Downtown Calgary: Where are we at in 2014?

[Stephen Ave]

A few people in the construction thread recently posted some positive things about downtown Calgary, and I'm curious to know what others think.

How does it compare to 10 years ago? How about 20 years ago? How about the direction its headed?

[Chadillaccc]

I wish I knew about what it was like 10 or 20 years ago by experience, but I can tell you that from my experience moving here 26 months ago, that things have even changed here since that time. I remember searching around downtown Calgary, hung over and in dire need of a bathroom and a drink, no one in sight, not one place open except for the timmies I eventually found. I think it was about 11 or noon at the time. Nowadays, even in the winter downtown has people walking around at all times of the day. It's obviously still busier on weekdays due to the 150 000+ office workers, but the core has shown marked improvement in liveliness over the last couple years, for sure. I think it has a lot to do with the improved image of the core, with developments like the River Walk, the Peace Bridge, and the beautification of 7th Avenue... just a lot of the public realm projects that made it such a more welcoming place... as well as, of course, the major increase in population seen in the Beltline.

[MasterG]

I wish I knew about what it was like 10 or 20 years ago by experience, but I can tell you that from my experience moving here 26 months ago, that things have even changed here since that time. I remember searching around downtown Calgary, hung over and in dire need of a bathroom and a drink, no one in sight, not one place open except for the timmies I eventually found. I think it was about 11 or noon at the time. Nowadays, even in the winter downtown has people walking around at all times of the day. It's obviously still busier on weekdays due to the 150 000+ office workers, but the core has shown marked improvement in liveliness over the last couple years, for sure. I think it has a lot to do with the improved image of the core, with developments like the River Walk, the Peace Bridge, and the beautification of 7th Avenue... just a lot of the public realm projects that made it such a more welcoming place... as well as, of course, the major increase in population seen in the Beltline.

As a life-long Calgarian (albeit a relatively young life) downtown Calgary has gotten exponentially busier. Particularly in the off-peak hours on Stephen Ave. 10 years ago it was very quiet, fewer restaurants and the ones that existed were more around the lunchtime crowd. Now the second busiest (and often busiest if there are a few concerts / conferences going on) is Thursday, friday and Saturday nights. Waaay more activity and options.

The river and Prince's Island have always been busy, but there is a very noticeable uptick around the Peace Bridge and the whole inner network as more people use it. Much much busier than when I was a kid (15 years ago).

The flow of pedestrians around and into the Beltline has also changed significantly. 17th Ave's holes have been filled (and more being filled with each new development). 10 years ago there was a vacant lot where Hanson's square is and the Shoppers / analog area around 7th street was much more vacant with shabby corner stores. Tompkins Park was for drug-buying and not much else. Now it is a hive of activity, buskers, Fro-yo frequenters, newspaper readers and coffee drinkers. That entire area changed little physically, just the level of activity increased significantly.

Many, many more bicycles than I remember too. Particularly on the few bicycle lanes we have really have concentrated a reliable stream of cyclists downtown. Only more to come with the new network.

[Surrealplaces]

Downtown today is drastically different than it was 10 or 20 years ago, even much different than 5 years ago.

The biggest difference over the last few years has been how busy it is on weekends and evenings. Downtown Calgary was always busy during the day, but quite dead on weekends and evenings. These days it's noticeably busier during the day, but much, much busier on off hours, especially on Saturdays. Downtown Calgary on a Saturday is at about the same level of activity as downtown Edmonton on a weekday. It's come a long way.

The biggest changes I have seen are:
-Stephen Ave (massive change from 10-15 years ago)
-7th ave. (much busier and much nicer)
-8th street (busy all day and evenings every day of the week)
-1st steet SW (much like 8th street)
-River path east of Centre street (exponentially busier)

If by downtown, you mean the Beltline too, then the change is even more pronounced than the downtown proper.

[MasterG]

The other more recent developments along 10th Ave have really added some activity too. The amount of mega-bars and clubs have really pumped alot of life into the street, which if I recall always had some activity, just now it is much more consistent and extensive.

[Surrealplaces]

Making things nicer along Stephen Ave and 7th ave has helped a lot.

The new stations and landscaping along the 7th corridor have been a massive improvement to downtown. The integration of the LRT station and courthouse park turned out well IMO.
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3885/14396206761_7a909a9aef_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/nW9jHp)
7th ave (https://flic.kr/p/nW9jHp) by Construction Mania (https://www.flickr.com/people//), on Flickr


Definitely not the Stephen Ave of 10-15 years ago, and 100 times better than the Stephen Ave of 20-25 years ago.
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3423/3957798916_fa4c49a74c_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/72JKJm)
Stephen Avenue Mall (https://flic.kr/p/72JKJm) by Surrealplaces (https://www.flickr.com/people//), on Flickr
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3008/2759369720_6312acc9a6_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/5cQuu1)
Calgary's Stephen Avenue Mall (https://flic.kr/p/5cQuu1) by Surrealplaces (https://www.flickr.com/people//), on Flickr



Eau Claire also has seen some great changes over the last decade or so.

Eau Claire on a Sunday
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3761/9567241038_32686999a3_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/fzqBrG)
Calgary, Canada (https://flic.kr/p/fzqBrG) by Surrealplaces (https://www.flickr.com/people//), on Flickr
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3763/11017253006_a8e2e767ed_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/hMyiu3)
Calgary summer day (https://flic.kr/p/hMyiu3) by Surrealplaces (https://www.flickr.com/people//), on Flickr


Eau Claire during the evening
https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2538/3871409025_a63e643ff4_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/6U6Z2t)
Bow River pathway (https://flic.kr/p/6U6Z2t) by Surrealplaces (https://www.flickr.com/people//), on Flickr
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3423/3872190354_52f544668b_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/6UaZhE)
Bow River pathway (https://flic.kr/p/6UaZhE) by Surrealplaces (https://www.flickr.com/people//), on Flickr


Better street interaction of office buildings has also been very good for downtown
https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2446/3884522905_c17bf26509_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/6VgcjR)
Downtown Calgary street scene (https://flic.kr/p/6VgcjR) by Surrealplaces (https://www.flickr.com/people//), on Flickr

[Chadillaccc]

You should post those in the "Calgary Through the Seasons" photo thread, Surreal. They are excellent visions of summer in Calgary :)


Imgine how much different this city will be in the 5 years to come. Hopefully the Germaine will fill up completely, Vogue, Telus Sky, Avenue, the East Village, Elements, hopefully the first phases of Eau Claire, Waterfront, etc. So many more people coming into the core. Probably more than at any 5 year point in the history of the city.

[The Chemist]

Wow, a lot of that even looks like improvement from the time I moved away from Calgary (2007), when I thought things were getting pretty good in the city. Stephen Ave in particular looks amazing! I am so excited to see Calgary again for the first time in 4 years - only 3 weeks away! :)

[McMurph]

As a life-long Calgarian (albeit a relatively young life) downtown Calgary has gotten exponentially busier. Particularly in the off-peak hours on Stephen Ave. 10 years ago it was very quiet, fewer restaurants and the ones that existed were more around the lunchtime crowd. Now the second busiest (and often busiest if there are a few concerts / conferences going on) is Thursday, friday and Saturday nights. Waaay more activity and options.

The river and Prince's Island have always been busy, but there is a very noticeable uptick around the Peace Bridge and the whole inner network as more people use it. Much much busier than when I was a kid (15 years ago).

The flow of pedestrians around and into the Beltline has also changed significantly. 17th Ave's holes have been filled (and more being filled with each new development). 10 years ago there was a vacant lot where Hanson's square is and the Shoppers / analog area around 7th street was much more vacant with shabby corner stores. Tompkins Park was for drug-buying and not much else. Now it is a hive of activity, buskers, Fro-yo frequenters, newspaper readers and coffee drinkers. That entire area changed little physically, just the level of activity increased significantly.

Many, many more bicycles than I remember too. Particularly on the few bicycle lanes we have really have concentrated a reliable stream of cyclists downtown. Only more to come with the new network.

I agree with all of this except the Tompkins Park bit. Analog is a boon for sure and it did replace a crappy corner store, but that Shoppers wiped out a bunch of good stuff. To me, 17th btw 5th and 9th has always been good and Tompkins has always had much the same vide. Elsewhere on 17 though, the retail / restaurant holes east of 5th are filling in nicely and the uptick in activity west of 10th has been awesome. It has become an (almost) complete street.

Beltline and Downtown are hugely different than 10 years ago, and almost unrecognizable from 20 years ago. There are still some zones of the CBD that are fairly dead, but that is no different than any other city, including most "world" cities.

[Spring2008]

Some days the core is absolutely packed, feels like a city 2-3 times our size. Was cutting through downtown on fri afternoon before heading out of town last week and the vehicle traffic was very heavy, but pedestrian wise even more so.

Public realms definitely improving, even within the CBD proper, lots of buildings are currently undergoing heavy podium level reno's and new landscaping etc.

Lots of new parks popping up, renovations, new shops and resto's, redevelopments of formerly ugly buildings, and most importantly new towers popping up like mushrooms.

[suburbia]

Public realms definitely improving, even within the CBD proper, lots of buildings are currently undergoing heavy podium level reno's and new landscaping etc.

Is the Bow one of them? It is among the top of the list desperately needing a reno on the podium. What a wasteland!

[Trans Canada]

I think the redevelopment of 7th Street has had a huge impact. 7th has really opened up as a pedestrian zone whereas before it was a place to be avoided.


Does anybody have any hard data for increased action downtown? I find it hard to believe that downtown is more active today than when things were really booming pre-2008. We may have had civic improvements (notably 7th and along the river) but the amount of money flowing around back then was unreal.

[Wooster]

Keep an eye out this year - some exciting stuff coming up, in particular a proposal for long term (substantial) funding for public realm improvements. I'm working hard on that right now. Think the transformation of 7th Ave, East Village or 13th Ave, but all over the core.

In 15 yrs, downtown/beltline will be even more different than they are now from 15 yrs ago.

[*Stardust*]

Keep an eye out this year - some exciting stuff coming up, in particular a proposal for long term (substantial) funding for public realm improvements. I'm working hard on that right now. Think the transformation of 7th Ave, East Village or 13th Ave, but all over the core.

