Even undeveloped land is still owned, the majority by private landowners. Sure, the city does own some land here and there but the majority has been privately held for a hundred years.
Changing even a single road position comes at great cost. The road network has been set for a long time. Property lines are set. Utility rights of way are set. Storm sewer mains, sanitary sewer mains, water mains, gas mains, and power mains all run under the streets you want moved. Not to mention connections to each property for sewer, water, gas, power, cable, and telephone. Then you have hydrants, street lights, intersection signal, etc all along the existing road network. You can't just come in and play Sim City and use the demolition key.
Then you have all of the other costs associated with road changes. These things actually have costs somewhere by someone. Maps of all types, bus routes, waste & recycling routes, addressing, postal routes, street signage, etc.
There will never be the funds to do what you're thinking. Even with the land in East Victoria Park, assuming the City was able to acquire every single property first.
I have no issue with the current property tax rate and I agree it is reasonable compared to other cities.
The people that move to Airdrie and Okotoks are the problem not the solution.
Thats not what im saying at all, I'm saying there are many areas of land that have yet to be developed on in the core, particularly the East village was a good example, instead they chose to continue with a grid like road system. We don't need to change current roads but we can take new empty developing areas and move away from the grid system. Nenshi is a very progressive person for the city but I really don't get the people at CMLC and city planners. They still continue to build the LRT on grade level just because its a cheaper option, when their goals are to make a more denser city. And looking from the raw Victoria park plan from CBC, Victoria park is going to be more grid like streets. Basically looks like another East village. Like if you don't have the funds right now then don't rush it, do a good job the first time so the quality lasts for generations. And to add to the problem, I feel these last 3 years Calgarians have become so anti-tax, like I get it's a downturn but if you want your city to look good then you shouldn't be complaining about taxes. Nothing come for free. There are many suburban havens to choose from if you feel taxes are being misused are too high in Calgary, like Airdrie or Okotoks. This is one of the tradeoffs you pay when choosing to live in a large city and its more confusing to me when people cause an uproar when our property taxes are some of the lowest compared to other major cities in Canada. Just my two cents on the whole development issue in Calgary.
