East Village Rejuvenation Plan - Page 110

Bigtime · #**2181** Posted **Oct 18, 2016, 8:24 PM**

"Strange things are afoot at the East Village Circle K"

DizzyEdge · #**2182** Posted **Oct 18, 2016, 8:44 PM**

The thing with the gas station is something that happens all too often when it comes to Calgary's historic buildings: The last example(s) aren't great because the best were demolished long ago.

Stephen Ave · #**2183** Posted **Oct 19, 2016, 4:10 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by CalgaryAlex

I think if a Mac's or 7-Eleven (or an independent convenience store - although they always have worse hours) went into a new building in EV, that would fully cover the current services this gas station provides. If people want gas, they can go to the Centex across the river or one of two gas stations just down 1 St SE.

Or they could get gas from the existing station. I see people use it all the time, and thus don't see any issue with keeping it a gas station, I only wish the convenient store portion was updated.

Rollerstud98 · #**2184** Posted **Oct 19, 2016, 5:57 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stephen Ave

Or they could get gas from the existing station. I see people use it all the time, and thus don't see any issue with keeping it a gas station, I only wish the convenient store portion was updated.

Mostly was taxis getting gas there that I saw. Pretty sure they were buddies with the owner too. Probably gave them cheaper gas for a competitive edge.

Socguy · #**2185** Posted **Oct 19, 2016, 6:26 PM**

I don't know when the gas station was last reno'ed but a common problem with most of those old stations is leaking tanks underground.

But I agree with many posters; it brings a much needed gritty aesthetic to the area. Would be a shame to knock it down only to replace it with another fake brick facade.

The Fisher Account · #**2186** Posted **Oct 19, 2016, 6:33 PM**

People aren't moving to the NEW East Village for the grit.

The grit was the reason that whole neighborhood was basically derelict for half a century.

It's a good thing it's being razed.

Bigtime · #**2187** Posted **Oct 19, 2016, 6:40 PM**

An EV developer should name one of their developments Derelicte.

Rollerstud98 · #**2188** Posted **Oct 19, 2016, 8:32 PM**

Yes, yes they should!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPnO_JaJFn0

RyLucky · #**2189** Posted **Oct 20, 2016, 3:57 PM**

That is an extremely versatile location. Whatever ends up on the ground level is going to define the feel of EV.

It's always a bit poignant to lose an old character, and I would have supported reimagining the existing form, but I'm not attached to the current building nor it's current usage.

Ultimately so versatile retail bays are probably the best bet for the grade here. EV would benefit for clothing retail, brunch spots, private galleries, restaurants, and I think there's potential for that here.

Of note, this is the site that will be in the sight line of the riff, is it not?

CCF · #**2190** Posted **Oct 20, 2016, 4:12 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by RyLucky

Of note, this is the site that will be in the sight line of the riff, is it not?

Yes - so it's important that the view corridor ends in something that's worth continuing one's walk. Moreover, the parcels along that block of 8th Avenue are important in continuing the connection from the Riff to 3rd Street. I'm not sure a gas station with questionable heritage value is able to achieve any of that.

Chadillaccc · #**2191** Posted **Oct 20, 2016, 5:50 PM**

I hope one of the parcels in the East Village will include a movie theatre to steal the Scotiabank Theater away from Chinook. It's embarassing that our primary theatre is in such a far out location, we're the largest city in the country without our Scotiabank Theater downtown. It would be a huge draw to the East Village both on weeknights and weekends, so it really is something that CMLC should consider attracting. Hopefully in a large mixed use building similar to the one that Vancouver's Scotiabank Theater is in.

lubicon · #**2192** Posted **Oct 20, 2016, 6:55 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chadillaccc

I hope one of the parcels in the East Village will include a movie theatre to steal the Scotiabank Theater away from Chinook. It's embarassing that our primary theatre is in such a far out location, we're the largest city in the country without our Scotiabank Theater downtown. It would be a huge draw to the East Village both on weeknights and weekends, so it really is something that CMLC should consider attracting. Hopefully in a large mixed use building similar to the one that Vancouver's Scotiabank Theater is in.