In 15 yrs, downtown/beltline will be even more different than they are now from 15 yrs ago.

Go on....

[MasterG]

Keep an eye out this year - some exciting stuff coming up, in particular a proposal for long term (substantial) funding for public realm improvements. I'm working hard on that right now. Think the transformation of 7th Ave, East Village or 13th Ave, but all over the core.

In 15 yrs, downtown/beltline will be even more different than they are now from 15 yrs ago.

and the very-near future 8th Street project no? thats one of my favourites

[Surrealplaces]

Centre 10 Used to be a strip mall with a parking lot. Does anyone remember what used to be where Opus 8 now sits?

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5160/14216937987_413a6da7c5_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/nEiwmt)
Glass and Steel (https://flic.kr/p/nEiwmt) by Surrealplaces (https://www.flickr.com/people//), on Flickr

[Jimby]

^ a parking lot?

[DizzyEdge]

Yep parking lot in 2005

[Spring2008]

Keep an eye out this year - some exciting stuff coming up, in particular a proposal for long term (substantial) funding for public realm improvements. I'm working hard on that right now. Think the transformation of 7th Ave, East Village or 13th Ave, but all over the core.

In 15 yrs, downtown/beltline will be even more different than they are now from 15 yrs ago.

That's what I'm talking 'bout!

I was thinking even if they took a few % points of the total property taxes of office towers in the core, and dedicated that to public realm and infrastructure projects in the city centre, how far that'd would go here!

[Spring2008]

Transforming Calgary’s downtown

Many businesses and individuals involved in drastic change

By Mario Toneguzzi, Calgary Herald June 12, 2014 7:29 AM

CALGARY - It’s that time of the year again.

The sun is out. The temperatures are warming up.

Time to make my annual pilgrimmage to downtown Calgary.

Of course, I do spend a lot of time in the heart of the city throughout the year - even during those frosty days when it would be easy to stay away from there.

But the improving weather conditions tend to draw me like a magnet to the downtown core each year - simply to hang out.

It wasn’t always that way.

When I first came to Calgary in October 1980, the downtown jungle was a mess with cranes all over the place. And the core of the downtown - Stephen Avenue - wasn’t the most appealing place to be back then.

Not very clean. Some crime-related issues. Not much for entertainment and food.

About the only reason I was down there was because the old Herald building was a stone’s throw away from Stephen Avenue and the Unicorn pub was a popular hangout.

After regular work hours, the downtown then was a pretty barren place.

But the times have changed.

Now, whether it’s morning, day or evening, Stephen Avenue is a hopping place.

And it’s getting more attractive each year with new restaurants, bars and retailers.

For me, it’s also just a great place to spend an hour or two with a coffee and watch the sights.

I was reminded of that recently when the Calgary Downtown Association announced its annual Downtown Vitality Awards. The awards are given annually to businesses and organizations in recognition of significant achievements in enhancing the vitality of downtown Calgary.

The recipients, the CDA says, help to meet the organization’s mission to champion a vital, prosperous, attractive and livable downtown community for everyone to enjoy.

“Each year, the CDA recognizes individuals, teams and corporations who go the extra mile in terms of making our downtown a better place for our ratepayers, their employees, citizens of Calgary, and visitors to our beautiful city,” says Scott Bey, chair of the CDA. “We look to acknowledge those whose actions align with the visions of the CDA of vibrancy through safety, cleanliness, beauty and excitement.”

For me, Stephen Avenue personifies those qualities.

But if you venture beyond that popular stretch of downtown real estate you will find those elements in numerous other places.

The list of CDA winners include: public safety, Calgary Police Service; public safety and disaster management, fire chief Bruce Burrell; public safety through construction management, Ellis Don and Brookfield Office Properties; community integration and vibrancy, the Calgary Drop-In and Rehab Centre; community integration and vibrancy, Caffe Artigiano; community integration and vibrancy, Beakerhead, community integration and vibrancy, City Palate Really, Really Long Table Dinner; community integration and vibrancy, Food Recovery Task Force - Calgary Chamber and Calgary Economic Development; streetscape improvements, Centre City Implementation Team; enhancing the downtown through public art, City of Calgary Public Art Program; and enhancing the downtown through public art, Encana Leasehold Limited Partnership.

Transformation is not an easy or simple thing to do. For that reason, we should applaud all those businesses and groups - and the people associated with them - for leading the charge last year and for many previous years in helping transform downtown Calgary into the destination place it is today.

Don’t forget to give credit as well to the downtown association which has spearheaded much of that change as well.

If you haven’t visited downtown Calgary in a few years, you will be pleasantly surprised.

I am each and every time I decide to head down there these days.

http://www.calgaryherald.com/life/Transforming+Calgary+downtown/9931773/story.html

[Wooster]

That's what I'm talking 'bout!

I was thinking even if they took a few % points of the total property taxes of office towers in the core, and dedicated that to public realm and infrastructure projects in the city centre, how far that'd would go here!

The overall idea at this point is a small slice of revenue from sources derived from within Centre City. There is $6 million in annual funding coming from general Transportation capital budgets, the other primary sources could be things like future parking revenue (from the parkades soon to be built by CPA), as well as a small % of property tax from a future increment. Developers will continue to contribute primarily through the density bonus regime.

[Calgarian]

Apparently Druh Farrel is worried that crime and social disorder downtown are regressing a bit. I personally have noticed there are more sketchy people than before, but I haven't seen any more drug dealing or disorder than before...
http://metronews.ca/news/calgary/1063309/downtown-calgary-sliding-back-toward-social-disorder-of-the-mid-2000s-farrell-worries/

[Ramsayfarian]

Apparently Druh Farrel is worried that crime and social disorder downtown are regressing a bit. I personally have noticed there are more sketchy people than before, but I haven't seen any more drug dealing or disorder than before...
http://metronews.ca/news/calgary/1063309/downtown-calgary-sliding-back-toward-social-disorder-of-the-mid-2000s-farrell-worries/

Thought this was interesting:
"Farrell said the city saw great success with its 2006 “Clean to the Core” campaign to improve downtown safety, but new steps may be needed to address the current situation, once “we understand what the causes are.”"

Who wants to make a bet that the cause will be the DIC and the Sally Ann?
Call me a conspiracy nut, but I think this is just another step in getting the DIC out of the Core.

[onanewday]

I first started working in downtown in 1986 as a summer student at the Calgary Tower. The view from the top has changed quite dramatically from that time. No Bow. No Eighth Avenue Place. No Bankers Hall even.

And I used to work downtown at night. Downtown was a fairly quiet place compared to now. Stephen Avenue still hadn't found its groove. We just got the Performing Arts Centre the Year Before.

There was no Vertigo Theatre or Theatre Junction - in the locations they were at.

The change in the number of restaurants downtown has been literally been staggering. We didn't have that many options as we do now.

There are two other things that I can think of that were different. Parking after hours and movie theaters.

There were movie theaters under the Tower (where Vertigo now is), in Fifth Avenue Place, where Theater Junction now is. The Grand was great as a movie theater. Uptown was open, as was a theater where Flames Central now is. So downtown was the place to go for a movie. And on $2.50 Tuesdays.... busy.

Also street parking was much different. You could get it. Now it doesn't matter when the street are packed every which direction.

One thing that change the downtown was the addition of the Olympic Plaza and downtown was crazy during the games themselves. Also we didn't have the great paths along the river like there are now. The River Walk is at a level where there used to be a asphalt strip.

[Ramsayfarian]

Centre 10 Used to be a strip mall with a parking lot. Does anyone remember what used to be where Opus 8 now sits?




I think it was an empty lot, but I have this vague memory of something being torn down. Just checked street view and it only goes back to 2007 and Opus 8 was already under construction.


I'll riddle you this: What was the name of the lounge where Centre 10 is now?


Downtown has improved greatly since I've moved here in 1992. I can't remember the last time I've been asked if I wanted to score whilst on Stephen Ave Mall, but that might because I look like a cop now and I'm also considerably older.

[Jimby]

I think it was an empty lot, but I have this vague memory of something being torn down. Just checked street view and it only goes back to 2007 and Opus 8 was already under construction.


I'll riddle you this: What was the name of the lounge where Centre 10 is now?


Downtown has improved greatly since I've moved here in 1992. I can't remember the last time I've been asked if I wanted to score whilst on Stephen Ave Mall, but that might because I look like a cop now and I'm also considerably older.

Honey's Pizza?

[Calgarian]

Thought this was interesting:
"Farrell said the city saw great success with its 2006 “Clean to the Core” campaign to improve downtown safety, but new steps may be needed to address the current situation, once “we understand what the causes are.”"

Who wants to make a bet that the cause will be the DIC and the Sally Ann?
Call me a conspiracy nut, but I think this is just another step in getting the DIC out of the Core.

I think a very telling part was where she said. “Even just outside the front of city hall, it’s a constant state,” she said. “There’s a lot of Listerine being consumed.”

[Spring2008]

I like these articles Richard puts together:

Downtown cores: Denver vs. Calgary

Despite our smaller population, we’re the match of the Colorado capital

By Richard White, Calgary Herald June 12, 2014


Like Calgary, Denver has 2 waterways lined with parks and condos.

A recent visit to Denver reminded me of how similar, yet different, its downtown is to Calgary’s.

Downtown Denver is divided into 10 districts encompassing an area of about eight square kilometres. This would be the equivalent in Calgary of the downtown, Downtown West, the East Village, Beltline, Sunalta, Hillhurst, Sunnyside, Bridgeland and Inglewood.

Denver vs. Calgary at a glance

While Calgary’s central business district has twice as much office space and significantly better shopping (Denver has nothing to match our Hudson’s Bay, The Core or Holt Renfrew), Denver offers more museums, a baseball park and a huge convention centre. Both cities have two waterways lined with parks, pathways and condos — Denver has the South Platte River and Cherry Creek while Calgary has the Bow and Elbow rivers. While downtown Denver focuses on professional sports facilities, Calgary’s downtown forte is its recreational centres. Denver boasts its Elitch Gardens (a summer midway fairground and botanical garden) while Calgary has Stampede Park and the Zoo. Denver’s spanking new Union Station is the hub for an extensive regional transit system while Calgary’s 7th Avenue serves as its transit hub.

