20 Decisions That Shaped Calgary

[Regulator75]

Didn't know where to put this, but it's a great article in Avenue magazine. Some of the information is common knowledge but there is added insight and details that shouldn't be forgotten.

A city becomes what it is by the accumulation of decisions made and the paths taken and not taken.
To mark Avenue’s 20th anniversary, we take a look at 20 decisions, big and small, that have made Calgary what it is — a growing city, coming into its own, that we have had the honour and privilege of writing about for two decades.

http://www.avenuecalgary.com/City-Li...haped-Calgary/

[polak]

That article, I liked it.

Another!

[Northendzone]

i need to spend more time reading the whole article, but i was surprised that the pathway systems was not a point on it's own

[WilsonFourTwo]

^It's funny that you mention that. After a little over 6 months in Vancouver, it's the Calgary pathway system that I miss more than anything else (besides family and friends, obviously).

The pathways in Vancouver are pretty poor by comparison, in both quality and in layout, and it's difficult to go more than a few blocks without having to stop and wait for a traffic light.

I love the fact that I could ride 20, 30, 40km in Calgary and never have to stop pedaling. I recognized that this was special, but now I realize that its actually nothing short of amazing.

The Calgary pathway system.....easily a "Top 5" reason to live in Calgary, imo.

[CliffFletcher]

Nice to see some positive recognition of historical decisions made by city planners.

[WilsonFourTwo]

I think the biggest decision in terms have having a livable city came in the 1960s. The proposal was to build a 6-10 lane expressway that would have bulldozed Chinatown and Eau Claire. Can't help but think that would have damaged, even possibly destroyed, the Prince's Island that we think of today. I cannot fathom what that part of town may have ended up becoming...

[Northendzone]

^ sure would ahve changed the face of downtown and possibly the heart of the pathway system

[flylock shox]

I had no idea Calgary has such a huge pathway system. Growing up, I used our local paths to go on all sorts of kid adventures. I'd love to take the grownup bike and do some serious exploring now.

I also like how the article refers to a black guy and a brown dude. That's so Calgary.

[Table 5]

I know it has its detractors now, but I think the Cycletrack will be on this list when the next generation looks back.

That and hopefully a street car loop linking all the inner-city communities. They need to send a "Bill Kuyt" to Europe again.

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

i need to spend more time reading the whole article, but i was surprised that the pathway systems was not a point on it's own

A lot of important decisions tied together. Stopping the freeway through downtown enabled most crucial part of regional pathway. Not having a freeway precipitated moving toward a more transit-focused downtown core. A key policy in this was restricting the supply of parking, which enabled the LRT to actually be a success in a relatively spread out prairie city. All these crucial decisions happened in the mid 60s through late 70s when other cities where making some catastrophic errors they are paying for today.

[Cappy]

Originally Posted by WilsonFourTwo

I think the biggest decision in terms have having a livable city came in the 1960s. The proposal was to build a 6-10 lane expressway that would have bulldozed Chinatown and Eau Claire. Can't help but think that would have damaged, even possibly destroyed, the Prince's Island that we think of today. I cannot fathom what that part of town may have ended up becoming...

It seems crazy now but that was the way planners looked at river-side property at the time. Many cities had built freeways this way: The Gardiner in Toronto is the one that gets most publicity and the talk of what to do with it lends credence to the relief that it was not built.

If you are ever by the peer in San Francisco, that area was all derelict cause the embarcadero (the roadway) was an elevated freeway until the most recent earthquake there made it possible to knock it down.

Another city fighting the waterfront freeway is Seattle.

Definitely dodged a bullet. Although could you imagine how fast you could get out of DT!!!!

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by Cappy

Another city fighting the waterfront freeway is Seattle.

I believe their tunnel project is a go. Only ~$5 billion to rectify that mistake...

[Cappy]

Originally Posted by Bill Bumface

I believe their tunnel project is a go. Only ~$5 billion to rectify that mistake...

A lot of construction the last time i was there.

[Rutuu]

Originally Posted by Bill Bumface

I believe their tunnel project is a go. Only ~$5 billion to rectify that mistake...

I live in a city that is going through the pain of trying to undo losing their waterfront. Some HUGE projects trying to deal with it.

Lots of big moments/feelings in Calgary that weren't mentioned but that I've heard over the years:

1. Barron's building - I guess an American from Oklahoma built the project on spec and convinced Shell to move their Canadian head office there. Beginning the centralisation of the Canadian petroleum industry in Calgary and the skyscrapers that followed. (https://www.heritagecanada.org/en/is...arron-building)

2. Strong civic leadership - we believe we can do anything and we're taught that everyday in Calgary - move somewhere else and you realize that Calgary's attitude is unique not the norm.

3. Everything in Calgary is earned - Guaranteed government dollars don't flow into the city as it's not the provincial capital, nor does it have a military base, or a University (till 1966). Leads to a real feeling that if things are going to get done Calgarians do it themselves.

Feel free to add more as a Calgarian that lives abroad I want to know what made my hometown what it is today.

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

Originally Posted by Rutuu

3. Everything in Calgary is earned - Guaranteed government dollars don't flow into the city as it's not the provincial capital, nor does it have a military base, or a University (till 1966). Leads to a real feeling that if things are going to get done Calgarians do it themselves.

Feel free to add more as a Calgarian that lives abroad I want to know what made my hometown what it is today.

Honestly, the idea that Calgary doesn't get assistance from the government is laughable. They had a base until the move to Edmonton in the late 90s.

[Swift]

I don't think it was mentioned in the article (I just skimmed) but Mawson's city plans of 1913 would've changed the city completely. Hard to say if for better or worse, but it certainly would've been a completely different city.

This would've been 4th St and Centre SW:



Ultimately, the plan was shot down due to being incredibly expensive. It would've cost $10 million in 1913 money.

[Rutuu]

Originally Posted by Mean Mr. Mustard

Honestly, the idea that Calgary doesn't get assistance from the government is laughable. They had a base until the move to Edmonton in the late 90s.

Agree...we lost the base and the CBC television station that year. Liberal government federally...two liberal seats in Edmonton and a conservative (Reform/PC's) sweep in Calgary. Chretien didn't even land the plane in Calgary.

Definitely revisionist history here, but Calgary hasn't had a base for about 20yrs...that's a lot of guaranteed jobs for the economy gone. Having the Capital adds more guaranteed jobs. Edmonton is also more centrally located to all of the major petroleum fields. It's remarkable that Calgary has grown to where they have despite these disadvantages.

[polak]

Originally Posted by Cameron Swift

I don't think it was mentioned in the article (I just skimmed) but Mawson's city plans of 1913 would've changed the city completely. Hard to say if for better or worse, but it certainly would've been a completely different city.

This would've been 4th St and Centre SW:



Ultimately, the plan was shot down due to being incredibly expensive. It would've cost $10 million in 1913 money.

WOW.

That's a shame.

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by Bill Bumface

I believe their tunnel project is a go. Only ~$5 billion to rectify that mistake...

That whole project is a boondoggle right up there with Boston's "Big Dig", even the freaking tunnel boring machine got stuck. They had to dig a hole above it to get access to it to try and fix it.