Disraeli
Active Member
A thread to discuss how to ‘fix’ Calgary’s Central Business District
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The CBD being a right off has crossed my mind before (at least the portion north of 7th ave). I still think there are some ways to improve it including pedestrian realm improvements to encourage more movement between Eau Claire, the Beltline, Chinatown ext and to encourage more pedestrian oriented business and building uses. The CBD feels like a barrier with the harsh public realm that exists currently.I don’t want to sound negative but I almost feel like the CBD is a write off. Even if the towers fill back up it’s still mostly an office park on steroids. Years of soul sucking office building street frontages have almost ruined it for good.
The only hope IMO is to get more residents in the CBD and have more retail on the street.
I would absolutely love to see something like that!A large brewpub going into Firehall No. 1 would go a long way towards improving that section of the CBD. Bring activity off of Stephen Ave and closer to the river. There's really nothing in a 3 block radius around there.
I don't know if I'd call it a write off. However, I think it will be hard to improve anything along 4, 5, and 6 Aves unless they are narrowed. 5 and 6 Aves should be reduced from 5 to 4 lanes. 4 Ave is already only 4 lanes, but its outside lanes are extremely wide to accommodate parked cars and moving cars side-by-side. If you narrowed these avenues and expanded the sidewalks, you would create the possibility for sidewalk patios and more trees and landscaping. There's no reason why this couldn't look like this. Or this. Hopefully, if the CBD is facing such dire economic prospects, the 'powers that be' will be more open to taking a risk on something like that.
Beyond that, more office-to-residence conversions, as well as growing populations in the East Village, Chinatown, Eau Claire, West Village, and Beltline, all nibbling away at the CBD on the margins. That will all add more foot traffic in the CBD.
CBDs are not the most vibrant part of any city, but many are far more pleasant than Calgary's.
Totally agree.A large brewpub going into Firehall No. 1 would go a long way towards improving that section of the CBD. Bring activity off of Stephen Ave and closer to the river. There's really nothing in a 3 block radius around there.
I think a councillor brought up this idea not too long ago about repurposing the Telus Convention Centre. Hopefully something happens as it would be a great location for a more active use like a movie theatre, and/or market and the building appears well suited to repurpose.
- Add more high density, urban amenity uses (housing, hotels; music venues) in and around the CBD
- Way less corporate event space; way more formal and informal music venues, destination markets and vendors
- The CBD can be loud, messy and vibrant - it's possibly the only place where we can lean into tha
I agree completely. I can't imagine the TCC will attract much business once the BMO expansion is complete. There would be no need to have two convention spaces so close to each other either. There is only so much business to go around.I think a councillor brought up this idea not too long ago about repurposing the Telus Convention Centre. Hopefully something happens as it would be a great location for a more active use like a movie theatre, and/or market and the building appears well suited to repurpose.