From a public space perspective, Denver has 69 hectares of parks (Civic Centre Park, Confluence Park, Commons Park and Centennial Gardens), but Calgary can go toe-to-toe with its 68 hectares, including Olympic Plaza, Prince’s Island, Memorial Park, Shaw Millennium Park, Fort Calgary Park, Eau Claire River Promenade and East Village River Walk.

From a contemporary architectural design perspective, Denver’s modern gems are the Denver Art Museum (architect, Daniel Libeskind) and Public Library (architect Michael Graves). Calgary easily matches that with The Bow (architect, Norman Foster), the Peace Bridge (architect, Santiago Calatrava) and Eighth Avenue Place (architect Pickard Chilton) and Hotel Le Germain (architect, LEMAYMICHAUD).

Tale of Two Malls

From an urban design perspective, both cities’ downtowns are dominated by pedestrian malls, which serve as their urban backbone, linking their respective neighbourhoods, attractions and amenities. The creation of downtown pedestrian malls was all the rage in the 1970s and ’80s. However, most have not succeeded in revitalizing their downtown as a shopping and dining destination, especially in large cities. Most of the North American pedestrian malls have been abandoned while others have added some car or transit traffic.

Calgary’s Stephen Avenue Walk and Denver’s 16th Street Mall are two of the more successful, large city pedestrian malls in North America. Denver’s 16th Street Mall is 16 blocks long, running from its Civic Center district through its Central Business District (CBE), LOGO and terminating at Union Station and the South Platte River. Technically, the 16th Street Mall is no longer a ‘pedestrian mall,’ as it now has a free shuttle bus (the equivalent to Calgary’s free fare LRT zone) that runs back and forth every five minutes, relegating pedestrians to sidewalks. While the 16th Street Mall links several districts, most of the major attractions are several blocks off the mall, including the Library, Art Museum, Convention Center, Performing Arts Center, Children’s Museum and Aquarium.

While Calgary’s Stephen Avenue Walk (also not a true pedestrian mall because it has traffic on it at night) is only six blocks long, however it connects pedestrians to the front door of an amazing number of its downtown activities and attractions such as City Hall, Olympic Plaza, Performing Arts Centre, Glenbow Museum, Convention Centre, historic district, Devonian Gardens and the Financial and Fashion districts.

After visiting the 16th Street Mall, I think it might it be time to consider extending Stephen Avenue to 11th Street SW, making it 12 blocks long. In doing so, it would provide a pedestrian-friendly link from the thousands of new condos planned for downtown’s West End, as well as to Shaw Millennium Park and the potential new contemporary public art gallery (at the old Science Centre) to the downtown and the downtown’s burgeoning East End. An expanded and redesigned Stephen Avenue could also accommodate cycling. The days of restricting urban streets to just one mode of transportation are gone. Good urban design evolves with changes in urban living. Today, the focus for creating vibrant urban places is on creating good pedestrian, transit, cycling and vehicular access.

Downtown Living

Denver has made significant residential development gains during the past 15 years, especially along the South Platte River and in LOGO. Currently, 66,000 residents live in their 10 downtown districts, with another 7,000 condo units under construction or planned. A similar comparison of the 10 communities surrounding Calgary’s downtown adds up to 65,000 residents. Recently, Altus Group (Calgary Herald, May 15, 2014) estimated there are 12,447 residential units proposed, in pre-construction and construction stages in our City Centre, and this doesn’t include those communities north of the Bow River or east of the Elbow.

Most of Denver’s new condo developments are mid-rise (10 to 15 storeys) compared to Calgary’s multiple 20-plus storey condos. Denver’s LODO (lower downtown) district is the equivalent of Calgary’s Beltline. Both are vibrant hipster and yuppie hangouts with diverse restaurants, pubs and clubs next to their respective central business districts. Twenty years ago, LODO was just a vision — today it is a lively urban village. This augurs well for Calgary’s East Village.

What downtown Calgary has that Denver lacks are the mixed condo/single-family residential villages next to its downtown — Hillhurst, Sunnyside, Bridgeland and Inglewood. There is nothing in downtown Denver that matches the street life of Kensington, 17th Avenue or 9th Avenue S.E. in Inglewood.

Last Word

Calgary’s greater downtown offers an amazing diversity of urban living options, from highrise to mid-rise, from townhouse to single-family and from riverside to parkside. Few cities in North America under two million people can match the diversity of urban living options Calgary has in its downtown neighbourhoods. The fact Calgary can go toe-to-toe with Denver’s downtown is significant given metro Denver has not only three times the population, but a downtown considered by urban planners to be one of the healthiest in North America. Calgarians (citizens, politicians, architects and developers) should be proud of the downtown we have created. While there is always room for improvement and we can’t be the best at everything, what we have accomplished for a city of just more than one million people is significant. There’s no need to apologize to anyone.

Downtown Denver is thriving with 26 new projects completed in 2013, totalling 2.2-million square feet (residential and commercial) and valued at $1.8 billion in private and public sector investment. Since 2008, 78 projects have been completed, are under construction or planned, totalling more than $5 billion.

From January 2013 to May 2014, the total value of building permits for Calgary’s downtown was $1.2 billion. Since 2008, Downtown Calgary boasts 100-plus projects completed, under construction or proposed since 2008, including more than seven million square feet of office space alone.

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/Downtown+cores+Denver+Calgary/9933857/story.html

[Calgarian]

I was about to post that article lol.

I like the suggestion that we should expand Stephen Ave too, though I think there are a few buildings whose parkade exit onto 8th, so that would be a tough hurdle to overcome. Would love to visit Denver one day, everything I've heard about it suggests its a great city.

[DizzyEdge]

A few comments:

1) LODO isn't really anything like the beltline, LODO is Denver's old warehouse district, so it's a mix of repurposed historic industrial buildings and new fat but not too tall buildings in a semi historicist style, the area is chock full of pubs and restaurants and is around 6 x 6 blocks of that.

LODO https://maps.google.com/maps?q=LoDo,+Denver,+CO,+United+States&hl=en&ll=39.750961,-105.002125&spn=0.001904,0.002642&sll=39.749714,-104.995608&sspn=0.010707,0.021136&oq=lodo,+&t=h&hnear=LoDo,+Denver,+Denver+County,+Colorado&z=19&layer=c&cbll=39.750961,-105.002125&panoid=QUh3TivuM3MkH50lP0MQtA&cbp=12,141.23,,0,-8.59

2) Although their mall is 16 blocks long compared to our 6, their blocks are configured such that it's the short edges of blocks rather than our long edges, so 850m vs 2.1 km

3) Although it has buses on the mall, they're quiet electric buses (or hybrid?) and they only take up one lane each side so in much of the area the middle lanes are tables and chairs and such https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Bassett+Cir&daddr=Cleveland+Pl&hl=en&ll=39.747223,-104.994793&spn=0.021415,0.042272&sll=39.742603,-104.987304&sspn=0.005354,0.010568&geocode=FQqcXgIdJsK9-Q%3BFaBpXgIdigO--Q&t=h&dirflg=w&mra=ltm&z=15&layer=c&cbll=39.747307,-104.994915&panoid=xZ_HsiC6ZKuP3_T9BZXhcA&cbp=12,315.41,,0,-0.91

[Surrealplaces]

http://www.calgaryherald.com/life/Transforming+Calgary+downtown/9931773/story.html

Really good article that is very much spot on.

[Surrealplaces]

I was about to post that article lol.

I like the suggestion that we should expand Stephen Ave too, though I think there are a few buildings whose parkade exit onto 8th, so that would be a tough hurdle to overcome. Would love to visit Denver one day, everything I've heard about it suggests its a great city.

It can go another block west without affecting any parkades. the first parkade entrance is off of the Holt Renfrew building.

[H.E.Pennypacker]

I was about to post that article lol.

I like the suggestion that we should expand Stephen Ave too, though I think there are a few buildings whose parkade exit onto 8th, so that would be a tough hurdle to overcome. Would love to visit Denver one day, everything I've heard about it suggests its a great city.

If the Municipal Building is reno'd like we've heard it is planned to be to connect Stephen Ave to The Riff in the East Village then that would be a start

It would be awesome to have a connection from Stephen Ave to the eventual West Village redevelopment in the long term

[DoubleK]

If the Municipal Building is reno'd like we've heard it is planned to be to connect Stephen Ave to The Riff in the East Village then that would be a start

It would be awesome to have a connection from Stephen Ave to the eventual West Village redevelopment in the long term

I think that would be a nice to have, but would be concerned that businesses would migrate towards the east side due to the proximity to new residential.

[MasterG]

I think that would be a nice to have, but would be concerned that businesses would migrate towards the east side due to the proximity to new residential.

The entire inner city could benefit from the upgrade of stephen all the way to 11th Street W. It is the only hope that the downtown core has of a nice, pedestrian friendly street. I hope they tack on some upgrades to the realm to improve things while they sort out the cycletrack upgrades. It might not have to be completely like the more popular eastern section of Stephen, but they could widen sidewalks, add the cycling space and tighter up lanes + add planters, better lighting etc. There couldn't be any impact on auto traffic, the road is a ghost town for cars every day.

[Spring2008]

If the Municipal Building is reno'd like we've heard it is planned to be to connect Stephen Ave to The Riff in the East Village then that would be a start

It would be awesome to have a connection from Stephen Ave to the eventual West Village redevelopment in the long term

Yeah definitely. There's a good amount of new retail west of the tree sculptures to 8th street, hopefully some more of the office space is converted to retail podium use. The new cidex mixed-use along 11street will help that western portion too. And connecting to the Riff is a no-brainer!

[DizzyEdge]

It can go another block west without affecting any parkades. the first parkade entrance is off of the Holt Renfrew building.

I think the main problem is the sort of walkable small retail that existed on the west end of stephen ave has mostly been replaced with office towers over the years.That said there's a lot of opportunity to do things right west of 8th st.
That leaves 3rd st - 8th street.

