Quote:
Originally Posted by Cappy
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This is Calgary's biggest problem. Density-wise we have a teeny tiny inventory of buildings between single family homes in the burbs and 20+ storey condo buildings. We need more of the sort of 3-4 storey buildings that mostly exist the Beltline (that are slowly but surely being torn down and replaced with apartment towers) to be built elsewhere.
Our suburban communities are planning disasters, but a lot of Calgary's density problems need to be fixed by redeveloping the pre-war and 1950s neighbourhoods that were originally low-density suburbs but are now in the inner city. I live in that 'ring' around the core, I have a much bigger lot than the average suburban house, and as much as I enjoy it I can see that it simply isn't sustainable. Unfortunately there are parts of that area that will be very difficult to redevelop due to very very deeply entrenched opposition with money behind it (e.g. Crescent Heights, Sunnyside, Upper Mount Royal, Elbow Park, Britannia, Elboya) and some special cases where legally it would be difficult (i.e. Scarboro, which has a robust 100+ year old restrictive covenant that limits the neighbourhood to single-family homes).