Not that I disagree with your views of wanting a theatre in EV, but none of Ottawa, Edmonton, or Winnipeg have their Scotiabank theatre complexes downtown either. Just saying...

outoftheice · #**2193** Posted **Oct 20, 2016, 8:23 PM**

Not 100% but fairly certain the plans for the new Eau Claire Market development include a plans for Cineplex to build a new theatre there as part of phase 1 of the development. I agree that it would be nice to have a modern theatre downtown. My dream would be to have Cineplex in Eau Claire and an Empire Recliner Seat Theatre in East Village to offer some competition as well as variety in movies being shown but that could very well be theatre over-kill for the city centre.

Chadillaccc · #**2194** Posted **Oct 21, 2016, 9:44 PM**

Yeah I understand that, but that development won't get off the ground until well into the 2020s, if it ever does at all that is.

Quote:

Originally Posted by lubicon

Not that I disagree with your views of wanting a theatre in EV, but none of Ottawa, Edmonton, or Winnipeg have their Scotiabank theatre complexes downtown either. Just saying...

Yes, and as I said, we're the largest city in the country without ours downtown, we're larger than Ottawa, Edmonton, and Winnipeg. I guess it's good that we have a theater downtown at all (Eau Claire) but I never even really consider it an option to go to even though it's physically the closest theater to me. My bf and I always go to Sunridge, or if going to D-Box we go to Chinook, likely because those theatres just seem to offer a better entertainment experience. Does Eau Claire even have free parking?

WhipperSnapper · #**2195** Posted **Oct 21, 2016, 10:05 PM**

Why are you singling out Scotiabank branded theatres anyways?

CalgaryAlex · #**2196** Posted **Oct 24, 2016, 3:44 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhipperSnapper

Why are you singling out Scotiabank branded theatres anyways?

Yeah, it's not like that brand provides a premium experience. The one in Chinook still has dusty old scarabs hanging about from back in the day.

Eau Claire is just as good as any other theater in the city - I don't see the point in driving up to Sunridge just to avoid the place.

The Fisher Account · #**2197** Posted **Oct 26, 2016, 2:18 PM**

Saw a piling machine at ALT today.

I can't see this hotel being successful in that location. Especially not with the Hilton just going up. Seems like over-saturation to me, but hey, what do I know

Chadillaccc · #**2198** Posted **Oct 26, 2016, 5:36 PM**

If the hype is to be believed, this will be the cheapest "nice" hotel in the downtown core. I think it will do fine, especially since the Hilton down the street really offers nothing that Alt doesn't(except maybe a conference centre, not sure if Alt will have one). While Alt will be both cheaper and newer, and with direct, unobstructable views of the river.

CCF · #**2199** Posted **Oct 26, 2016, 6:18 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Fisher Account

Saw a piling machine at ALT today.

I can't see this hotel being successful in that location. Especially not with the Hilton just going up. Seems like over-saturation to me, but hey, what do I know

Interesting as I was just musing early today as to how if I were a visitor to Calgary (in the medium to long term) I would prefer to stay in EV rather than downtown (which for the most part rolls up the carpet at night).

Most of the downtown core pales in comparison to other central neighbourhoods (i.e. Beltline, Mission, Hillhurst-Sunnyside) with respect to 'good' urbanism - yet that's what most visitors see as this where most of the hotels are located.

That being said, maybe in 10 years when EV is built out, steps have been taken to implement a better built form for the downtown as well (but at the moment we continue to perpetuate the problem through design and land use decisions).

WhipperSnapper · #**2200** Posted **Oct 26, 2016, 6:50 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Fisher Account

Saw a piling machine at ALT today.

I can't see this hotel being successful in that location. Especially not with the Hilton just going up. Seems like over-saturation to me, but hey, what do I know

actually makes a lot of sense for hotel properties to cluster and feed off one another.