Quote:
Originally Posted by johnnyc
What do other cities have in terms of public spaces, parks/gardens, libraries, museums, retail and pedestrian streets, and how do they comparer to what Calgary has? what can we learn from mistakes from both our planners and those in other cities? What is something another city has that you would love to see in Calgary?
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But that is my point...in "comparison" to many of the cities you listed, Calgary has done a really good job and "stacks up" admirably. All listed have their issues, all listed have good amounts of park space, and all listed have good libraries, museums, etc. Retail is a function of the demand of the market, you can't force that, but all cities mentioned have malls and power centers.
Houston has a space history, so you will expect to see more of that there. Denver has a rodeo history, and the Hall of Fame is just south. Calgary can't force a "museum of natural history" or the like, those usually arrive at major ports or capitals.
Calgary, like the others mentioned, is starting to remember street orientation. Houston has a dearth of this, just like Alberta in the 80's when many of the buildings you see were built or conceived. So, like all cities, they are learning from the "mistakes" of the previous generations, and also smattering it with "what was old is new again" - aka streetfront vs insular mall.
So, given it's geographic place and relative stature in the North American marketplace, I think Calgary has a great mix of what you suggest. As it grows, it will naturally get more.
Love to see in Calgary, that is something that should be organic within the city itself. Copying another is just lame. The best things are spawned by a local reference or reverence that just "takes off".
Maybe a park with a "Chinook" theme - sweeping architacture/sculpture that reminds one of a fast wind blowing through the prairie?