Pictures of Calgary

[Ummagumma66]

hopefully you guys like these, it is my first batch of pics, if you like there will be more,

the Demolition of historic Penny Lane Mall

 

[Skeezix]

Love Calgary's downtown Bay store. Also love the old Eaton's store (not shown), some of the facades of which were preserved and now house Holt Renfrew.

The photos are great. I'm not a fan of Calgary whatsoever, but these shots make it appear almost liveable.

 

[Edward Skira]

What's the story behind Penny Lane Mall? What's replacing it? And hopefully you'll keep us updated as the Encana Tower goes up.

 

[Observer Walt]

Ummagumma: Thanks for the pictures. I echo Ed's request for a few pictures of the Encana Tower as it goes up. This looks like an exciting project.

With regards to Calgary being liveable, based on my admittedly brief visits, the place looks quite "liveable" to me. But it does strike me as somewhat more "bland" than Toronto. Two reasons occur to me. Calgary is relatively new and lacks many truly historic buildings, which add a lot of interest to a city IMO. (Admittedly someone from Montreal might say the same about Toronto.) The other reason is the relative flatness of the place, as it is on the prairie, but there's nothing to be done about that.

 

[alitezar]

Very awesome pictures and tour

 

[ShonTron]

You do make the downtown look good. And Calgary's downtown has remained a major shopping district with the Eaton Centre, Bay and other stores, plus the Stephen Avenue nightlife. It could do worse.

What I hated about Calgary is most of the rest: endless sprawl and highways, though there are some good neighbourhoods nevertheless.

Yes, please provide more!

 

[Waterloo_Guy]

These pictures are great. I'd love to see more, especially construction updates.

 

[Ummagumma66]

Penny Lane is being demolished for a pair of Towers (which are really ugly imho) here is a rendering, its a shame that penny lane is being demolished. and there will be more pics.

 

[Chuck]

I have also heard that those buildings will result in the demolition of Cowboys.

 

[Ummagumma66]

Cowboys is also being demolished (thank gawd), but after the stampede, the owner made some deal with the city and developer. but once the Penny Lane Towers are complete, then Cowboys will return to the same location.

 

[flar]

Good to see some shots on the ground in Calgary. Most of the pictures of Calgary I see are of the skyline and skyscrapers. Do post more (hint: I'd like to see some Calgary neighbourhoods)

 

[Kilgore Trout]

The other reason is the relative flatness of the place, as it is on the prairie, but there's nothing to be done about that.

I'm not sure why people say this because Calgary is anything but flat. Downtown sits at the bottom of a river valley and the eastern part of the city is on a plateau, but the north, south and west sides of town are a succession of hills.

I grew up about 800ft above downtown and I didn't live in a skyscraper...

 

[Observer Walt]

Well my quick comment was too sweeping, no doubt. The river valley is certainly nice (river valleys actually: the Bow and Elbow both run through Calgary and join close to the downtown). I also remember Nose Hill, a prominent feature. But it seems like a relatively flat city, even by comparison to Toronto which is usually thought of as fairly flat, never mind Montreal, Vancouver, or even Edmonton.

The first time I saw Calgary I was driving eastbound on the Trans Canada. I passed through Canmore, a mountain town. The transition from mountain to prairie is quite sudden (few "foothills" at this particular location), and then Calgary could be seen on the horizon even though it was 70 km away. To an easterner's eyes it seemed that the prairie stretched on, pretty flat and for a long long way.

 

[Urban Shocker]

William McElcheran's businessmen seem to be everywhere.

 

[mysteryman]

^yeah, i was thinking the same thing.