3rd - 4th has 1 bank, 1 office building, and a blank wall
4th - 5th has a restaurant, holt renfrew, whatever is at the base of 8th ave place, another office tower, 2 parking entrances
5th - 6th some shops in the middle, office or parking at each end (Baron/Uptown plan is to remove all ground floor retail as far as a know)
6th - 7th hotel, offices, and parking
7th - 8th a few shops, mostly office and parking, and the park

So I guess is it worth making 3rd -8th pedestrian only during the day, or would the existing sidewalks be plenty for the amount of ped traffic.?

I'm totally supportive of rules that stipulate
a) redevelopment shouldn't have driveways on the avenue
b) redevelopment must have ground floor retail/services

With that 8th st - 11 st could become worthy of the Stephen Ave moniker in the next couple of decades, 3rd - 8th probably 30-50 years.

[Surrealplaces]

I like the idea of Stephen ave continuing through City Hall to the Riff, and I think it's quite feasible. The City would lose some office space, but it would be a huge win for the downtown and the development of the core in general. I'd be happy with a tunnel through city hall that was the width of Stephen Ave, and at least three floors high.

If the Municipal Building is reno'd like we've heard it is planned to be to connect Stephen Ave to The Riff in the East Village then that would be a start

It would be awesome to have a connection from Stephen Ave to the eventual West Village redevelopment in the long term

I think that would be a nice to have, but would be concerned that businesses would migrate towards the east side due to the proximity to new residential.

[Policy Wonk]

Apparently Druh Farrel is worried that crime and social disorder downtown are regressing a bit. I personally have noticed there are more sketchy people than before, but I haven't seen any more drug dealing or disorder than before...

Things seem to have been worse since the flood, or at least it shifted the lowlifes around a bit. Kensington also seems to have a bumper crop of dirtbag punk kids this year.

[DarthMalgus]

Great Richard White article, but how does he figure Denver is 3x bigger than Calgary? Last I looked Denver didn't have 4.2 million people...

[Chadillaccc]

Denver's metro estimate for 2012 was 2 900 000, just over 2x the size of metro Calgary.

[Calgarian]

Denver's metro estimate for 2012 was 2 900 000, just over 2x the size of metro Calgary.

In an area that covers 21 000km2

[Calgarian]

Things seem to have been worse since the flood, or at least it shifted the lowlifes around a bit. Kensington also seems to have a bumper crop of dirtbag punk kids this year.

I'm not sure what it is, just seem to be more sketchy people around this year. I don't know what effect the flood would have had though. I was going to suggest it's due to the work in the East Village, but that's been going on for a few years now, so the change should have happened then, not now.

[Spring2008]

In an area that covers 21 000km2

Yeah true, vs. 5,000 sq km for Calgary's metro area. Funny how that works.

[Chadillaccc]

That's just how the majority of American metros calculate their areas. We should never try to emulate such a thing. Our metro will be big enough once Okotoks and Foothills are included, I estimate about 7000 km2? Still well below the size of Edmonton's though.

[MasterG]

I'm not sure what it is, just seem to be more sketchy people around this year. I don't know what effect the flood would have had though. I was going to suggest it's due to the work in the East Village, but that's been going on for a few years now, so the change should have happened then, not now.

More people around in general it seems. I have noticed a bump in sketchy behaviour but it's hard to say if it is more than usual, shifted around a bit or just a function of the overall busyness increasing which is noticeable as well.

Hell, I got caught in a bicycle traffic jam last week on 11th Street of about 20 cyclists all at once. Definite bump in bicycle numbers over last summer.

[MasterG]

Something related, highlights some changing trends in the inner city. This is the counts of cyclists using 10th Street NW. Many (or most) end up cutting onto 9A Street and over to the LRT Bridge / Peace Bridge too.

https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/t1.0-9/10361404_507007542762938_7793579505910484638_n.jpg

[Calgarian]

That's just how the majority of American metros calculate their areas. We should never try to emulate such a thing. Our metro will be big enough once Okotoks and Foothills are included, I estimate about 7000 km2? Still well below the size of Edmonton's though.

Yup, no need to include Banff and Gleichen, Olds and Claresholm in the Calgary Metro.

[Calgarian]

More people around in general it seems. I have noticed a bump in sketchy behaviour but it's hard to say if it is more than usual, shifted around a bit or just a function of the overall busyness increasing which is noticeable as well.

Hell, I got caught in a bicycle traffic jam last week on 11th Street of about 20 cyclists all at once. Definite bump in bicycle numbers over last summer.

I've been going down 11St in order to hop on the LRT in the mornings and have been very surprised at the number of cyclists using that street. The anti cyclist people must have blinders on when they drive through the core.

[Chadillaccc]

Yup, no need to include Banff and Gleichen, Olds and Claresholm in the Calgary Metro.

:haha: I certainly wouldn't mind including Banff and Canmore ;) But of course that would be almost as ridiculous as having a metro area the size of El Salvador, such as Denver.

[MasterG]

I've been going down 11St in order to hop on the LRT in the mornings and have been very surprised at the number of cyclists using that street. The anti cyclist people must have blinders on when they drive through the core.

Ah then you must be one of the hundred pedestrians that pile up waiting painfully long to cross 9th Ave in the morning :P

Above all, 11th Street can use some love. 8th Street is busier and deserves the upgrade slated for it; but all I am asking for is repaving the bumps over the CPR tracks and a sidewalk worthy of such traffic.

I'd die happy if they gave 11th Street the light cycle priority that it and the Beltline deserves. What would all that cost to fix? 100K? They could probably do it in a weekend.

http://makecalgary.com/?p=13597

[MasterG]

I've been going down 11St in order to hop on the LRT in the mornings and have been very surprised at the number of cyclists using that street. The anti cyclist people must have blinders on when they drive through the core.

And they do have blinders on... I can't tell you how many times I have almost been right-hooked by a car cutting through the bike lane to a street or alley. Yikes, separated facilities can't come soon enough.

[tomthumb2]

I'd love to live long enough to see the following happen in downtown Calgary:
1) stadium and arena "entertainment complex"
2) underground LRT!
3) super tall building (70+ stories)

[Chadillaccc]

For me, I'd like to live to see the Downtown + Beltline/Mission combined population exceed 150 000. Though, I guess it would be best for us to pass 50 000 first :P We're currently around 40 000.

[Calgarian]

Ah then you must be one of the hundred pedestrians that pile up waiting painfully long to cross 9th Ave in the morning :P

Above all, 11th Street can use some love. 8th Street is busier and deserves the upgrade slated for it; but all I am asking for is repaving the bumps over the CPR tracks and a sidewalk worthy of such traffic.

I'd die happy if they gave 11th Street the light cycle priority that it and the Beltline deserves. What would all that cost to fix? 100K? They could probably do it in a weekend.

http://makecalgary.com/?p=13597

I stand there for a few minutes every morning, probably wait about 5 for the light at 9th and then get 30 seconds to cross lol. I don't really think it's that big of a deal though, there are a massive amount of cars using 9th as a way into downtown, sufficient that when they do finally build an underpass there I think it will cut under 9th as well as the train tracks.

[MasterG]

I stand there for a few minutes every morning, probably wait about 5 for the light at 9th and then get 30 seconds to cross lol. I don't really think it's that big of a deal though, there are a massive amount of cars using 9th as a way into downtown, sufficient that when they do finally build an underpass there I think it will cut under 9th as well as the train tracks.

I am all for a 2 minute cycle vs. 30 seconds. but the current 4 or 5 minute vs. 30 seconds is a bit onerous. It really does take 10 minutes to walk three blocks some days. That unacceptably penalizes locals over the commuter flow IMO but I know what you mean, 9th Ave is a very busy route.

[MichaelS]

I am all for a 2 minute cycle vs. 30 seconds. but the current 4 or 5 minute vs. 30 seconds is a bit onerous. It really does take 10 minutes to walk three blocks some days. That unacceptably penalizes locals over the commuter flow IMO but I know what you mean, 9th Ave is a very busy route.

Would a +15 be built between the Stampede Pontiac towers and the future WAM development on the south side of 9th?

[Chadillaccc]

Anyone think we will add 10 000 new people to the core (Downtown [CBD, Eau Claire, West Village, East Village, Chinatown], Beltline, and Mission) by the time this boom ends (let's say around 2020) ?

[MasterG]

Would a +15 be built between the Stampede Pontiac towers and the future WAM development on the south side of 9th?

I would rather see the leveraging of the new WLRT and NW LRT continue to take commuter share from that direction (as a majority already use these two routes during rush-hour to enter the core) and reduce the need for such a wide high-speed free-flow road in the area. Also re-configuring the 14th / Bow Trail / West Village area would break up and change traffic patterns significantly so the perceived need to have 5 uninterrupted mins of 5 lanes of East-bound 9th Ave traffic is no longer required.

If you can get to a 4-lane, 2 minute vs. 30 sec configuration during all times of the day that will be an ideal compromise over the very one-sided auto commuter vs. everyone else differential right now.

[Calgarian]

As I alluded to earlier, the only reasonable solution at 9Ave and 11St SW is to build an underpass. I think it's absolutely that we still have an at grade freight train crossing in the downtown of a major city in 2014. Anyone know the timeline for this? I assume it's a long way off...

[DoubleK]

I think it's absolutely that we still have an at grade freight train crossing in the downtown of a major city in 2014. Anyone know the timeline for this? I assume it's a long way off...

Who would pay for that? Better not be my tax dollars.

[MasterG]

As I alluded to earlier, the only reasonable solution at 9Ave and 11St SW is to build an underpass. I think it's absolutely that we still have an at grade freight train crossing in the downtown of a major city in 2014. Anyone know the timeline for this? I assume it's a long way off...

You're right, that is the only solution that would fix the whole mess. An underpass in all inner city streets should have been done decades ago. This should be a serious priority.

In the meantime though, while we wait for 50 million dollars, a few tweaks to the sidewalks and changing the light timing can be done for very little funding and add to a very much improved experience for pedestrians and N-S Beltliners who are bearing the brunt by sacrificing their mobility disproportionately compared to suburban auto-commuters.

