Speaking of San Francisco, the Simmons Building in the East Village kinda has this "Ferry Building" vibe going on. The "THESAMEWAYBETTER/READER" mosaic on Calgary's Riverfront Lane has this arts and crafts feel that will be a draw in the summer. The bigger current activity generators for this area are: the Riverwalk (rollerblading, cycling, walking), the Calgary Central Public Library, Bow Valley College, and Booker's BBQ Grill and Crabshack (vastly underrated IMO, brisket is amazing and have live musice).
I'm really looking forward to the Simmons Building opening up. Last year Simmons Building was already bursting at the seams with people whenever the food trucks came and I think this will get bigger and better every year.
Also, I think higher degrees of cycleability are key to creating vibrancy as well. Where people may walk 1.0 km, they may be willing to bike 4.0 km (if there is sufficient safe environment). There are a lot of what I would call "missing teeth" in the walking network that cyclists overlook.
I think while walking is a great way to connect places on a street by street basis, cycling is important to connect on a neighbourhood by neighbourhood basis because it gives you the option to bypass "sleepy" office buildings, bulldozed lots, etc.
Last edited by Radley77; Jan 7, 2013 at 6:05 PM.
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