Quote:
Originally Posted by Sample00
Pardon me for bringing up a touchy subject....I dont live in Calgary anymore but can someone explain to me why the Calgary NEXXT project (the one just off Crowchild Trail with the environmentally unfriendly site) was such a bad idea?
It seems to me that would have been a great place to build a new complex and clean up an old, contaminated site.
From what I recall, CSAE wanted the city to clean up the site and "gift" them the land?
Sorry I just dont recall all the details...
A condensed version, please?
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There was nothing wrong with the proposed site. It was actually ideal for an arena and stadium for many reasons, and would have been the catalyst for a complete (and sorely needed) redevelopment in that area. Unfortunately the cost of the project (and who was going to pay for it), the matter of the creosote cleanup and the backlash of NIMBYers became the main factors of this discussion and ultimately a more subdued 'Plan B' was proposed for the Stampede location.
CalgaryNEXT fell off the rails for a variety of reasons, but I liked the West Village location for many reasons. I've seen concepts for the same area that are not CalgaryNEXT - and not released to the public - that were absolutely gorgeous. Given this I'm optimistic about the future of the arena, even though there's no movement on it for the time being. I know what Calgarians could get down the line (and it'll be better than Edmonton!).