[Calgarian]

Who would pay for that? Better not be my tax dollars.

Is this a serious post? of course tax dollars would pay for it, it's city infrastructure afterall. CP might pitch in some money, not sure though. I imagine the framework will be the same for the 4St SE underpass.

[McMurph]

As I alluded to earlier, the only reasonable solution at 9Ave and 11St SW is to build an underpass. I think it's absolutely that we still have an at grade freight train crossing in the downtown of a major city in 2014. Anyone know the timeline for this? I assume it's a long way off...

Or you could make all of downtown an at-grade, uncontrolled crossing like Embarcadero near Jack London Square in Oakland. That's a modern take on the "fire a cannonball down the street and not hit anyone" type of place.

Thankfully Calgary has a bit more going on than Oakland, but in all honesty I'm not sure all CPR crossings downtown have to be grade separated. I'd rather have a couple more punched through at grade than to put all the available money into sinking 11th below grade. For pedestrians and cyclists in particular more at grade crossings would be a whole lot more useful than a single separation at 11th.

[MasterG]

Or you could make all of downtown an at-grade, uncontrolled crossing like Embarcadero near Jack London Square in Oakland. That's a modern take on the "fire a cannonball down the street and not hit anyone" type of place.

Thankfully Calgary has a bit more going on than Oakland, but in all honesty I'm not sure all CPR crossings downtown have to be grade separated. I'd rather have a couple more punched through at grade than to put all the available money into sinking 11th below grade. For pedestrians and cyclists in particular more at grade crossings would be a whole lot more useful than a single separation at 11th.

This. I do think 11th can warrant a underpass given the traffic levels. But I am with you: I want to see as many at grade-ped/cyclist connections through the CPR tracks as possible. They cost next to nothing and would dramatically improve Beltline Access to DT.

I believe the kink in this plan is CPR occasionally likes to park trains between 11th Street and Inglewood, which would reduce level crossing effectiveness to zero. And the city usually has their hands up in the air because they have little pull on CPR to do anything with it being regulated federally.

There should be paths connecting 7th and 6th Street in particular.

That's a frustrating reality. There are solutions that can vastly improve the well-being and access of inner city residents that cost almost nothing but can't get them through because of one reason or another. Moving a few CPR parking spots is hardly a big ask unless there is some other reason I am not aware of.

[Calgarian]

Or you could make all of downtown an at-grade, uncontrolled crossing like Embarcadero near Jack London Square in Oakland. That's a modern take on the "fire a cannonball down the street and not hit anyone" type of place.

Thankfully Calgary has a bit more going on than Oakland, but in all honesty I'm not sure all CPR crossings downtown have to be grade separated. I'd rather have a couple more punched through at grade than to put all the available money into sinking 11th below grade. For pedestrians and cyclists in particular more at grade crossings would be a whole lot more useful than a single separation at 11th.

You realize 11th is the only at grade crossing left downtown right? Try telling anyone who has to wait for a 100 car freight train to pass by in rush hour that we don't need to go under the tracks.

While it would be nicer to keep the crossings at grade from a pedestrian perspective, I don't think it's realistic. The absolute best solution would be the relocation of the CPR line through downtown, but I very seriously doubt that will happen in my lifetime.

Edit. If you are talking about adding a couple pedestrian crossings at grade, there is nothing wrong with that as long as the trains don't block the crossing as MasterG alluded to.

[Full Mountain]

This. I do think 11th can warrant a underpass given the traffic levels. But I am with you: I want to see as many at grade-ped/cyclist connections through the CPR tracks as possible. They cost next to nothing and would dramatically improve Beltline Access to DT.

I believe the kink in this plan is CPR occasionally likes to park trains between 11th Street and Inglewood, which would reduce level crossing effectiveness to zero. And the city usually has their hands up in the air because they have little pull on CPR to do anything with it being regulated federally.

There should be paths connecting 7th and 6th Street in particular.

That's a frustrating reality. There are solutions that can vastly improve the well-being and access of inner city residents that cost almost nothing but can't get them through because of one reason or another. Moving a few CPR parking spots is hardly a big ask unless there is some other reason I am not aware of.

You realize 11th is the only at grade crossing left downtown right? Try telling anyone who has to wait for a 100 car freight train to pass by in rush hour that we don't need to go under the tracks.

While it would be nicer to keep the crossings at grade from a pedestrian perspective, I don't think it's realistic. The absolute best solution would be the relocation of the CPR line through downtown, but I very seriously doubt that will happen in my lifetime.

Edit. If you are talking about adding a couple pedestrian crossings at grade, there is nothing wrong with that as long as the trains don't block the crossing as MasterG alluded to.

They don't seem to park them there as much as they did prior to the new siding in Manchester. That said it's likely they would park them there just to spite the city if the city managed to get them to agree to a crossing. Also at grade crossings are a safety and security concern, especially where you have parked or slow moving trains.

As to moving the tracks, we have built our downtown in the perfect spot for trains, a relatively flat wide river valley without dramatic grades, finding a similar route that avoids downtown would be challenging at best and prohibitively expensive at worst if you could even find one. A third factor is the location of the inter-modal yard (SE Industrial 52 st & 114 ave) and the Alyth yards any other route than the current one would add dramatic costs to CP's operations.

[Surrealplaces]

Edit. If you are talking about adding a couple pedestrian crossings at grade, there is nothing wrong with that as long as the trains don't block the crossing as MasterG alluded to.

I would be happy with seeing a couple more at grade crossings being added. Keep the existing underground crossings, but add a couple more at grade crossings.

[MasterG]

They don't seem to park them there as much as they did prior to the new siding in Manchester. That said it's likely they would park them there just to spite the city if the city managed to get them to agree to a crossing. Also at grade crossings are a safety and security concern, especially where you have parked or slow moving trains.

As to moving the tracks, we have built our downtown in the perfect spot for trains, a relatively flat wide river valley without dramatic grades, finding a similar route that avoids downtown would be challenging at best and prohibitively expensive at worst if you could even find one. A third factor is the location of the inter-modal yard (SE Industrial 52 st & 114 ave) and the Alyth yards any other route than the current one would add dramatic costs to CP's operations.

It's stupid we can't move a train. Every inner city intersection that isn't already obstructed by a building could be a pedestrian crossing for a fraction of the cost of 1 underpass.

There is some perception issues with waiting to cross a train track: waiting for a train for 4 or 5 minutes seems like a tough thing to do, while wait 4 or 5 minutes for the light to change is not nearly as an outrage.

This is the reality on 11th Street SW currently. Something about waiting a guaranteed long time is less significant than waiting the same amount of time but sporadically.

[DizzyEdge]

I wish we could simply trench the tracks, and then every north/south street could be an at grade bridge over it.

[Fuzz]

I wish we could simply trench the tracks, and then every north/south street could be an at grade bridge over it.

I think in the distant future that is bound to happen. Until then we are stuck with it.

[MasterG]

I think in the distant future that is bound to happen. Until then we are stuck with it.

I wish we could take small steps easier. Calgary has grown up with the expectation that we shouldn't do anything until we have the money to do it right and the best. This is good and has gotten us a lot of high-quality infrastructure.

Adding a level pedestrian intersection and requiring a train to move should almost no effort or money. It is not as ideal as grade separated but I don't want to wait my entire life to have better access to DT. I am young, but there is no guarantee that I will see that improved access even in my lifetime.

[Spring2008]

White: Here's why you should embrace downtown Calgary's explosive growth

Nearly 12,500 residential unites proposed in downtown and Beltline alone

By Richard White, For the Calgary Herald June 26, 2014 5:09 PM


Downtown’s ever changing skyline. Richard White for the Calgary Herald

Calgary’s urban sprawl is unique in that it’s happening both at the edge of the city as well as all around its downtown.

While much attention is given by city councillors, planners and the media to the ever-increasing number of new suburban communities, the number of new master-planned urban villages close to downtown (under construction or in the design phase) is significant. Perhaps we can coin the phase “downtown sprawl.”

With more than seven million square feet of new downtown office space constructed during the past five years and another five million under construction or in the design phase, Calgary is a leader in downtown growth in North America. Twelve million square feet of office space will accommodate another 40,000 office workers, many of whom will undoubtedly want to live in or close to downtown.

In May, Altus Group reported there are an amazing 12,447 residential units proposed, in pre-construction and construction stages in the downtown and Beltline. This doesn’t include the condos proposed for communities north of the Bow River, east of the Elbow River or any of the new inner city urban villages along or near Crowchild Trail.

Urban Transformation

Calgary’s thriving downtown has literally transformed the Beltline into a parade of show condos; there are new condos being built on almost every other block. During the past decade, the Beltline has evolved into one of North America’s best yuppie communities with great restaurants, cafes, pubs, clubs, two grocery stores and a health food store.

Everyone knows about the incredible transformation underway in East Village, designed to become a new urban village of 10,000 people. There are currently more construction cranes in East Village than in the entire downtown. And, of course there is Bridgeland, where the old General Hospital site is in its final phases of master-planned redevelopment.

Mission is quickly becoming the Mount Royal of condo living with numerous luxury condos along the Elbow River. More recently, the Hillhurst/Sunnyside community is also experiencing the impact of downtown sprawl with several new, mid-rise (under 10 floors) condos recently completed, under construction or in the design phase. New urban-type condos (main floor retail with condos above) are also popping up in Marda Loop, West Hillhurst and Montgomery — with more to come.

But the impact of downtown sprawl doesn’t stop here. There are plans for several new planned urban infill villages — Currie Barracks, Jacques Lodge, West Campus, University City, Stadium Shopping Centre and Westbrook Village. Each of these planned, mixed-use developments has been carefully researched in collaboration with the neighbouring communities and city planners to create “walkable” villages where residents’ everyday needs will be within walking distance.

They will also be well-served by public transit, allowing easy access not only to neighbouring employment centres, but also to downtown. During the next few months, I will be profiling each of these new urban villages.

