The Great Canadian Skyline Thread! II

[kw5150]

Who knows. Maybe it will re-open as an adaptive re-use building? The theatre could be re-purposed. Modernized? Do we need more than one theatre on that street? <---honest question.

Originally Posted by Allan83

On Calgary’s downtown in general, part of the reason the Beltline, Inglewood, and Kensington are busier is the ease of access, easier to park, cost of parking. With the new west LRT, however, which goes through a number of middle to upper class neighbourhoods, I wonder if we’ll see more people with money going downtown to shop, or for a meal. If the Core stayed open late every night now I wonder how much more business the west LRT would bring in?

Another small but significant hit to downtown was the closure of the Barron Building. Does anyone have any news on its status? I think there were only two theatres in there, but they were busy all the time with alternative movies, modern dance, and other things as well.

[Calgarian]

How is this discussion still going on? Calgary's business district is about 90% office buildings, of course it is quiet on evenings and weekends, there is nothing there to really bring people downtown. There are a few destination areas like Eau Claire or Stephen Ave that are usually really busy outside office hours, but this is a very young city of just a million people, we can't have the whole downtown vibrant, there just isn't the critical mass of people necessary to acheive that. This city gets better every year, and I truly believe it will become one of Canada's great cities, but it's completely ignorant to compare it to Vancouver, Montreal or Toronto as all those places are far larger and obviously have more people to create vibrancy. The only cities that really are close to a fair comparison would be Ottawa or Edmonton.

[Yackemflaber69]

!!!!!!!!!genius!!!!!!!!

[lucci]

open season by ronnie.yip, on Flickr

[Allan83]

Originally Posted by kw5150

Who knows. Maybe it will re-open as an adaptive re-use building? The theatre could be re-purposed. Modernized? Do we need more than one theatre on that street? <---honest question.

I would say yes. I think it was a great little hub, with 4 or 5 screens playing art movies and alternative movies of various sorts, and there were some bars in that area with live music, and some nice causal restaurants and bars where you could go to chat after the movie, or meet before. That part of 8th ave and a couple of blocks west was a lot of fun, and then farther east you got into more of the Flames Central crowd. It’s been a few years since I’ve spend much time down there, for various reasons, and most of the places I can remember I think are gone now, including the Uptown, so I’m not sure it’s the same way now, but it used to be great.

[RyeJay]

Originally Posted by Calgarian

How is this discussion still going on? Calgary's business district is about 90% office buildings, of course it is quiet on evenings and weekends, there is nothing there to really bring people downtown. There are a few destination areas like Eau Claire or Stephen Ave that are usually really busy outside office hours, but this is a very young city of just a million people, we can't have the whole downtown vibrant, there just isn't the critical mass of people necessary to acheive that. This city gets better every year, and I truly believe it will become one of Canada's great cities, but it's completely ignorant to compare it to Vancouver, Montreal or Toronto as all those places are far larger and obviously have more people to create vibrancy. The only cities that really are close to a fair comparison would be Ottawa or Edmonton.

Calgary is most certainly far past the critical mass necessary to create a vibrant downtown. When the city reverses some of the hardships created by its insane levels of sprawl, and establishes more residential options in its downtown, then we will see more activitiy outside of 'business hours'.

[Allan83]

Originally Posted by RyeJay

Calgary is most certainly far past the critical mass necessary to create a vibrant downtown. When the city reverses some of the hardships created by its insane levels of sprawl, and establishes more residential options in its downtown, then we will see more activitiy outside of 'business hours'.

Calgary has a very dense downtown, but the most vibrant areas in the evenings are in the areas immediately around downtown, like the Beltline (17th, 1st St. SW, 11th Ave, etc.), Kensington, and Inglewood. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, mind you, but I think that activity could work its way into downtown as well, and the whole thing could be a continuous mix of different busy streets and interesting neighbourhoods. If the west LRT brings enough people downtown to justify keeping the Core open late every night that would be great. And when the condo towers on 10th get built that will bring a lot of people to the 8th ave strip as well. And there are more condos being built at Eau Clare, and of course East Village is under construction...

