General Construction Updates

[darwink]

Didn’t CF pay for the entire bridge?

 

[JimmyTheThird]

I believe the cost was split between CF and the city. As this bridge is to effectively replace the at-grade ped crossing, the portion above MacLeod is supposed to be open 24/7.

 

[Cyric]

Stampede Youth Campus. They have finished the amphitheatre and it looks like the foundation is almost ready for the rebuild of the church.


The 3rd St SE improvements.

 

[Surrealplaces]

New zoo bridge opens, reconnecting Bridgeland and Inglewood

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/calgary-12-street-bridge-open-zoo-1.4441807

 

[Surrealplaces]

Stampede Youth Campus. They have finished the amphitheatre and it looks like the foundation is almost ready for the rebuild of the church.
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The 3rd St SE improvements.
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3rd street improvements look decent enough. Nice to see the city getting around to improving these downtown streets.

 

[Mountain Man]

We should really think of these kinds of things as car infrastructure. Pedestrian infrastructure is cheap. Re-time the lights so the wait isn't a lifetime to cross, open a new cross-walk, provide better lighting etc. Pedestrian infrastructure is only expensive when the main goal has nothing to do with pedestrians at all, its to facilitate high volumes of car movements (as is the case here).

I disagree, separating the uses on one of the busiest intersections in the city is definitely the right thing to do. Far too many cars miss the lights while people dawdle their way across the road. The train doesn't connect directly and vehicular access is by far the main means of accessing the mall, so separate the uses so everyone can access the mall more efficiently.

 

[MichaelS]

So there is another tower permit in for the Beltline. I am a bit early in posting the direct link, as the details aren't yet available on developmentmap.calgary.ca, however you can see the permit on the parcels. DP2017-5640, located on 524-536 14 Ave SW. Interestingly, details aren't posted on Development Map, however the My Property map has them, saying it is 1 building, 200 units. NORR is the applicant.

Development Map:
https://developmentmap.calgary.ca/#map

My Property:
https://maps.calgary.ca/myProperty/

I think that is #6 for 2017, right? This one, plus:
Grovsner (17th Ave and 4th Street SW)
Hines 500 Block (12th Ave and 4th Street SW)
Cressey (12th Ave and 11th Street SW)
ONE Properties (Curtis Block)
Cidex Hat Elbow River (Next to the Elbow River Casino)

Edit: Details are now up on the development map:
https://developmentmap.calgary.ca/#property/DP2017-5640

 

[CBBarnett]

I disagree, separating the uses on one of the busiest intersections in the city is definitely the right thing to do. Far too many cars miss the lights while people dawdle their way across the road. The train doesn't connect directly and vehicular access is by far the main means of accessing the mall, so separate the uses so everyone can access the mall more efficiently.

I don't disagree it wasn't the right answer in this situation. I was just commenting that main beneficiary of "pedestrian" bridges like this are ironically not often pedestrians themselves, its vehicular traffic. The overall mode-equity doesn't change; cars are even more prioritized than before. Of course, pedestrians can benefit too as they no longer have to wait for several minutes at a signal that was weighted heavily against their movements (more so due to only one crosswalk being open, further restricting their movements and increasing pedestrian travel times).

Perhaps my real point is that I find it continuously amazing how car-focused our city's design perspectives have and continue to be. With a few notable exceptions, most "pedestrian infrastructure" that has ever built in this city either directly benefits drivers even more so that the pedestrians supposedly receiving the benefit - encouraging the cycle of ever increasing car dependence - or bends over backwards to have as little effect on drivers as possible. Every walk in this city, even in the pedestrian-heavy inner city, will see countless examples of the reverse never being true: car-priority advanced greens, sidewalk closures everywhere, permanent crosswalk closures, beg-buttons and car-only green lights. All these are forms "pedestrian infrastructure", but all work to undermine the accessibility and freedom of the very group they are trying to help (usually under the guises of safety). There is even beg-buttons on the "pedestrian-focused" redesign of 61st Avenue immediately back from the new bridge.