Inner-City Makeover

In addition to the new urban villages, downtown sprawl is responsible for the incredible demand for inner-city, single-family infill housing. During the past five years, inner-city communities from Altadore to Tuxedo and from Inglewood to Spruce Cliff have become a parade of infill show homes. From 2008 to 2013, 3,345 new infill homes (excluding condos and apartments) were built in Calgary’s inner city communities. At three people per home, that is the equivalent of building an entire new community for 10,000 people. Most new communities take 10 to 15 years to build out (such as Aspen Woods), yet we have, in effect, built a new inner-city community in just five years. The value of these new homes is estimated at $1 billion, equivalent to the value of one major office tower the size of Eighth Avenue Place or The Bow. These homeowners will pay $15-million in property taxes per year, about five times what was being paid by the small cottage homes they replaced.

New infill homes mean new families moving into the inner city, a very healthy evolution as young families bring new energy to schools, parks, playgrounds, recreation centres and local retailers. Even some major businesses are looking beyond the traditional greater downtown boundaries for office space. A good example would be the relocation of Venture Communications last year to the old UMA building at the corner of Memorial Drive and Kensington Road in West Hillhurst. Recently, the Calgary Co-op opened a liquor store next to Venture Communications and rumour has a New York Style cafe opening on the same block. The Memorial Drive/Kensington Road corner (in the early 1900s this area was called Happyland) has the potential to become a micro-hub; there already are several professional offices, a convenience store, two sportswear stores and Pizza Bob’s Classic Pie nearby. Another rumour has Phil & Sebastian and Starbucks looking for a location in the West Hillhurst area, further evidence the influence of downtown’s growth is spreading north and west.

Calgary is unique

While some, including me sometimes, lament the loss of the tiny cottage homes and the independent mom-and-pop shops, and that including me sometimes, the adage rings true — change is the only constant in life. It rings especially true for community development. I liken community development to gardening. Plants grow for a few years, but eventually some die and some need to be split and transplanted. A garden needs constant attention — new planting, weeding, fertilizing, deadheading and pruning. A community, like a garden, is never static — it is growing or it is dying.

During the past year, I have visited numerous cities across North America, including Winnipeg, Hamilton, London, Memphis, Phoenix, Denver, Salt Lake City, Tucson and Portland. All those would love to have the downtown sprawl Calgary has. Instead of complaining, we should consider ourselves very fortunate and capitalize on the opportunity to make a good city great. Calgary has an incredible opportunity to transform its established communities into vibrant new urban ones, thanks to a thriving downtown.
http://www.calgaryherald.com/homes/White+Here+should+embrace+downtown+Calgary+explosive+growth/9978279/story.html

[Jimby]

Clearly White doesn't know the meaning of sprawl.

[Spring2008]

Definitely a different way to use the term, but I think his description in general is very apt. Urban evolution starting from our massive core and spilling over into every inner-city neighborhood and even some suburbs.

[Chadillaccc]

Yeah, the word may be misused but the message is clear and mostly well though-out. :)

[onanewday]

Yeah, the word may be misused but the message is clear and mostly well though-out. :)

I liked this article. Calgary is seeing quite transformation in the areas around the central core. Sometimes I don't think we always see what is happening right in front of us. But every time I drive through these neighbourhoods, I am amazed at the amount of infill construction.

[Full Mountain]

Clearly White doesn't know the meaning of sprawl.

Here's the definition of sprawl (not specifically urban sprawl):

sprawl (sprôl)
v. sprawled, sprawl·ing, sprawls
1. To sit or lie with the body and limbs spread out awkwardly.
2. To spread out in a straggling or disordered fashion

Source: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/sprawl

The second definition would seem to match his description of the density and vibrancy of the core spreading out.

[onanewday]

Here's the definition of sprawl (not specifically urban sprawl):



The second definition would seem to match his description of the density and vibrancy of the core spreading out.

White does know what urban sprawl is. He was trying out in a different context. I got his intended meaning, but probably not the best usage of words.

[RyLucky]

I'm not sure exactly what you mean by 'where we are at', but here's my read:

Where are we at in 2014? I think Calgary has successfully reversed the trend of urban decay that was worst in the 70's and 80's (though probably extended from the 1950s to the 2000s). Early-century houses, shops, and apartments have made way for mid-century parking lot after parking lot after parking lot. FINALLY, I think the tide has turned and people are investing in even our most dilapidated hoods.

Calgary is not unique in that regard (Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver, and Montreal all had the same issue and all reversed it; Edmonton, some areas of Toronto, Hamilton, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, and two dozen American cities are lagging a bit IMO but are just on the verge of reversing urban decay), but Calgary, I think, is perhaps unique in that it may have jumped a weight-class in the renewal. To compare us to Toronto, Calgary used to feel like the harbourfront (rundown parking lots with a few scattered, sterile office developments), and now certain areas of Calgary feel like Queen Street or Midtown, albeit smaller. In fact, perhaps other cities are becoming less useful as comparators as Calgary's own character develops - one that has increasing focus on our greenspaces, street life, and urban culture.

What's the next step? One of the biggest and most visible changes I've seen lately in North American cities is BIKES. Bike lanes and bikesharing has popped up even towns and small cities I did not expect. Last week I visited Madison WI and was blown away by their bike infrastructure. Wisconsin is one of the coldest states with the most snow! Given the relatively minuscule cost of improving bike infrastructure, it's a no brainer. Another thing that Calgary is doing great at and should continue to do is improving green spaces. The Bow and Elbow are assets that other cities ought to envy. Toronto and Montreal have nothing like it. Let's embrace our parks and improve green streetscape. The last thing that Calgary will have to do in the future, in my opinion, is to be openminded/flexible with zoning and land use. If we can enable privately-developed inner-city lofts for 200k by reducing parking requirements, let's do that, and let's make sure those people have access to other options like cycling and Car2Go. If relaxing a bylaw gets us Festival Hall, "temporary" (actually permanent) curbside bikeracks, and block parties like the one at Lukes Drug Mart, let's relax. Let's plan development that can adapt to include new uses as new industries and technologies arise. Let's give people as much choice as we can - about how they get around, where they live, what they do for entertainment, and where they work. From 2014, the future of Calgary looks very, very bright. :)

[freeweed]

No, I think people are just being too "modern" in their use of the term.

I've seen people describe how Manhattan's density "sprawls" all over the island, and it's a fitting description. Spawl != suburban sprawl, contrary to recent usage.

[Full Mountain]

White does know what urban sprawl is. He was trying out in a different context. I got his intended meaning, but probably not the best usage of words.

True, kinda interesting how he turned what is typically a bad word into something that is desirable for most on the urban end of the scale.

No, I think people are just being too "modern" in their use of the term.

I've seen people describe how Manhattan's density "sprawls" all over the island, and it's a fitting description. Spawl != suburban sprawl, contrary to recent usage.

True, but many words have changed their meanings over the years maybe this is one of those that will change over the next while.

[freeweed]

True, but many words have changed their meanings over the years maybe this is one of those that will change over the next while.

It's less a change in meaning and more of a field-specific usage. Other than Arcade Fire songs, I can't really think of many times outside of SSP that I hear the word "sprawl" to mean anything but the generic sense. People talk about how Banff sprawls across the mountains - I'm pretty sure that doesn't mean SFH is going up with cul-de-sacs everywhere.

This isn't like "organic" where only chemists used the term before, so a re-definition in the common vernacular was easy enough. Sprawl is a word that everyone already knows, and uses.

[Full Mountain]

It's less a change in meaning and more of a field-specific usage. Other than Arcade Fire songs, I can't really think of many times outside of SSP that I hear the word "sprawl" to mean anything but the generic sense. People talk about how Banff sprawls across the mountains - I'm pretty sure that doesn't mean SFH is going up with cul-de-sacs everywhere.

This isn't like "organic" where only chemists used the term before, so a re-definition in the common vernacular was easy enough. Sprawl is a word that everyone already knows, and uses.

By generic do you mean urban growth into previously undeveloped areas?

[Spring2008]

Another article covering our massive urban sprawl movement :P

Looks like Bucci's next project - Kensington will be 73 units.

Community profile: Experience inner-city evolution


Calgary Herald June 24, 2014


A stone’s throw from downtown, Hillhurst/Sunnyside — and its marquee shopping and residential hub, Kensington...


By Alex Frazer-Harrison

A stone’s throw from downtown, Hillhurst/Sunnyside – and its marquee shopping and residential hub, Kensington – has been a Calgary landmark for generations.

The current wave of new condo developments on or near 10th Street N.W. is testament to the area’s continued evolution.

“There is change coming to Kensington,” says Annie MacInnis, executive director of the Kensington Business Revitalization Zone. “Kensington has been a shopping district for over 100 years, and it has been discovered or rediscovered on numerous occasions.

“It was settled by CP Rail workers; there was a farm where Riley Park is now. That was before World War I and investors started looking here.”

The arrival of condos such as Pixel by Battistella Developments and VEN by Vancouver-based Bucci Developments Ltd., with more on the way, suggests increased densification for the area, but MacInnis says this trend has been ongoing since the LRT arrived.

From some of Calgary’s oldest homes in Sunnyside, nestled below McHugh Bluff, to the single- and multi-family homes of Hillhurst, the area offers amenities including parks (including wedding-photo hotspot Riley Park), a major stretch of the Bow River Pathway system, and no less than three pedestrian crossings into downtown including the Peace Bridge. The area is just below SAIT Polytechnic, Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium and North Hill Mall.

A number of multi-family developers are lining up to transform the area, including Streetside Developments’ St. John’s Tenth St. in Kensington, Truman Homes’ Savoy on 19th Street, and the soon-to-launch Ezra on Riley Park by Birchwood Properties.

“People like the fact it’s an established community – they don’t have to wait 10 years for amenities,” says Traci Wilson, director of sales and marketing for Battistella, whose 100-unit Pixel at 2nd Avenue and 9A Street has completed sales. Next up for this developer is Lido, to be built on the Anthill Building site right next door and named for the iconic diner that recently closed. Wilson says the eight-storey Lido will feature a mix of residential and main-floor retail.

“I think there’s a trend to move inner city and people are wanting more free time,” she says. “There are a lot of baby boomers and empty nesters downsizing, too. But they don’t want to downgrade.”

