[inclusion]

This is probably a better comment for the infill thread, but it's a natural transition so I'll put it here - the City (currently the urban planning committee but soon council as a whole) is hearing a report on barring upzoning applications for residential areas that aren't 400m or less from a major node or corridor. The idea is to densify transit-heavy areas faster, and to slow down the strain on infrastructure (especially street parking and traffic) in established, low-density neighbourhoods.

Regardless of how you feel about densification, shouldn't the appeal of mixed-use developments (like small coffee shops in residential areas) make this change a terrible idea? Maybe I'm misinterpreting it, but with the increasing demand for small-scale retail spaces in low-traffic areas, wouldn't this policy kill opportunities to build on that?

I am biased because I live in the Rio Terrace area and if Uncle Glenn's pub ever closes, I will be going on a rampage. I love small-scale retail & social locations in neighborhoods.

I agree with what you're saying, but to play devil's advocate a little bit, look no further than Calgary where there are neighbourhoods that jumped on the infill train quite early. We have family down there, where infill growth has put pressure on the closest elementary school in their neighbourhood, which has 600 kids. For after-school care, you have to put your baby on the waitlist before the kid is born. I realize that is a consideration that other levels of government haven't increased capacity; however, it also speaks to the fact that in some cases, there isn't any land available to increase capacity in established neighbourhoods without the consideration of expropriating land. Planners have to consider multiple factors, and sometimes one lever reduces another, as you have pointed out.

 

[policyenthusiast]

I agree with what you're saying, but to play devil's advocate a little bit, look no further than Calgary where there are neighbourhoods that jumped on the infill train quite early. We have family down there, where infill growth has put pressure on the closest elementary school in their neighbourhood, which has 600 kids. For after-school care, you have to put your baby on the waitlist before the kid is born. I realize that is a consideration that other levels of government haven't increased capacity; however, it also speaks to the fact that in some cases, there isn't any land available to increase capacity in established neighbourhoods without the consideration of expropriating land. Planners have to consider multiple factors, and sometimes one lever reduces another, as you have pointed out.

Wouldn't enabling mixed-use zoning in residential areas increase access to childcare facilities, while also reducing traffic around the existing infrastructure?

 

[inclusion]

Wouldn't enabling mixed-use zoning in residential areas increase access to childcare facilities, while also reducing traffic around the existing infrastructure?

Yes, but at the same time, the LRT lines are long, and there are stations in less developed areas. My understanding is that they want to see the less developed areas around some stations be built out more. In theory, it would also spread development across multiple areas of the city beyond only the central mature areas.

 

[Coprolite]

Anyone have new pics from the community lately? Newer batch of homes in the northern tip of the project done almost? New ones started on the western edge I heard? Is all of pilot completed?

Pilot has actual bonafide inhabitants, but it's at the north end, while some of the south buildings still seem to be fitting out. Landmark's homes on Navigator and Pilot lanes appear to all be substantially complete, and some have signs of current or pending occupation. The Encore ones by the lake also appear to be very near to complete if not ready for occupancy. Crimson Cove's newest run of 7 do not appear to be fully complete, but are 100% sold. Encore appeared to be pouring foundations for a new row a few days ago. Rock hunting is a bit substandard at the moment.

Edit: Also, looking at Encore's listings, the only house they currently have available is their current show home.

 

[Yeggy]

The temporary station that was NAIT should have been the permanent location. It was ideal for both the school and the mall.

It limited future train size as the platform was too short. The new station is way better.

 

[UrbanEnjoyer]

Took a trek with my dog to Blatchford a few days back to see how the neighbourhood is shaping up after only following along on this thread.

I was initially surprised at just the size of the land. I think just looking at renderings I didn’t really grasp the full scale of development planned. Like walking through any other developing neighbourhood, It certainly felt a little barren. I went during the day and the only other signs of life were a few contractors working on houses, and a nice couple with another dog at the park. Still, the place feels brimming with potential. The bones of a great neighbourhood all seem there already. My dog had a good time too.

I had a couple thoughts/questions though:

1. Are there plans for that large hill on the north side? I haven’t seen any proposals or renderings on this thread about it.
2. There’s gotta be a way to make all the levels of the control tower usable, right? I actually have no idea what the layout of that thing is, but its too cool not to be made completely functional

 

[CplKlinger]

Took a trek with my dog to Blatchford a few days back to see how the neighbourhood is shaping up after only following along on this thread.

