[D as in David]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Agreed. The older I get, the less enamoured I am by towers, and more convinced that the perfect character neighbourhood has buildings that top out at around 3-5 stories. Go around the world to any city (whether its NYC, London, Sydney...or Calgary), and chances are that the neighborhoods that are beloved by local and visitors are not the ones with the high gleaming towers, but the ones with smaller-scaled buildings that put more emphasis on character, nice pedestrian experiences, quality materials, lots of sunlight, layered variety, etc.

I look at a place like Mississauga, with its rows of 50 story towers, and to me it's just as cold and sterile as any cookie-cutter suburb. They make great skylines and I'm sure they hit whatever density metric is set out, but the "pack em and stack em" philosophy does not make for a great neighbourhood.

On a somewhat related note, the annual Jane's Walks weekend is happening May 3-5.

https://janeswalk.calgarycommunities.com/

WHO’S JANE
Jane Jacobs (1916-2006) Jane was an urbanist and activist whose writings championed a fresh, community-based approach to city building.

She saw cities as ecosystems that had their own logic and dynamism which would change over time according to how they were used. With a keen eye for detail, she wrote eloquently about sidewalks, parks, retail design and self-organization. At the core of her work and thinking was the need to get out and walk your city and observe how people, through their actions and interactions, create communities with a strong sense of belonging.