West LRT | 7 Stations | 8.0 KM | In Service

[frinkprof]

Nevermind.

[frinkprof]

Nevermind.

[Wooster]

That screening is kind of neat. It would be good if they got a few retail units in on the ground floor.

[You Need A Thneed]

Why do the pictures still show it as the "Telus world of Science" when it won't be that any longer when the WLRT is open?

[frinkprof]

Nevermind.

[You Need A Thneed]

A tender is out to create a new driveway access, and create some new parking at the Science centre, which has to be done before the demolition of the existing parking structure, which will be the next contract.

[srperrycgy]

A couple of retail updates:

• The Husky gas station at 17th Ave @ 37th ST has closed and is awaiting demolition.
  
• The Shoppers Drug Mart at 17th Ave @ 39th ST will close January 1, 2010 and relocate across the street in the former Liquidation World (former Food City) location. The lease was extended another 6 months. This info was contained in a letter from the West LRT project that was posted at the checkout.
  
• The new Scotiabank at 17th Ave @ 33rd St should be open in the next few weeks. After that, the existing location should be ready for demo.

[frinkprof]

Nevermind.

[SubwayRev]

The new Scotiabank is supposed to open on August 14th, so I would assume they start bringing the old one down shortly after that.

[frinkprof]

Nevermind.

[MalcolmTucker]

Originally Posted by frinkprof

From the Opinion section of today's Calgary Herald.http://www.calgaryherald.com/BestWest+advocacy+better+plan/1777393/story.html

Sounds like he is trying to pat himself on the back for being a NIMBY and he aspires to be a CAVE Person or BANANA.

[Mike Wilhelm]

Originally Posted by Sir.Humphrey.Appleby

Sounds like he is trying to pat himself on the back for being a NIMBY and he aspires to be a CAVE Person or BANANA.

Just got back from vacation and discovered some interesting "Sir Humphrey" spin here.

The op-ed piece was my take and not that of BestWestLRT or my community, as is this response. Keep in mind various community residents have been monitoring this forum for over a year and a half, to determine the position of city insiders (particularly the one that takes as a alias a self serving character from a very good but cynical British comedy).

My piece was intended to be favorable to city administration, and critical of narrow NIMBY interests. It was intended to encourage communities to apply a little intellectual rigor to their reactions to change. In keeping with that principal, I'd support you, Sir Humphrey, as a self professed "wonk" to apply the same rigor to your opinions about my intentions. Name calling, politically correct or not, doesn’t cut it.

As a direct property owner next to the WestLRT (My sole interest is the house in which I reside), NIMBY is the first natural reaction. As a community, we were successful in converting that energy into some "trust relationships with city decision makers” and have managed to improve the city’s processes in regards to our community. I’m not yet sure whether we have achieved a better LRT plan, but a few details got worked out. Pedestrian bridges were removed from the plan, and added elsewhere. Berms were added to support the bridges. Changes were made to the height of sound walls and the design of interchanges. A substation was moved.

I'm sure some of those city decision makers were appreciative of our positive written comments regarding both the Westbrook ARP and the LRT consultation process made by myself and other community members. These decision makers would likey be disappointed to hear that a city insider continues to insult our intentions in a public forum.

Hopefully, Sir Humphrey, I will have the opportunity to meet you some day, and know your real name and interest in this matter. Drop me a line - my email is on the BestWestLRT website.

[freeweed]

Originally Posted by Mike Wilhelm

As a direct property owner next to the WestLRT

I'd kill for this blessing, personally. When looking to buy property next to the NW LRT (ie: walking distance to a station), it was prohibitively expensive - and this was 2005, before the boom really pumped up property values. I can't imagine what a good house in a nice neighbourhood that's a 10-minute LRT ride from downtown (WLRT is going to be a short, fast route) would fetch. Probably start at $6-700,000 and go up from there.

Do you drive to work, or take transit?

Not sure why you think this forum is full of city employees/council (whatever an "insider" is). Just about all of us are just your typical Internet geeks in one form or another. I think a couple work or have worked for the city's planning department.

[Mike Wilhelm]

I never thought West LRT was a problem - I came to the inner city by choice, and based on 8 years in Vancouver was very happy to buy next to a future LRT line. The issue is not "for or against"; it is treating property owners with appropriate consideration and respect.

Planners don't know how kids need to walk to school, how the seniors integrate with the community (or not), why inappropraite placement of a pedestrian bridge might result in under utilization, that we would be willing to sacrifice part of our park so that a substation wouldn't be behind somebody's house. Planners certainly didn't know the local history, and how the community was named - this might have important implications for, say historical recognition within the station itself. Communities and their residents can help the city, and buy into the plan.

I drive to work and take transit downtown in the evenings - the bus stop is where the station well be. The LRT station will be a few houses away, and the downtown station is immediately in front of my building, so it would be impossible to justify driving. It would be probably also quicker to take the train. Currently, bike is fastest (weather permitting).

I don't think this forum is full of insiders. I think there are a lot of young enthusiastic people on this forum and a few "authoritative" posters, who seem to "guide" the discussion towards the city party line. Take a look at the city's communication budget and you might get the picture.

This is "spin"; I see it in the Calgary Herald comments section and I see it here. I don't thing any reasonable thinking individual independant of the city would be anti-community. Keep in mind we are volunteers who are actually using our real names. We are putting our business and professional reputations on the line.

Most of these individuals hide behind aliases; I can't specify their interest because they won't either. So I generically refer to them as "insiders".

[YYCguys]

A new office/library building on Westbrook Village lands (Petro Can gas station is currently there) is going before CPC shortly. I think the building looks blah! But then it is only black and white. Color renderings might change my mind! And I couldn't get a real sense of how the office and library portions of the building would look inside either from the CPC agenda report.

http://www.calgary.ca/docgallery/BU/dba/calgary_planning_commission/agenda/2009/dp2009-1019.pdf

[frinkprof]

Nevermind.

[mersar]

Interesting to see them proposing a Bow like parkade (and actually reference the Bow project in how it will be setup in terms of the strata) for the building itself which will stretch under 33rd Street

[frinkprof]

Nevermind.

[Wentworth]

Perhaps I don't understand urban planning, but this looks really awful to me. The building looks like your typical econobox commercial building, and is that supposed to be a park behind it, because it has all the feel of a vacant lot?

Westbrook is already a challenged area with a high crime rate and a lot of drug commerce. I really think they need to make a bold move here to improve the attractiveness of the area, given that they're hoping to get people to move there.

[Yume-sama]

Originally Posted by Wentworth

Perhaps I don't understand urban planning, but this looks really awful to me. The building looks like your typical econobox commercial building, and is that supposed to be a park behind it, because it has all the feel of a vacant lot?

Westbrook is already a sensitive area with a high crime rate and a lot of drug commerce. I really think they need to make a bold move here to improve the attractiveness of the area, given that they're hoping to get people to move there.

But... like what? The Wal*Mart is already open 24 hours!