Calgary street names: To change or not to change?

[Stephen Ave]

There has been some discussion on whether we should change some or all of the numbered street names back to their original names. What's the consensus?

IMO, it's a no brainer. change the ones that already share an histoic name (eg Scarth Street, Notre Dame ave, etc..) It would add alot of character and still leave the numbered system widely intact.

[ummagumma66]

why and when did they change to the number system? I like the whole named street system.

[mersar]

Originally Posted by ummagumma66

why and when did they change to the number system? I like the whole named street system.

Sometime around 1904 I believe someone else said

[Surrealplaces]

I see no problem in changing the streets that already share their old name, in fact I don't see the point of having both, to me that's more confusing.

I like the numbered system, but c'mon, no reason we couldn't change a few of the streets. Especially 17th ave. That's a terrible street name for a vibrant urban street.

[Ayreonaut]

As long as they don't change it to Cowboy Way or something like that.

I voted for the second option, the number system is nice when trying to find places.

[Boris2k7]

A hybrid system would be best. Really, the majority of streets in Calgary are actually named, usually after their host suburb. It's nice to have numbers for navigation purposes, but not necessary. Then again, the same could be said for the names, but they also give more character to the city.

Look at this fancy schmancy sign I cooked up

[Deepstar]

^That's not a bad idea Boris. If I had it my way, I'd change at least 4 city streets back to the original.

9th ave -> Atlantic ave
17th ave -> Notre Dame
4th st -> Broadway st
1st st -> Scarth st

[RWin]

We should number all the streets but in no particular order.

[The_Bachelor]

I think it's kinda cool how 9th Ave is Atlantic Ave and 10 Ave is Pacific Ave with the CPR tracks between them. Like how the CPR railway connects the Atlantic to the Pacific ocean. A little tip of the hat as it were.

[Innersoul1]

I really like the hybrid sign idea!

[wild wild west]

My vote is change the downtown streets to their original names where applicable, otherwise outside the Core the numbered streets are fine.

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by Deepstar

I'd change at least 4 city streets back to the original.

9th ave -> Atlantic ave
17th ave -> Notre Dame
4th st -> Broadway st
1st st -> Scarth st

I like this, just a small number of numbers change but the impact of them having the names would be HUGE!

[Wooster]

Originally Posted by Deepstar

^That's not a bad idea Boris. If I had it my way, I'd change at least 4 city streets back to the original.

9th ave -> Atlantic ave
17th ave -> Notre Dame
4th st -> Broadway st
1st st -> Scarth st

I like the hybrid idea, like how 8th ave is better known as Stephen Ave, but you still know it's 8th. I like the proposed ones above, add in "Volunteer Way" for Centre Street South as a new alternative name as well as "Barclay Mall" for 3rd Street in the Downtown Core.

I like Atlantic, Broadway and Scarth, but am not too keen on Notre Dame for 17th. Perhaps an opportunity to name it after someone. "Iginla Avenue" (but only if he wins us a stanley cup).

[93JC]

The only one I can wholeheartedly support changing is 3rd/Barclay Street. As it stands now it's signed as Barclay Mall SW, Barclay Parade SW and 3rd St SW (as far as I know). It might as well be changed to Barclay Street along its entire length from 9th Ave to its terminus at 2nd St in Eau Claire, saving a whole lot of confusion, in my opinion.

The other streets? The numbered grid is too well established to change them completely, but the signs could carry a "formerly known as" like they do in Mission.

[93JC]

Originally Posted by josh white

I like Atlantic, Broadway and Scarth, but am not too keen on Notre Dame for 17th.

We could spice it up and call it the original French "Rue Notre Dame".

[Aralaus]

If you do Atlantic Ave, you have do do Pacific to restore that symbolic symmetry. Plus that street could use a sort of branding on it to emphasize the trendy design district its becoming.

As far as 17th, we should stay with Notre Dame Avenue. It may be a bit Christian for some people's liking, but its a nod to the historical religious presence that existed there via Rouleauville (sp?), Mission (Father Lacombe's first mission if I am not mistaken) and St. Mary's School/Cathedral.

But I also like the idea of naming some of our streets after important figures in our history. Calgary doesn't remember the giants of its past the same way other cities do. We really should have a Manning Drive (Ernest and Preston can share it, hehe), or Aberhart Drive, and even a Klein Avenue (yes, whatever you think of him, King Ralph is worthy of that distinction because he was one of the most dynamic personalities ever to grace our province, and fantastically represents the self-determined "you are what you make of yourself" mentality we have here).

[mersar]

Alright, one quick question that I have, where/when did the name Broadway get put into use on whats now 4th, as from the map that I've seen from the late 1890's the street was Ross Street, not Broadway Street.

[93JC]

I don't know where the idea it was named Broadway came from either. Every map I've ever seen also says Ross Street.

[lubicon]

I'd love to see a return to the old historical street names. To me it adds character.

Mind you, I think it was Mersar who showed some of the old names and IIRC Centre Street was Mctavish Street originally. I'm not sure if Calgary would put up with naming a street after the coach of the Edmonton Oilers (yes I realize the spelling may be different).

[lubicon]

One more name. Apparently 19 Ave SW was originally St Mary Street which is part of the reason for St Mary's High School's name.