Bucci’s VEN, nestled next to McHugh Bluff and a short walk to the LRT stattion in Sunnyside, will feature 114 condos, of which three-quarters have sold. This fall, Bucci plans to launch sales for Kensington, a 73-home development with lower-level retail (including a restaurant), where the Carpenter’s Hall on 10th Street now stands.

“It’s such a great community with its access to downtown, and the real estate is so sought-after because of the shops, restaurants, and access to transit,” says Craig Anderson, Bucci’s director of sales and marketing, who compares the area to the Commercial Drive-Kitsilano hub of Vancouver. “If you drive by at noon any day of the week you’ll see a thousand people running along the river.

“We (Bucci) specifically go into neighbourhoods that are just ahead of the path of progress.”

Despite the changes, the area continues to retain the feel that has made it a good place to live for years.

“I don’t see the demographics changing that much,” says Quentin Sinclair, executive director of the Hillhurst Sunnyside Community Association, which hosts popular weekly farmers’ and flea markets off 5th Avenue N.W. “There’s something in the range of a 10-per cent increase in housing slated for this community over the next five years. I think new faces are always welcome – I’m pretty sure it’ll be great that more people are joining the community.”

Sinclair says he’d like to encourage new residents to become involved in their neighbourhood. “Bring your ideas about how you can get involved and get your neighbours involved,” he says


http://www.calgaryherald.com/Community+profile+Experience+inner+city+evolution/9969791/story.html

[onanewday]

I'm not sure exactly what you mean by 'where we are at', but here's my read:

Where are we at in 2014? I think Calgary has successfully reversed the trend of urban decay that was worst in the 70's and 80's (though probably extended from the 1950s to the 2000s). Early-century houses, shops, and apartments have made way for mid-century parking lot after parking lot after parking lot. FINALLY, I think the tide has turned and people are investing in even our most dilapidated hoods.

Calgary is not unique in that regard (Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver, and Montreal all had the same issue and all reversed it; Edmonton, some areas of Toronto, Hamilton, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, and two dozen American cities are lagging a bit IMO but are just on the verge of reversing urban decay), but Calgary, I think, is perhaps unique in that it may have jumped a weight-class in the renewal. To compare us to Toronto, Calgary used to feel like the harbourfront (rundown parking lots with a few scattered, sterile office developments), and now certain areas of Calgary feel like Queen Street or Midtown, albeit smaller. In fact, perhaps other cities are becoming less useful as comparators as Calgary's own character develops - one that has increasing focus on our greenspaces, street life, and urban culture.

What's the next step? One of the biggest and most visible changes I've seen lately in North American cities is BIKES. Bike lanes and bikesharing has popped up even towns and small cities I did not expect. Last week I visited Madison WI and was blown away by their bike infrastructure. Wisconsin is one of the coldest states with the most snow! Given the relatively minuscule cost of improving bike infrastructure, it's a no brainer. Another thing that Calgary is doing great at and should continue to do is improving green spaces. The Bow and Elbow are assets that other cities ought to envy. Toronto and Montreal have nothing like it. Let's embrace our parks and improve green streetscape. The last thing that Calgary will have to do in the future, in my opinion, is to be openminded/flexible with zoning and land use. If we can enable privately-developed inner-city lofts for 200k by reducing parking requirements, let's do that, and let's make sure those people have access to other options like cycling and Car2Go. If relaxing a bylaw gets us Festival Hall, "temporary" (actually permanent) curbside bikeracks, and block parties like the one at Lukes Drug Mart, let's relax. Let's plan development that can adapt to include new uses as new industries and technologies arise. Let's give people as much choice as we can - about how they get around, where they live, what they do for entertainment, and where they work. From 2014, the future of Calgary looks very, very bright. :)

I am trying to understand the characterization of urban decay in Calgary in the 70's and 80's. The 70's through the 80's saw a massive boom in the inner city. The parking lots you saw were as a result of the boom and not necessarily urban decay in the classic sense. Things went quiet after the boom of the 70's and 80's but not really for long. And honestly, people have been building infills in the inner city since at least the late 70's. So I not sure that I agree with this characterization.

I appreciate that we had specific areas had issues, but urban decay might go a little far. And maybe this compared to other cities and the urban decay they have experienced.

[DizzyEdge]

I am trying to understand the characterization of urban decay in Calgary in the 70's and 80's. The 70's through the 80's saw a massive boom in the inner city. The parking lots you saw were as a result of the boom and not necessarily urban decay in the classic sense. Things went quiet after the boom of the 70's and 80's but not really for long. And honestly, people have been building infills in the inner city since at least the late 70's. So I not sure that I agree with this characterization.

I appreciate that we had specific areas had issues, but urban decay might go a little far. And maybe this compared to other cities and the urban decay they have experienced.

I think it was a bit of both. The East Village was already on the demolition hit list as far back as the 60s are far as I know, and then of course the boom hit and land speculation caused blocks to be demo's on spec, some which are still empty lots.

[MasterG]

What's the next step? One of the biggest and most visible changes I've seen lately in North American cities is BIKES. Bike lanes and bikesharing has popped up even towns and small cities I did not expect. Last week I visited Madison WI and was blown away by their bike infrastructure. Wisconsin is one of the coldest states with the most snow! Given the relatively minuscule cost of improving bike infrastructure, it's a no brainer.

I agree with your comments but particularly this: I am in Ottawa for a trip and the amount of bike-lanes, pathways and bicycles on the streets rivals Calgary during the hours of Sled Island, which is possibly the most cycle-heavy our streets get in a year. Big difference: Ottawa seems to have dedicated slivers of many major roads to bicycle lanes. Shoulders are signed to give the "thumbs-up" to use by bicycles. See the recent hilarity and over response a few cyclists get when they do the same thing at rush-hour on Crowchild Trail known as the "CrowBomb" meant to show cars how much easier it is to get around on a bike. Pandemonium ensues and calls of "unsafe" driving on the part of the cyclist who used to shoulder lanes to pass ~400 odd cars gridlocked on Crowchild in rush hour. Complete with Global helicopter coverage. Unreal. Link to twitter (https://twitter.com/search?q=%23CrowBomb&src=tyah)

I don't know if they have more space and they definitely have a much calmer, less aggressive auto commuter wave existing downtown every day than we do; but the point is they blow Calgary away on physical evidence of promoting cycling. Until the cycle-track network is complete, Calgary is - quite frankly - far behind on promoting the idea that cycling is a real thing except for the thousands who use the river pathway system. Not talking mode share or usage, I am talking on the cultural norm that cycling is a thing. This will change but not soon enough.

If the CrowBomb coverage gives a perfect example of EXACTLY the opposite of your thought on Calgary loosing up regulation and attitudes. It could not be more of an example of how far divided this city can be between the inner core sharing more similarities to Queen West, and everywhere else, which shares more similarities to Houston than the inner city or Queen West. I don't mean in built form, I mean in attitude and culture.

This latest boom does offer signs of hope though. Calgary needs to broaden the base that supports inner city development and the changes that you laud. Secondary nodes, corridors and other focus areas should be incentivized to slide towards urbanity (Marda Loop, Inglewood, Renfrew, University City, Westbrook TOD etc.) rather than suburban-gated model, zoned and sealed as if to protect against a rising tide (Elbow Park, Mount Royal, parts of Hillhurst, Rosedale etc.).

The core inner city area needs more allies to better down-shift from high- speed, fifth-gear urbanism this forum loves and the puttering, first-gear suburbia of the far flung burbs drowning this city on all sides.

The danger is not immediately sprawl itself, but the culture of sprawl that seeks to claw back any of the adventurous, bold and innovative ideas that are being born in Calgary's urban core.

[RyLucky]

I agree with your comments but particularly this: I am in Ottawa for a trip and the amount of bike-lanes, pathways and bicycles on the streets rivals Calgary during the hours of Sled Island, which is possibly the most cycle-heavy our streets get in a year. Big difference: Ottawa seems to have dedicated slivers of many major roads to bicycle lanes. Shoulders are signed to give the "thumbs-up" to use by bicycles. See the recent hilarity and over response a few cyclists get when they do the same thing at rush-hour on Crowchild Trail known as the "CrowBomb" meant to show cars how much easier it is to get around on a bike. Pandemonium ensues and calls of "unsafe" driving on the part of the cyclist who used to shoulder lanes to pass ~400 odd cars gridlocked on Crowchild in rush hour. Complete with Global helicopter coverage. Unreal. Link to twitter (https://twitter.com/search?q=%23CrowBomb&src=tyah)

I don't know if they have more space and they definitely have a much calmer, less aggressive auto commuter wave existing downtown every day than we do; but the point is they blow Calgary away on physical evidence of promoting cycling. Until the cycle-track network is complete, Calgary is - quite frankly - far behind on promoting the idea that cycling is a real thing except for the thousands who use the river pathway system. Not talking mode share or usage, I am talking on the cultural norm that cycling is a thing. This will change but not soon enough.

If the CrowBomb coverage gives a perfect example of EXACTLY the opposite of your thought on Calgary loosing up regulation and attitudes. It could not be more of an example of how far divided this city can be between the inner core sharing more similarities to Queen West, and everywhere else, which shares more similarities to Houston than the inner city or Queen West. I don't mean in built form, I mean in attitude and culture.

This latest boom does offer signs of hope though. Calgary needs to broaden the base that supports inner city development and the changes that you laud. Secondary nodes, corridors and other focus areas should be incentivized to slide towards urbanity (Marda Loop, Inglewood, Renfrew, University City, Westbrook TOD etc.) rather than suburban-gated model, zoned and sealed as if to protect against a rising tide (Elbow Park, Mount Royal, parts of Hillhurst, Rosedale etc.).

The core inner city area needs more allies to better down-shift from high- speed, fifth-gear urbanism this forum loves and the puttering, first-gear suburbia of the far flung burbs drowning this city on all sides.

The danger is not immediately sprawl itself, but the culture of sprawl that seeks to claw back any of the adventurous, bold and innovative ideas that are being born in Calgary's urban core.

This bolded part is so important.

