Urban Development and Proposals Discussion

[trtcttc]

Other than Toronto, outside of hockey, it really is a struggle for Canadian cities to keep their pro sports franchises when the US has dozens of cities willing to spend obscene amounts of taxpayer dollars for pro sports facilities.

We won't be able to compete, especially with the recent tax changes that further reduce transfers, the wealth inequality will only grow in the US and we won't be able to keep up. Sports team aren't driven by the city, but the 10% of the city that would actually go to the game. And as those people get richer, they'll be willing to pay more and more. To be honest, I'm perfectly ok with Calgary never having an MLS/NBA/MLB team. Instead having our current teams which are affordable for families and everyday people to attend.

 

[Spring2008]

A couple new streetscape redevelopments have started.

 

[UrbanWarrior]

I dont know if the Stephen Ave renders have been posted here yet. But they're umm... not great. Unimaginative. Worse than the current state.

 

[Roaring Flames]

That entire intersection of Stampede Trail and 12th Ave is apparently going to be dug up again to lay the pipes for the district energy connection to Scotia Place. Meanwhile they'll finish the north section of Stampede Trail to match the already completed south.

 

[Albertasaurus]

I will give the Stephen Avenue reno credit for increasing the number and comfort of seating spaces (by the looks of it) but agree the rest doesn't look great.

 

[haltcatchfire]

So very generic.

lol, they’re never going to close Centre St. for a stage & screen.

 

[YYCguy]

Is the design written in stone? Was there any citizen input into it, or will there another opportunity for such? It is indeed quite blah but I couldn’t say exactly what features I would prefer. If I were presented with a few different concepts to choose from I am sure I could pick out some favourites.

 

[trtcttc]

So very generic.

lol, they’re never going to close Centre St. for a stage & screen.

Maybe the Olympics? It won't be in time for 2026 hockey, but I can see that being the one time.

 

[lemongrab]

For me the grey bricks and straight edges just feel wrong. This stretch of Stephen Ave is all about warm sandstone...I'm not exactly sure what would be better, but the current pink/red in a lot of the bricks works much better. This feels so sterile.

 

[Albertasaurus]

Agreed, it looks very grey and sterile. The only thing that breaks up the greyness is the trees - which won't look like they do in the renderings for decades (especially if they're planting new ones).

 

[Mountain Man]

How long before that nice grey paving on Stephen Ave is pockmarked with asphalt "repairs" lol

 

[Roaring Flames]

A couple new streetscape redevelopments have started.

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I'm no expert, but those cracks on that pillar don't look good

 

[Mountain Man]

Those look superficial, and that's very normal. I would have zero concerns about that

 

[Silence&Motion]

If they could actually solve the tree problem, it would be fine to keep the design minimalist. Here's an image from Toronto's Sugar Beach only 4 years after it was built in 2010. I was there earlier this summer and the trees are even larger. As far as I can tell, they've had great success using Silva Cells. The big question is, even if you do everything right, how limited are we in terms of Calgary's climate? On the other hand, Calgary has several spectacular tree-lined streets, so it is possible.

 

[whatchyyc]

Stephen Avenue is supposed to have soil cells, maybe also water tapped off from the pipes underground as well but I'm not sure if that's made it past the concept plan