Quote:
Originally Posted by SebC
You can't evaluate a downtown based the magnitude of its skyline. In the context of this discussion, anyways, what matters is at street level.
Most of the building you see in Calgary are commercial office towers that are empty by six every night. Vancouver's downtown is a nicer place to live than Calgary's in a lot of ways because many of their buildings, although they are shorter, are residential. Population density supports restaurants, parks, shopping, bars and clubs, entertainment etc. World class cities, world class destinations all have great downtowns. To achieve that, Calgary needs population density and beautification downtown.
Calgary will never be a huge tourist destination in itself by virtue of geography and (lack of) history, but it can become a nicer city for the people living here. The condo boom downtown is increasing the inner city population, and this bridge and the new music centre are the sort of things that make a difference at street level. To me at least, that's something to celebrate.
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I would argue that there is no city in the world where there is a tonne of off business hours activity in the 'commerce' (skyscrapper canyon) areas of downtowns.
Stephen Ave, 17th, Mission in Calgary
St Catherines, St Lawrence, Crescent in Montreal
Byward Market Ottawa...
and so on. The areas where people tend to play are more in the lo/mid-rise multi-use districts. Places where there are nice things. Like bridges.