Quote:
Originally Posted by Cactus Jack
I agree with both of you 100%. Calgary has a vibrant downtown core until 5/6pm when everyone goes to the suburbs. It's partially because few people live downtown but the sprawl encourage mini-metro centre like Deerfoot Meadows, Market Mall, Chinook and Shawnessey so there is no reason to have a vibrant night or cultural vibe. Kids don't even play on the streets like they used to when I was a wee lad.
That's why I love cities like Vancouver, TO and Montreal so much. You can walk around almost any reasonable time of day, any day off the week and with any weather, and there's a vibe. People are out shopping, go to packed streets with bars, cafes and restaurants and there is lots to do. Calgary severely lacks that and I think its not caused by but rather encouraged by the sprawl.
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I think you'll see Calgary over the years become more like Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal where you'll see more people living downtown particularly the core. People are sick of commuting to and from work and want more culture, entertainment etc.. The advantages of yards etc. in the suburbs aren't worthwhile anymore.
I read an interesting article not too long away (cannot remember the source but if I find I'll link) about more low income people are moving to the suburbs and more wealthy people are moving back to the innner city. Therefore, changing innner city slums into viable areas and turning sleepy suburbs into more diverse areas. The main reason they said is that people are sick of commuting. Calgary is following that trend. Many people cannot afford to live downtown so they are stuck in the suburbs. Areas of downtown that used to be slums filled with low income families are now affluent, viable areas.