Quote:
Originally Posted by Muta
1) If you think businesses outside of the core is a problem, you should look at what's going on inside the core. With vacancy at a fraction of a single percentile, it's companies being squeezed out of the inner core with higher rents and lack of space. These new urban development zones aim to address exactly that; and, along major transportation routes, no less.
2) I'm not sure how expansion of the LRT system increases traffic congestion. More train cabs are bound to be purchased, and with new tracks, commuter capacity along major routes is increased. With major urban commercial / residential development planned around these routes, I fail to see how traffic congestion on a city-wide scale will increase. If anything, this type of development will decrease travel time. Plans include a plethora of different concepts for stores, offices, plazas, and other contributing property types...
If you want an example of the closest thing in Calgary to one of these 'nodes', look no further than Crowfoot Crossing. It's everything a node is supposed to be minus the office space...
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When I look at the core I see a central hub well served by our city's
radial LRT system. Our mono-centric form complements our radial rail network because it concentrates the majority of the workforce in one area which is well served by a commuter rail type transit system; numerous points-to-one service.
When I look at Calgary as a polycentric city I see a planning disaster! Even if the new downtowns were TOD and prime examples of Urban Villages they wouldn't work. I think it's safe to say that in a polycentric Calgary at least half of the workforce would not work in the same quadrant as where they lived. As such, a lot of the traffic would be cross-town but since our transit system is radial it would be far easier for commuters to drive, which would lead to more congestion. Unless Calgary expands its rail network to conveniently serve point-to-point journeys the city should stick with its mono-centric form, but when does Sprawlgary ever making the correct planning choice...
I’m not sure Crowfoot Crossing is the best example; it’s pretty much an auto-oriented power centre. I’d say Calgary’s best node outside the downtown would be The Bridges, but surprise surprise it’s right next to the core…