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Omnibus predictions and reflections thread

Disraeli

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We are in the 20's now. Let's hear about some lessons learned, things accomplished and predictions for Calgary in the new decade.

Neighborhood201020142019
City Centre
Beltline189022135725129
Chinatown121918362,471
CBD756889998683
East Village263427053,893
Eau Claire172418862,030
West End249022872,785
Total345373907044991
 
Decade long predictions:

  • Of all the major public projects in process right now, all but the field house will be finished by 2026 (including the Greenline with a few extra KMs compared to today's conception), and then by 2030 Arts Commons will join them.
  • A major Foothills Hospital development will start late in the decade and involve rebuilding the medical school for around a billion, and rebuilding/replacing much of the Hospital for ~$4 billion more.
  • We will bid on and win an Olympics within the decade.
  • Frequent passenger rail will be built to Banff.
  • An attempt will be made to better control where infill densification happens after the renewal costs of the water and sewage networks becomes clear.
  • Land the city sells to developers without an intermediary like CMLC will continue to sit undeveloped as the city continues to make errors prioritizing money upfront rather than successful projects.
  • McMahon will have a somewhat substantial renovation late in the decade funded by a TIF on the land surrounding the stadium which will start a development process late in the decade.
  • 5 new buildings will be built in the University Research Park.
  • New Horizons mall's unit owners will sell the entire mall to a single investor, each booking a 50% capital loss.
  • A public market will start to be built on 9th ave's parking lots in the west.
  • Sunalta will finally get a coffee shop and a trendy breakfast place.
 
For city centre population predictions I'm going with an increase in the neighborhoods that will be a little more than the last 10 years. It'll be slow growth for the next 2-4 years, but pick up after that. East Village will add 3-4 new buildings. Beltline will keep rolling and be consistent with the past 10 years. West End will see a boost with all three West Village towers, and The Hat 7th ave. Eau Claire will see at least one more project go ahead.

Neighborhood20192029
City Centre
Beltline25129~33500
Chinatown2471~2500
CBD8683~8800
East Village3893~6500
Eau Claire2030~3000
West End2785~4000
Total44991~58000
 
The good: urban friendly mayor and council (for the most part). Strong population growth throughout the inner city. The addition of world class public spaces in the Central Library, Riverwalk, St. Patrick’s island. BRT line and Green Line are ahead of what was anticipated in “Route Ahead”. The cycle track. Our tech ecosystem is developing. The Stamps

The bad: The Central Business District has turned into an albatross and is a damper on an otherwise positive story for our inner city. The Flames.

The ugly: earth toned stucco. One might have thought that taupe would have died off as a design choice 10 years ago. It hasn’t and endures to this day. Shame on all the developers who still consider it. The Oilers.
 
Ambitious predictions, but none that are out of the realm of possibilities. I'd love to see a boulevard of some type, built going from the UofC to Brentwood to go along with those 5 new research buildings.

Decade long predictions:

  • Of all the major public projects in process right now, all but the field house will be finished by 2026 (including the Greenline with a few extra KMs compared to today's conception), and then by 2030 Arts Commons will join them.
  • A major Foothills Hospital development will start late in the decade and involve rebuilding the medical school for around a billion, and rebuilding/replacing much of the Hospital for ~$4 billion more.
  • We will bid on and win an Olympics within the decade.
  • Frequent passenger rail will be built to Banff.
  • An attempt will be made to better control where infill densification happens after the renewal costs of the water and sewage networks becomes clear.
  • Land the city sells to developers without an intermediary like CMLC will continue to sit undeveloped as the city continues to make errors prioritizing money upfront rather than successful projects.
  • McMahon will have a somewhat substantial renovation late in the decade funded by a TIF on the land surrounding the stadium which will start a development process late in the decade.
  • 5 new buildings will be built in the University Research Park.
  • New Horizons mall's unit owners will sell the entire mall to a single investor, each booking a 50% capital loss.
  • A public market will start to be built on 9th ave's parking lots in the west.
  • Sunalta will finally get a coffee shop and a trendy breakfast place.
 
Ambitious predictions, but none that are out of the realm of possibilities. I'd love to see a boulevard of some type, built going from the UofC to Brentwood to go along with those 5 new research buildings.
A comprehensive planning process for the university research park will be starting soon. If you have a strong vision and want to contribute there are some buildings that will come down so the opportunity to realign roads and build something great is there-so when there is an open house show up. :)
 

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