't be affected.

EDIT: another thing interesting about Bonnybrook is the triangle formed by 15 st, bonnybrook rd, and 42 ave is all more 'residential' sized blocks, which is another reason I get the feeling it was originally intended to be residential... pure speculation on my part though.

Jimby

Mar 31, 2008, 9:15 AM

Thanks everyone for your comments, especially Josh, that's a huge compliment!
Thanks DizzyEdge for providing the aerials.
I was wondering if one owned a residential lot in Bonnybrook if they would be allowed to build a new house or is there some kind of moratorium on new housing being allowed there? There would be few neighbours to tell you to turn down the music!
It is unfortunate that because of the CP tracks, the malting mill, and further south the sewage treatment plant, that there is no access to the river from Bonnybrook except at the Bonnybrook bridge. There is no bike path from the Bonnybrook bridge to Glenmore Trail on the west side of the Bow.

Policy Wonk

Mar 31, 2008, 10:05 AM

Question: does the city already own properties that would allow that doubling in size?

As it was explained to me in the summer of 2004 there is green land to the east and south of the site, but they would rather just take the industrial land between 15th street and the railroad tracks than expand onto the green buffer.

DizzyEdge

Mar 31, 2008, 10:11 AM

Thanks everyone for your comments, especially Josh, that's a huge compliment!
Thanks DizzyEdge for providing the aerials.
I was wondering if one owned a residential lot in Bonnybrook if they would be allowed to build a new house or is there some kind of moratorium on new housing being allowed there? There would be few neighbours to tell you to turn down the music!
It is unfortunate that because of the CP tracks, the malting mill, and further south the sewage treatment plant, that there is no access to the river from Bonnybrook except at the Bonnybrook bridge. There is no bike path from the Bonnybrook bridge to Glenmore Trail on the west side of the Bow.

Good question, the new bylaw will give that area zoning I-R (Industrial-Redevelopment) and residential is not a permitted nor discretionary use (of course you could build your dream house and say you're running some sort of business (driveway = Car storage lot?)

Currently it's I-2, which had more fun allowed uses like Offices, hotels & motels (Bonnybrook Estates Bed and Breakfast?), Billiard parlour, flea market (garage sales weekly) etc

yads

Mar 31, 2008, 7:54 PM

I used to work in the brick building next to the big silos for Canada Malting. It was a pretty depressing place to work that's for sure.

ExcaliburKid

Mar 31, 2008, 8:44 PM

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj184/lumin8_bucket/DSC_0019-2.jpg

Haha love the hammock strung between the chimney and the roof peak. Classic. Nice shots, btw.

DizzyEdge

Mar 31, 2008, 10:04 PM

Haha love the hammock strung between the chimney and the roof peak. Classic. Nice shots, btw.

I never even noticed that, nice haha. I'd be a little wary though of putting unnecessary stress on a 80-90 yr old chimney..might end up with bricks to the groin.

Boris2k7

Mar 31, 2008, 11:56 PM

I hope you don't mind me posting a few of the pics I took in 2007 of the area (this was before I got my DSLR, and my photog. skills kinda sucked back then). These include both Alyth/Bonnybrook and Highfield

http://img381.imageshack.us/img381/6624/dscn2839hf4.jpg

http://img353.imageshack.us/img353/8426/dscn2847iq4.jpg

http://img353.imageshack.us/img353/6831/dscn2850fq5.jpg

http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/9785/dscn2851hp5.jpg

http://img381.imageshack.us/img381/1618/dscn2856ej8.jpg

http://img353.imageshack.us/img353/9262/dscn2858on5.jpg

http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/7762/dscn2859oz0.jpg

http://img353.imageshack.us/img353/4032/dscn2863za9.jpg

http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/8387/dscn2885xt5.jpg

I have several more pics sitting around on my drive...

Jimby

Apr 1, 2008, 12:03 AM

Good stuff, thanks for adding them Boris. Some of your shots give a good overview of the area too.

Jimby

Apr 1, 2008, 5:13 AM

here is a crop suggested by a flickr friend of the car part pile

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2267/2379568578_81923853b3_b.jpg

entheosfog

Apr 1, 2008, 6:14 AM

Okay, I can't help it, I have to add some pics to the mix also...
These were taken on a bitterly cold day in February 2006. I still haven't been back since...

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc300/whereismymind2007/100839110_151b258c57_b.jpg?t=1207030016

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc300/whereismymind2007/100839112_c289cb5621_b.jpg?t=1207030252

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc300/whereismymind2007/100839113_9e3f513a86_b.jpg?t=1207030266

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc300/whereismymind2007/100839115_0708a512ed_b.jpg?t=1207030279

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc300/whereismymind2007/100839116_30195d3988_b.jpg?t=1207030292

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc300/whereismymind2007/100839117_e74ccebc2e_b.jpg?t=1207030309

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc300/whereismymind2007/100842725_f1753349ae_b.jpg?t=1207030321

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc300/whereismymind2007/100842726_077e2d0e71_b.jpg?t=1207030334

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc300/whereismymind2007/100842728_dc332680a2_b.jpg?t=1207030349

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc300/whereismymind2007/100842729_98e5233d02_b.jpg?t=1207030361

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc300/whereismymind2007/100842732_5efd2c3b22_b.jpg?t=1207030375

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc300/whereismymind2007/100846187_012b5fc309_b.jpg?t=1207030387

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc300/whereismymind2007/100846191_a72fcbf29d_b.jpg?t=1207030399

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc300/whereismymind2007/100907387_93a34b618c_b.jpg?t=1207030411

Boris2k7

Apr 1, 2008, 8:05 AM

Some more from me... (might as well take a break from finishing up this term paper... going to be up all night anyways...)

http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/6880/dscn2840si3.jpg

http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/1958/dscn2471zv9.jpg

http://img360.imageshack.us/img360/4762/dscn2481fh0.jpg

http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/5329/dscn2482tm9.jpg

http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/1046/dscn2485jh3.jpg

http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/3687/dscn2884tz7.jpg

http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/4625/dscn2845et5.jpg

http://img360.imageshack.us/img360/1056/dscn2853ja7.jpg

http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/2043/dscn2855cc9.jpg

http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/1884/dscn0894nn6.jpg

http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/6423/dscn0892rd3.jpg

You Need A Thneed

Apr 1, 2008, 2:18 PM

The SE LRT going through there could really help that area's renewal.

sync

Apr 1, 2008, 2:31 PM

great thread.

defaultuser

Apr 2, 2008, 12:16 AM

.