[RyeJay]

Originally Posted by Allan83

Calgary has a very dense downtown, but the most vibrant areas in the evenings are in the areas immediately around downtown, like the Beltline (17th, 1st St. SW, 11th Ave, etc.), Kensington, and Inglewood. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, mind you, but I think that activity could work its way into downtown as well, and the whole thing could be a continuous mix of different busy streets and interesting neighbourhoods. If the west LRT brings enough people downtown to justify keeping the Core open late every night that would be great. And when the condo towers on 10th get built that will bring a lot of people to the 8th ave strip as well. And there are more condos being built at Eau Clare, and of course East Village is under construction...

Not residentially.

[travis3000]

Originally Posted by lucci

open season by ronnie.yip, on Flickr

Awesome picture!

[Stephen Ave]

Is it possible you were there on a Sunday? I know a lot of businesses are closed on Sundays, but virtually everything is open on Saturdays, and also Saturdays are almost as busy as weekedays downtown. Regarding the indoor mall, if it was a couple of years ago, maybe it was when the Core mall was under renos or something.

On a side note, in case you're in downtown Calgary again, there's a Quiznos on 3rd street and 6th ave.

Originally Posted by Denscity

Whoa seems like a couple of us have started a fire in this thread. Flames central indeed . Anyways a few points for clarification:
I did not lie about my comment at all. Perhaps i was on a cross street near flames central and not on Stephen Ave?
Chadillac's original comment reminded me of a similar experience.
I was looking more for downtown retail open on saturday as opposed to a restaurant. Found what looked to be an indoor mall downtown but was disappointed and surprised that it was closed. And prefered a chain at least that i didnt have two of in my own small town. Woulda been happy to at least find that quiznos as we didnt have one here at home at that time.
Your comments make you guys seem more sensitive than need be.
My experience was from couple of years ago, not exactly last weekend, so i assume things have improved.

[Denscity]

Originally Posted by Stephen Ave

Is it possible you were there on a Sunday? I know a lot of businesses are closed on Sundays, but virtually everything is open on Saturdays, and also Saturdays are almost as busy as weekedays downtown. Regarding the indoor mall, if it was a couple of years ago, maybe it was when the Core mall was under renos or something.

On a side note, in case you're in downtown Calgary again, there's a Quiznos on 3rd street and 6th ave.

Im pretty sure it was a saturday. I would not have been surprised if that mall was closed on a sunday in any city. It must have been reno time. And thanks for the quiznos local. Castlegar now has a quiznos itself so ill be looking for something we dont have. Maybe a Carls Jr? I eat higher end usually but something quick is sometimes all theres time for. And ya im due for another Calgary visit. Its only a 1 hour flight from here and there are heavy rumours that were going to be getting Westjet Encore which may add a second daily option to fly to Calgary from Castlegar.

[Calgarian]

Originally Posted by RyeJay

Calgary is most certainly far past the critical mass necessary to create a vibrant downtown. When the city reverses some of the hardships created by its insane levels of sprawl, and establishes more residential options in its downtown, then we will see more activitiy outside of 'business hours'.

Calgary has vibrancy downtown, it's just concentrated in a few areas. My point was this city needs many more people if the entire downtown is going to be vibrant.

Originally Posted by RyeJay

Not residentially.

That's the point, obviously. We are building tons of residential downtown, unfortunately most of it is surrounding the CBD.

[Calgarian]

Originally Posted by Denscity

And ya im due for another Calgary visit. Its only a 1 hour flight here and there are heavy rumours that were going to be getting Westjet Encore which may add a second daily option to fly to Calgary from Castlegar.

I know flying is faster and more convenient, but the drive from Castlegar to Calgary is pretty spectacular!

