The Great Canadian Skyline Thread! II

[middeljohn]

The most impressive neighboirhood I've ever seen was the Montreal midrises (3 storeys with steel staircases on the outside). You see these all around the inner city, and the street life is just incredible. It's not as hustle-and-bustle as Yonge-Bloor, but it's incredible how efficiently the space is used. One building has 20 units, with 3 bedrooms per unit and it sits in the space of about one suburban lot. So basically 20 times the density of the suburbs.

[Beedok]

I just love this picture by Flar.

[Boris2k7]

Originally Posted by GreaterMontréal

Grocery stores, drug stores,,etc....will be needed in the downtown core. It's one of the first things people look for when they buy downtown.

Not so sure that full-size grocery stores are necessarily needed or desirable in the downtown core. If you are in the central or western parts of the core, you already have access to a half dozen grocery stores within about a five minute drive. I think the only area which probably needs a grocery store nearby is East Village, which only really has the Sunterra in Keynote.

As for drug stores, it's almost guaranteed that Shoppers will work it's way into the podiums of some new buildings.

[Wigs]

Originally Posted by caltrane74

Mississauga Skyline from Airbnb.com

Sheikha Hazel McCallion Road

[Boris2k7]

I reckon you could build some amazing density with those wide roads and underdeveloped lots. It'll be exciting to see Missi's transformation in the next few decades.

[GreaterMontréal]

Originally Posted by Boris2k7

Not so sure that full-size grocery stores are necessarily needed or desirable in the downtown core. If you are in the central or western parts of the core, you already have access to a half dozen grocery stores within about a five minute drive. I think the only area which probably needs a grocery store nearby is East Village, which only really has the Sunterra in Keynote.

As for drug stores, it's almost guaranteed that Shoppers will work it's way into the podiums of some new buildings.

When it's a mixed-use, a grocery store can be one of the retail stores. L'Avenue in Montréal will have a urban-format Provigo. 25000 square foot

[Chadillaccc]

Originally Posted by Boris2k7

Not so sure that full-size grocery stores are necessarily needed or desirable in the downtown core. If you are in the central or western parts of the core, you already have access to a half dozen grocery stores within about a five minute drive. I think the only area which probably needs a grocery store nearby is East Village, which only really has the Sunterra in Keynote.

As for drug stores, it's almost guaranteed that Shoppers will work it's way into the podiums of some new buildings.

Aren't they putting a WholeFoods in the new Mount Royal Village mixed-use development?

I think the northwest area of downtown (near the 7 tower development probably) will need a grocery store. There's not really much in the area... well there's the market I guess.. but still. I hope Thrifty Foods expands into Calgary. Such an awesome grocery store, best potato salad EVER!

[Calgarian]

Originally Posted by Chadillaccc

Quite an old shot, possibly 10 years, but it really shows the extent of Calgary's inner city.


http://peakexperienceimagery.com/keiths-favourites/keiths-favourites-always-changing/4390279

This is probably about 4 years old, you can see EAP is about half way up.

[Boris2k7]

Originally Posted by Chadillaccc

Aren't they putting a WholeFoods in the new Mount Royal Village mixed-use development?

I think the northwest area of downtown (near the 7 tower development probably) will need a grocery store. There's not really much in the area... well there's the market I guess.. but still. I hope Thrifty Foods expands into Calgary. Such an awesome grocery store, best potato salad EVER!

I (mentally) put a whole lot of asterisks beside things like these when I look at proposals. I think I've seen more Calgary projects that have tried to get a grocery store than I can wag a stick at. Very few have been built. The parking requirements are very high and most Calgary area grocers aren't jumping on the urban format bandwagon. I've heard before from applicants how hard it is to get those kinds of clients to budge on their store layouts.

[Chadillaccc]

That is too bad. I know Thrifty Foods is quite urban format. The one in the New Westminster's new mixed use district (I forget it's name... the one beside Sapperton Skytrain Station) has 2 floors of underground parking, an escalator for shopping carts, etc. It also includes a cafe/bistro with a patio onto the street level. Very cool grocery store.