[RyLucky]

I am trying to understand the characterization of urban decay in Calgary in the 70's and 80's. The 70's through the 80's saw a massive boom in the inner city. The parking lots you saw were as a result of the boom and not necessarily urban decay in the classic sense. Things went quiet after the boom of the 70's and 80's but not really for long. And honestly, people have been building infills in the inner city since at least the late 70's. So I not sure that I agree with this characterization.

I appreciate that we had specific areas had issues, but urban decay might go a little far. And maybe this compared to other cities and the urban decay they have experienced.

There was a huge office boom in the 70's-80's, but the thousands of residents and small businesses that exists in Downtown Calgary pre-1950 moved away, their buildings torn down, and paved over. I'm not trying to fear monger or anything, just speaking realistically about the communities I grew up in and love. Fortunately, Calgary never had the kind of drugs and violence that existed in other cities, but the loss of interest in inner-city culture is urban decay none the less. When a parking lot makes more revenue that a residential block, your city is deeply sick.

Today you see more pedestrian traffic, food culture, and live music that you probably have in 65 years (even per capita). Sure, there were many areas (Sunalta, Kensington, Mission, etc) that remained livable the whole century, but other areas (East Village, Victoria Park, even Eau Claire and Bridgeland) have become shadows of their former selves and only now have regained what was lost in the decay.

[DizzyEdge]

This might be an appropriate pic to even see how recently there was still life in some of the paved over communities. This is Vic Park in the 1970s, the buildings marked in red were ones still extant
and even now that is out of date as some of those have gone in the past few years

http://i.imgur.com/FzToeJb.jpg

[Wigs]

...
What's the next step? One of the biggest and most visible changes I've seen lately in North American cities is BIKES. Bike lanes and bikesharing has popped up even towns and small cities I did not expect. Last week I visited Madison WI and was blown away by their bike infrastructure. Wisconsin is one of the coldest states with the most snow! Given the relatively minuscule cost of improving bike infrastructure, it's a no brainer. ...

Madison, Wisconsin has always been an urban, progressive small city/university town. Just ask Rusty as I believe he earned a degree there.

even cold/snowy Buffalo, NY has a "complete streets" policy where they implement bike lanes on major roads that get repaved or reconstructed.

from Go Bike Buffalo (http://gobikebuffalo.org/programs/complete-streets/)
2013 DEVELOPMENTS:
1. The Department of Public Works (DPW) installed 11.3 miles (18.2 km) of bike lanes and ended the year with 18.5 miles (29.8km) of planned projects already funded and proposals for over 45 miles (72.4km) more.

There's no reason that Calgary couldn't do the same :tup:

[Rusty van Reddick]

Madison, Wisconsin has always been an urban, progressive small city/university town. Just ask Rusty as I believe he earned a degree there.

Two degrees, MS (MSc in Canadian) and PhD. Spent 7 years there, biked the entire time, never owned a car and only took the bus when I was on crutches for a ruptured Achilles tendon.

Bike paradise even in 1986 when I started. Massive (45,000 student) university in the centre of town and a university that was overwhelmingly residential- almost no students lived "at home." More than 90% in dorms, off campus apartments and house shares (5 bedroom apartments abound Madison, the only city I've ever encountered that routinely has listing for 5 bedrooms- for students, not families with children), and in Greek houses. Most bikes per capita in the US when I was there. It was even better than Portland for cycling, in the 80s at least.

[onanewday]

There was a huge office boom in the 70's-80's, but the thousands of residents and small businesses that exists in Downtown Calgary pre-1950 moved away, their buildings torn down, and paved over. I'm not trying to fear monger or anything, just speaking realistically about the communities I grew up in and love. Fortunately, Calgary never had the kind of drugs and violence that existed in other cities, but the loss of interest in inner-city culture is urban decay none the less. When a parking lot makes more revenue that a residential block, your city is deeply sick.

Today you see more pedestrian traffic, food culture, and live music that you probably have in 65 years (even per capita). Sure, there were many areas (Sunalta, Kensington, Mission, etc) that remained livable the whole century, but other areas (East Village, Victoria Park, even Eau Claire and Bridgeland) have become shadows of their former selves and only now have regained what was lost in the decay.

I guess we will have to agree to disagree to an extent. There was never loss of interest in our inner city. I just don't see that in the 70's or 80's. Either from a business or residential perspective. You just have to walk around and see that dates that building were being constructed.

Eau Claire was cleared in anticipation of construction. Like the original Eau Claire estates. That was to be the first. Victoria Park always had a tension with Stampede ground expansion. It was cleared after the Stampede bought it out. Most of the legacy in the inner city was of a boom gone bust. So if you want to characterize that as urban decay - I can agree. I think you have to remember the parking lots weren't meant to stay that way.

I think we sometimes have to look at the effects of the boom and bust of the time. Did this lead to a form of urban decay?

But one thing to point out... you can't compare a city of 400,000 with today for life on the streets. It is very hard to do. Calgary was a very different world in the 70's.

The reality is that Calgary's inner city would never stay as houses and small two story buildings. We are continuing to see that transformation to this day.

[Trans Canada]

With hindsight, demolishing neighbourhoods is seen as urban decay, and thankfully we have learned that lesson. However demolishing neighbourhoods to build parking lots was at the time not urban decay but urban renewal. They were a tool to support office towers, stampede grounds, etc. Back in the day towers were THE thing, and brick buildings were out, so it made perfect sense to demolish the outdated (and run down) buildings to support the new.

[onanewday]

With hindsight, demolishing neighbourhoods is seen as urban decay, and thankfully we have learned that lesson. However demolishing neighbourhoods to build parking lots was at the time not urban decay but urban renewal. They were a tool to support office towers, stampede grounds, etc. Back in the day towers were THE thing, and brick buildings were out, so it made perfect sense to demolish the outdated (and run down) buildings to support the new.

Yes in hindsight I would agree, but I think we have to put in perspective. Maybe I thinking about urban decay on a much larger scale.

At the time of the boom, people weren't using the words urban renewal. It was just plain a boom and our city centre was getting rebuilt in the process.

I associate urban decay with whole centre being burnt out and everyone fleeing to the suburbs. And people were always lining up to put money into projects in our urban centre. The bust just delayed everything. There was a lot of loss, but that we due to the idea it was all going to be replaced with shiny new building. People had no idea the bust would come crashing down like it did.

Have we learned that lesson entirely... about clearing for parking lots before developing... not 100% sure. We will know in 20 years after the current boom.

[RyLucky]

I guess we will have to agree to disagree to an extent. There was never loss of interest in our inner city. I just don't see that in the 70's or 80's. Either from a business or residential perspective. You just have to walk around and see that dates that building were being constructed.

Eau Claire was cleared in anticipation of construction. Like the original Eau Claire estates. That was to be the first. Victoria Park always had a tension with Stampede ground expansion. It was cleared after the Stampede bought it out. Most of the legacy in the inner city was of a boom gone bust. So if you want to characterize that as urban decay - I can agree. I think you have to remember the parking lots weren't meant to stay that way.

I think we sometimes have to look at the effects of the boom and bust of the time. Did this lead to a form of urban decay?

But one thing to point out... you can't compare a city of 400,000 with today for life on the streets. It is very hard to do. Calgary was a very different world in the 70's.

The reality is that Calgary's inner city would never stay as houses and small two story buildings. We are continuing to see that transformation to this day.

I think where we disagree is mainly semantics. We don't have to use the term "urban decay"; we can just call it "replacing neighbourhoods with 50 years of lifeless parking lots" or something less blunt. Essentially I'm talking about areas in Vic Park, East Village, Eau Claire, and Downtown. In my understanding, a typical simplified trajectory of what happened in these areas is that they were bought up by developers, proprietors, the stampede, etc, ill-maintained, population plummeted, businesses moved out, public perceives crime and undesirability, city allows demolition, market optimism is gone, real estate investment trusts and whoeverelse picks up the land sells parking. Land had more economic value as office parking than residential rent. There's certainly more than one way to spin it, but to me the result is negative - not in all areas of Calgary, but certainly in Vic Park, East Village, Eau Claire, and Downtown. Only now, in 2014, we are seeing these areas regain their livelihoods and desirablity, which to me signals the a reversal of the trends that occurred last century. It will still be years before Vic Park regains its neighbourhood feel, but it is now within sight.

Compare those neighbourhoods to ones like Sunnyside and Mission that did not experience decay and maintained their populations for the entire century. Single family homes still exist, and are today being replaced with high-density dwellings.

In 2014, we've begun to heal the neighbourhoods that were broken.

[RyLucky]

Two degrees, MS (MSc in Canadian) and PhD. Spent 7 years there, biked the entire time, never owned a car and only took the bus when I was on crutches for a ruptured Achilles tendon.

Bike paradise even in 1986 when I started. Massive (45,000 student) university in the centre of town and a university that was overwhelmingly residential- almost no students lived "at home." More than 90% in dorms, off campus apartments and house shares (5 bedroom apartments abound Madison, the only city I've ever encountered that routinely has listing for 5 bedrooms- for students, not families with children), and in Greek houses. Most bikes per capita in the US when I was there. It was even better than Portland for cycling, in the 80s at least.

Awesome. I knew very little about Madison before I visited last week. Having been to both Madison and Portland in the last year, I'll confirm that Madison still has an upper hand at cycle infrastructure.

[Calgarian]

Article in the Herald regarding the amount of surface parking downtown. Big up to bigtime for getting a mention!

http://blogs.calgaryherald.com/2014/08/07/are-there-too-many-parking-lots-in-downtown-calgary/

[UofC.engineer]

This might be an appropriate pic to even see how recently there was still life in some of the paved over communities. This is Vic Park in the 1970s, the buildings marked in red were ones still extant
and even now that is out of date as some of those have gone in the past few years

http://i.imgur.com/FzToeJb.jpg

Wicked picture Dizzy! Sorry for bumping this, I know it's kind of an old post but today was the first time I had a chance to see it.


It makes me fucking sick to my stomach to see what the area has developed into today. Nothing but Casinos and parking lots. They could have just ran the LRT on Macleod trail tram style and kept all the houses. We lost the area between 12th ave and 17th ave to the Stampede, something like this must never happen in Calgary again.