Back to the Chinook Bridge: it's great for pedestrians, sure. But a new crosswalk on the south side of the intersection with great signal timing would have provided nearly equal accessibility, without the grade-change. We built the bridge because of the need of drivers to not be inconvenienced, not because it was the best/easiest way to improve pedestrian mobility.

 

[Silence&Motion]

Perhaps my real point is that I find it continuously amazing how car-focused our city's design perspectives have and continue to be. With a few notable exceptions, most "pedestrian infrastructure" that has ever built in this city either directly benefits drivers even more so that the pedestrians supposedly receiving the benefit - encouraging the cycle of ever increasing car dependence - or bends over backwards to have as little effect on drivers as possible. Every walk in this city, even in the pedestrian-heavy inner city, will see countless examples of the reverse never being true: car-priority advanced greens, sidewalk closures everywhere, permanent crosswalk closures, beg-buttons and car-only green lights. All these are forms "pedestrian infrastructure", but all work to undermine the accessibility and freedom of the very group they are trying to help (usually under the guises of safety). There is even beg-buttons on the "pedestrian-focused" redesign of 61st Avenue immediately back from the new bridge.

 

[Mountain Man]

Good replay CBBarnett, I agree completely with what you said. In an area like Chinook Centre, I wouldn't expect any sore of real pedestrian development for some time. My hope is that they begin building more residential in the area so it can one day become a more complete neighbourhood.

 

[maestro]

Some good points made. It's still a mall next to a suburban boulevard. It's just unfortunate the C Train was built on the other side of that suburban boulevard or an expansion of Chinook or another mall hasn't been built in place of the big box mall between Chinook and the station.

 

[darwink]

So there is another tower permit in for the Beltline. I am a bit early in posting the direct link, as the details aren't yet available on developmentmap.calgary.ca, however you can see the permit on the parcels. DP2017-5640, located on 524-536 14 Ave SW. Interestingly, details aren't posted on Development Map, however the My Property map has them, saying it is 1 building, 200 units. NORR is the applicant.

Development Map:
https://developmentmap.calgary.ca/#map

My Property:
https://maps.calgary.ca/myProperty/

I think that is #6 for 2017, right? This one, plus:
Grovsner (17th Ave and 4th Street SW)
Hines 500 Block (12th Ave and 4th Street SW)
Cressey (12th Ave and 11th Street SW)
ONE Properties (Curtis Block)
Cidex Hat Elbow River (Next to the Elbow River Casino)

Edit: Details are now up on the development map:
https://developmentmap.calgary.ca/#property/DP2017-5640

On the same block as my building. Interesting. Also Boardwalk is revamping their property on 4th street and 14th Ave enough to need construction fencing. Changing into 'luxury' rentals.

 

[Surrealplaces]

Interesting to see another large res project for the Beltline. I'm going to have to make a stop at city hall to check this one out.

So there is another tower permit in for the Beltline. I am a bit early in posting the direct link, as the details aren't yet available on developmentmap.calgary.ca, however you can see the permit on the parcels. DP2017-5640, located on 524-536 14 Ave SW. Interestingly, details aren't posted on Development Map, however the My Property map has them, saying it is 1 building, 200 units. NORR is the applicant.

Development Map:
https://developmentmap.calgary.ca/#map

My Property:
https://maps.calgary.ca/myProperty/

I think that is #6 for 2017, right? This one, plus:
Grovsner (17th Ave and 4th Street SW)
Hines 500 Block (12th Ave and 4th Street SW)
Cressey (12th Ave and 11th Street SW)
ONE Properties (Curtis Block)
Cidex Hat Elbow River (Next to the Elbow River Casino)

Edit: Details are now up on the development map:
https://developmentmap.calgary.ca/#property/DP2017-5640

 

[GoVertical]

Yes! another lot gone! 2018 should be exciting.

 

[Mountain Man]

Some good points made. It's still a mall next to a suburban boulevard. It's just unfortunate the C Train was built on the other side of that suburban boulevard or an expansion of Chinook or another mall hasn't been built in place of the big box mall between Chinook and the station.

I've heard rumours CF own some of the land across MacLeod Tr and will one day expand the mall to the other side of the street as well. No idea if this is true though...