[GreaterMontréal]

The parking requirements are very high and most Calgary area grocers aren't jumping on the urban format bandwagon. I've heard before from applicants how hard it is to get those kinds of clients to budge on their store layouts.

If it's mixed-use, the goal is to have pedestrians traffic, no cars. You do everything on foot.

[sync]

Originally Posted by Boris2k7

I (mentally) put a whole lot of asterisks beside things like these when I look at proposals. I think I've seen more Calgary projects that have tried to get a grocery store than I can wag a stick at. Very few have been built. The parking requirements are very high and most Calgary area grocers aren't jumping on the urban format bandwagon. I've heard before from applicants how hard it is to get those kinds of clients to budge on their store layouts.

i would add to this that safeway and coop have a vested interest in making sure another grocer NEVER gets near them.

the 8th street safeway is beyond busy on most days - i actively avoid it most times because you are going to be waiting 20 minutes at the til no question.

coop is better in this regard and has booze in the same spot so i go there.

[Boris2k7]

Originally Posted by GreaterMontréal

If it's mixed-use, the goal is to have pedestrians traffic, no cars. You do everything on foot.

That may be the goal but it doesn't fly with our land use bylaw.

[Wooster]

There will be at least 3 new downtown Calgary grocery stores coming soon. East Village, Eau Claire and Beltline near 17th.

I agree, it's key to driving more demand for residential downtown. The most important commercial amenity.

[O-tacular]

Originally Posted by GreaterMontréal

Grocery stores, drug stores,,etc....will be needed in the downtown core. It's one of the first things people look for when they buy downtown.

The Eau Claire redevelopment has plans for one I'm pretty sure. Also the East Village has already confirmed a Superstore among other retail components. As for drug stores, Calgary has as many Shoppers' Drug Marts as Montreal has Halal and Pizza stands.

[O-tacular]

Originally Posted by middeljohn

The most impressive neighboirhood I've ever seen was the Montreal midrises (3 storeys with steel staircases on the outside). You see these all around the inner city, and the street life is just incredible. It's not as hustle-and-bustle as Yonge-Bloor, but it's incredible how efficiently the space is used. One building has 20 units, with 3 bedrooms per unit and it sits in the space of about one suburban lot. So basically 20 times the density of the suburbs.

The funniest thing was hearing about how my uncle had to help my cousin move her furniture into her 3rd floor apartment in one of these units. Him and her brother had to use ropes to haul her sofa into the living room. A narrow, steep stairwell that faces the door of the unit across from hers is no place to bring in furniture. Lol!

[kw5150]

I added some music. Sorry if you hate dance music!

Calgary Downtown

• Video Link

[Deepstar]

Originally Posted by Wooster

There will be at least 3 new downtown Calgary grocery stores coming soon. East Village, Eau Claire and Beltline near 17th.

I agree, it's key to driving more demand for residential downtown. The most important commercial amenity.

Eau Claire as well? In the new Eau Claire market, or the 7 tower development?

[GreaterMontréal]

Originally Posted by middeljohn

The most impressive neighboirhood I've ever seen was the Montreal midrises (3 storeys with steel staircases on the outside). You see these all around the inner city, and the street life is just incredible. It's not as hustle-and-bustle as Yonge-Bloor, but it's incredible how efficiently the space is used. One building has 20 units, with 3 bedrooms per unit and it sits in the space of about one suburban lot. So basically 20 times the density of the suburbs.

In Le Plateau ? you have Rosemont with the same kind of housing.

[matt602]

Originally Posted by Beedok

I just love this picture by Flar.

I just realized that you can see the Niagara Falls skyline way off in the distance in this shot. The Skylon tower seems to be on the left of the cluster. I've never seen that from Hamilton before, even though you can very easily see the Toronto skyline from Hamilton.