I was initially surprised at just the size of the land. I think just looking at renderings I didn’t really grasp the full scale of development planned. Like walking through any other developing neighbourhood, It certainly felt a little barren. I went during the day and the only other signs of life were a few contractors working on houses, and a nice couple with another dog at the park. Still, the place feels brimming with potential. The bones of a great neighbourhood all seem there already. My dog had a good time too.

I had a couple thoughts/questions though:

1. Are there plans for that large hill on the north side? I haven’t seen any proposals or renderings on this thread about it.
2. There’s gotta be a way to make all the levels of the control tower usable, right? I actually have no idea what the layout of that thing is, but its too cool not to be made completely functionalView attachment 712409

Regarding the business of the area, it definitely picks up in the mornings and evenings. I think most of the people here are either working, or students - not a lot of retirees.

Last thing I recall hearing from the Blatchford team is that the hill will have trails, a toboggan hill, and some other amenities. IIRC that'll happen when the park around it is developed.

They're developing the first floor of the control tower this year, but I believe they're also planning to do the other levels in a future phase! I agree, it'd make for an amazing experience (I'd love if they put an observation floor at the top).

 

[Yeggy]

I believe the hill is part of the park in some form.

 

[fjordgard]

They're developing the first floor of the control tower this year, but I believe they're also planning to do the other levels in a future phase! I agree, it'd make for an amazing experience (I'd love if they put an observation floor at the top).

On this, I understand there are serious code issues in the way of anything happening with the tower beyond making it pretty on the outside. Maybe not impossible to bring it up to code, but pretty close...

 

[TAS]

How do the single direction bike lanes through Blatchford look this winter so far? And the bi-directional lane along the lrt line?
Are they icy or nicely cleared?

 

[Oilguy]

On this, I understand there are serious code issues in the way of anything happening with the tower beyond making it pretty on the outside. Maybe not impossible to bring it up to code, but pretty close...

This would bother me if it’s about accessibility issues, this is where I think Europe has it right, they have a lot of good accessibility requirements but they don’t force it in historical towers and churches and such which would make them inaccessible to all.

Now if it’s about irreconcilable safety issues I’d have an ear for that, but I’m afraid it’s not,

 

[scooterz]

How do the single direction bike lanes through Blatchford look this winter so far? And the bi-directional lane along the lrt line?
Are they icy or nicely cleared?

There's some crunchy snow on top of ice in most of the bike lanes currently. I've headed out with my dog along the paths next to the lrt line daily all winter, and they cleared the biking paths quite regularly, leaving some of the remote sidewalks uncleared. Usually within a day or so after a large snow fall the paths were brushed clear. The warm temperatures throughout the winter left a layer of ice over asphalt, and this sometimes remained after clearing, much as it did on my own sidewalk. Gravel was also used on some of the public pathways next to the lrt, which has helped with traction.

 

[Coprolite]

How do the single direction bike lanes through Blatchford look this winter so far? And the bi-directional lane along the lrt line?
Are they icy or nicely cleared?

The ones next to the LRT are the clearest ones in the neighbourhood, and when I was last there yesterday, they were mostly clear.

But, with this freeze-thaw that we've been having, that could easily have changed.

The ones within the developed area have been alternating between crunchy and slushy. The MUP along Airport Rd has unfortunately been consistently quite bad.

 

[fjordgard]

I know it will never be enough for some people, but between the one multi-unit building currently under construction and the three awaiting development permits, it is possible that there will be well over 400 units of multi-unit housing in some stage of construction this year. Plus the townhouses are just trucking along at an ever increasing clip. Not too bad!

 

[Coprolite]

I know it will never be enough for some people, but between the one multi-unit building currently under construction and the three awaiting development permits, it is possible that there will be well over 400 units of multi-unit housing in some stage of construction this year. Plus the townhouses are just trucking along at an ever increasing clip. Not too bad!

And in fairness, many of those people will never be happy with anything less than going back to the PWA Chieftain Air Bus service, complete with smoking on the plane and sexist hiring standards for the cabin crews. This is especially true of the subset which writes for Postmedia.