West LRT | 7 Stations | 8.0 KM | In Service

[Innersoul1]

Originally Posted by Ferreth

I think the site has potential as a new Central Library - some clever design can integrate the current building into a Library complex.

Too small with too many dark spaces. It just doesn't scream modern library. While the idea is a novel one I really think that the Central Library needs to start with a blank slate. This is a project that needs to be done properly from conception to completion.

[Ferreth]

If a central library were to be put there, a lot of new building would have to happen. From looking at Google sat image, there looks to be a good 1/2 city block, plus some irregular left over space to the west. I'd agree punching a few holes in the ceiling and bringing some light into the current building would be a good thing. I'd be thinking 360 IMAX for the current Dome if possible. Frankly, I'd like to see the city put a little money into a request for proposals - at the end of the day, it may not work out, but that would be the best way to find out. The art gallery would be good alternate choice in that case.

With an LRT station down the street, Shaw Millennium park, Mewata, a ton of residential, the river, and, no need to tear down the current library, it looks pretty appealing to me. I'm not fond of building in the east end as my first priority in a central library is it should be no more than one block walk from major transit. Most of the east end is too far, unless they were to take over that parking lot across from City Hall - that could work as a clean site, other than having to integrate the St. Louis Hotel. Frankly, I'd rather see the art gallery there, could have nice lounge of a re-done St. Louis, as a dining / drinking experience with a visit to the gallery. Doesn't integrate so well with a library unless they re-purpose it.

[mersar]

They've started setting up another tent on the guideway, this one immediately west of Sunalta station.

They've also started piling for the abutment where the guideway will come back to the ground at Crowchild, and they've shifted the lanes of WB Bow to run on their new alignment where the old sloped abutments were for the NB Crowchild bridge.

[Tobyoby]

From http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevencoutts/

[Calgarian]

Sunalta Station is going to look pretty cool when it's done I think.

[Cowtown_Tim]

What a great angle! How did you get that shot?

Originally Posted by Tobyoby

From http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevencoutts/

[craner]

Originally Posted by Tobyoby

From http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevencoutts/

Just a question I've been wondering:
Why couldn't the LRT tracks run at grade here alongside the CPR tracks ?

[Ramsayfarian]

Originally Posted by Cowtown_Tim

What a great angle! How did you get that shot?

He got that shot by finding it on flickr. You'd have to ask the photographer on how it was taken.

[Surrealplaces]

Does anyone know if there are any plans for the area below the elevated deck? Seems like a great place for a bike path.

I can hardly wait till this is done, so I can take the train on this route and check out the city view.

Originally Posted by Tobyoby

From http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevencoutts/

[mersar]

Originally Posted by craner

Just a question I've been wondering:
Why couldn't the LRT tracks run at grade here alongside the CPR tracks ?

A lot of factors, including resident/business opposition, land acquisition costs and both ends would have been elevated to get over 14th Street/9th Avenue on the one end, and Crowchild/Bow on the other, so keeping it all elevated works fairly well.

[suburb]

Originally Posted by Surrealplaces

Does anyone know if there are any plans for the area below the elevated deck? Seems like a great place for a bike path.

Personally, I was hoping for some hanging condos

[MalcolmTucker]

Originally Posted by Surrealplaces

Does anyone know if there are any plans for the area below the elevated deck? Seems like a great place for a bike path.

Wouldn't the area go back to its previous uses, just as parking / yard space for the businesses below? Guess it depends on how the land was acquired, whether it was a fairly broad easement or outright purchase.

[craner]

Originally Posted by mersar

A lot of factors, including resident/business opposition, land acquisition costs and both ends would have been elevated to get over 14th Street/9th Avenue on the one end, and Crowchild/Bow on the other, so keeping it all elevated works fairly well.

Thanks for the explanation Mersar - I like the elevated tracks, makes the city feel more "dynamic". And as Surreal says it will be an awesome view coming downtown on this line.

[mersar]

Originally Posted by Sir.Humphrey.Appleby

Wouldn't the area go back to its previous uses, just as parking / yard space for the businesses below? Guess it depends on how the land was acquired, whether it was a fairly broad easement or outright purchase.

I believe that part of the area behind those buildings is actually a laneway, but thats probably the part along the fence with the LRT guideway between it and the buildings.

[MalcolmTucker]

Can clearly see fences going all the way to the CPR ROW fence between the lots in old aerial imagery:
http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=sh6rjs5...where1=Calgary%2C%20AB&q=calgary%2C%20ab

[Aegis]

Moved to Calgary Public Transit II

[Mike Wilhelm]

Originally Posted by mersar

A lot of factors, including resident/business opposition, land acquisition costs and both ends would have been elevated to get over 14th Street/9th Avenue on the one end, and Crowchild/Bow on the other, so keeping it all elevated works fairly well.

A primary reason according to city documents at the time was to protect business parking interests behind the buildings. However at the time, the verbal story we heard was engineering, not property interests. As I look at it now, I have trouble believing that. Returning to grade after crossing 14 St, and going under Bow and Crowchild at grade, immediately south of the CPR right of way, underground across the now vacant seniors property to to 26 St station would have had less of an impact on Bow, would have avoided some of the troublesome utility upgrades under Bow, and would have had the added benefit of a grade separation at 26 St. It would also have given the owner of the seniors property (a non-profit agency looking for funding opportunities) the ability to realize value to fund their subsidized seniors/market plans, with integration of the station into that TOD project.

We advocated this concept at the time, but the deal was already done on the alignment (as adjusted for the removal of the elevated element over Crowchild and THEN Bow).

We still remain mystified as to why parking interests leased by businesses on 10th from the CPR had such a major impact on the plan. Perhaps there were other factors.

[srperrycgy]

A couple of shots of the Westbrook Station work from my iPhone this morning.


Img_0047-R by srp775, on Flickr


Img_0048-R by srp775, on Flickr


Img_0049-R by srp775, on Flickr

[frinkprof]

^Nice photos. Good to see the structural work starting to take shape at Westbrook. You should post those on CP as well.

I haven't been on the project much lately so I haven't been able to witness its progress, or take photos to post here.

[frinkprof]

Posted in the Construction Thread by Tobyoby