That was a really good article and bang on on most points. My wish is that Calgary STOPS growing outward and starts going upward. The next 20 years should be spent developing the existing city. Developing better transportation (read: LRT), the ring road, hospitals, and more fun places that are open to the public like Sikome Lake. Mackenzie Towne is one of the few new neighbourhoods with exemplary planning. Shops and stores, recreation areas to keep the youngins active and out of trouble such as the basketball courts and the rinks and the skate park. The skate park is pure brilliance. Kids will hone their skills on something, it might as well be a sport instead of B&Es like we see in some of the neighbourhoods that have nothing to do within walking distance for a teenager.
A city should be constantly thinking of all generations. Calgary hasn't been doing that. Most of the new neighbourhoods do not have schools. They have one or two kiddie parks. Great. Until the kids become teens.
Calgary just seems so polarized. Many of the communities are not conducive to all ages. That is changing though. Slowly but surely. I think we're catching on that a new community needs a mix of houses and condominiums, commercial, residential and recreational.
Seriously, it's time to stop expanding. Build on land we already have. Fill in the gaps.
|