[Calgarian]

Originally Posted by Surrealplaces

iPhone 4S by veliiii, on Flickr

Wow, that is a cool damn picture!

[Chadillaccc]

Originally Posted by Lenin

Not to beat this issue to death, but....

I hail from Calgary, and the lack of pedestrian activity of the core used to bug me incessantly. But damn, 17th Ave is a pretty big exception. I have never seen that strip actually dead. And in the years since I've moved to Peg City, that area seems to be even busier each time I visit. Sir, I do believe you are mistaken. 17th Ave. ain't dead. Not by a long shot. Word.

No one said anything about 17th man. We're talking about the financial core. 17th ave is the nexus of a completely different neighbourhood outside the financial core. But I digress, people have become belligerent regarding this issue so I'm done discussing it. 17th ave rocks though. Same with Kensington ave.

[Denscity]

Originally Posted by Calgarian

I know flying is faster and more convenient, but the drive from Castlegar to Calgary is pretty spectacular!

Oh its a gorgeous drive from here to there. If its springtime then ill drive. Winter then fly.

[Surrealplaces]

I don't know if there are any chains downtown that Castlegar doesn't have, but if on Stephen Ave, and looking for good but fast food try Falafel King. It's fast food, but tasty and healthy.

Originally Posted by Denscity

Im pretty sure it was a saturday. I would not have been surprised if that mall was closed on a sunday in any city. It must have been reno time. And thanks for the quiznos local. Castlegar now has a quiznos itself so ill be looking for something we dont have. Maybe a Carls Jr? I eat higher end usually but something quick is sometimes all theres time for. And ya im due for another Calgary visit. Its only a 1 hour flight from here and there are heavy rumours that were going to be getting Westjet Encore which may add a second daily option to fly to Calgary from Castlegar.

[Surrealplaces]

Originally Posted by RyeJay

Calgary is most certainly far past the critical mass necessary to create a vibrant downtown. When the city reverses some of the hardships created by its insane levels of sprawl, and establishes more residential options in its downtown, then we will see more activitiy outside of 'business hours'.

I doubt the downtown commercial business district (CBD) will ever change, and nor do I believe it needs to. After all it is a business district, and there isn't really a need to have it vibrant and full of people.

Cities only need to have vibrant areas somewhere in the general area of the city's core. New York and San Francisco both have areas full of office buildings that are dead zones after hours, but vibrant neighborhoods that are adjacent.

[RyeJay]

Originally Posted by Surrealplaces

I doubt the downtown commercial business district (CBD) will ever change, and nor do I believe it needs to. After all it is a business district, and there isn't really a need to have it vibrant and full of people.

Cities only need to have vibrant areas somewhere in the general area of the city's core. New York and San Francisco both have areas full of office buildings that are dead zones after hours, but vibrant neighborhoods that are adjacent.

Downtown Calgary has a disproportionately low amount of residential compared to similarly sized cities and even cities much smaller than itself. You don't believe the CBD needs changing?... Sure. Whatever. I, personally, am fine with districts not holding strong to being too exclusionary and 'purist'; sure a business district is mainly for businesses, but it's silly to think there is no possibility for at least a modest residential market.

Regardless, the downtown will benefit when it eventually develops a decent stock of residential sites. It's getting there.

[Surrealplaces]

I agree, downtown Calgary has a higher than normal proportion of commercial to residential, and it would be nice to see some more residential mixed in, but in the end does it really matter? All that should matter is that you have vibrant neighborhoods and streets in the central area of a city.

Originally Posted by RyeJay

Downtown Calgary has a disproportionately low amount of residential compared to similarly sized cities and even cities much smaller than itself. You don't believe the CBD needs changing?... Sure. Whatever. I, personally, am fine with districts not holding strong to being too exclusionary and 'purist'; sure a business district is mainly for businesses, but it's silly to think there is no possibility for at least a modest residential market.

Regardless, the downtown will benefit when it eventually develops a decent stock of residential sites. It's getting there.