Goodbye Lido Cafe

[Otto-matic]

The last greasy spoon diner in Kensington is shutting down operations on April 27th. The block will be demolished for the new condo that is going up

Fun fact, my grandfather was one of the founding members that opened that restraunt.

For anyone that's never been I strongly encourage you to go before they close.

[troutman]

Osteria is coming down for new condos (and will be coming back on ground floor). 8 story condos planned beside playground at Riley Park (Ezra). St. John's should be done soon.

http://www.century21.ca/alicia.colqu...ensignton_Site

http://www.battistella.ca/lido/

http://www.ezraonrileypark.com/

Pace of Kensington condo boom 'exciting,' but 'unnerving'
At least 7 developments, hundreds of units to go up over next few years in 1 of Calgary's oldest communities
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgar...ving-1.2490065

Carpenters' Union Hall and the building next to it on 10th Street will also be torn down to make way for a new, yet-to-be-named condo by Vancouver-based Bucci Developments Ltd. Sales are expected to begin in the fall.

[To bad - when I win the lottery, I was going to buy the Union Hall, and turn it into a Live Music Venue].

Ezra is really unpopular in the community. Many think we can do Better Than Ezra.

[Muta]

I actually saw an ad at the Sunalta station today for the new Lido development. It looks really nice. I'm sorry to see the Lido Cafe go, but that stretch of road in Kensington is a dump anyways. When I lived there, I never understood why people felt the need to resist change and new development for the area; just because something is old doesn't mean it's valuable and should be preserved.

[darklord700]

These are two pieces of prime real estate in Kensington. Won't be cheap though.

[Bigtime]

I'd still call the Osteria site proposal a long shot. I still think the owners are just trying to get the paperwork and everything good with the city so they can flip the land for a nice chunk of change to a developer.

I posted a rendering of the Carpenters Hall site proposal from Bucci on our SSP thread here.

[nik-]

I don't like the Lido development personally. They want to turn that street into a canyon which will kind of eliminate a lot of the benefit of the street on a sunny day.

[Parallex]

I'll be sad to see it go. Nice friendly place to go get a quick bite to eat at lunch, I appreciate a place that put's in the effort to be on a first name basis with it's customers.

Cheap breakfast special didn't hurt either.

[Otto-matic]

Originally Posted by darklord700

These are two pieces of prime real estate in Kensington. Won't be cheap though.

I heard a 1 bedroom / bathroom will cost a pretty penny, couldnt imagine what the 2 bd with den will cost.

[nik-]

I think discussion in another thread had them pegged at $600+ per square foot.

[Otto-matic]

Originally Posted by nik-

I don't like the Lido development personally. They want to turn that street into a canyon which will kind of eliminate a lot of the benefit of the street on a sunny day.

I feel bad for the people who bought the condo right behind the new lido building.

*my mistake of the pixal

[troutman]

I'm interested to see what restaurants and shops move into the ground floors of all these condos. K'Ton could become an even better entertainment district.

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by Otto-matic

I feel bad for the people who bought the condo right behind the new lido building.

They will have a great view of another complex instead of the sightlines into the NW like they were promised.

I highly doubt they were promised that. Seeing that both sites are owned by the same developer. I've also never come across a condo sales contract that ever had protection of views in the agreement.

Now a purchaser just assuming they'd keep their view. Well that's on them.

[Otto-matic]

I heard rumblings that the Ridleys block too will be gone, I know the vegan restraunt is moving back to Kelowna this summer.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Otto-matic

The last greasy spoon diner in Kensington is shutting down operations on April 27th. The block will be demolished for the new condo that is going up

Fun fact, my grandfather was one of the founding members that opened that restraunt.

For anyone that's never been I strongly encourage you to go before they close.

####, i have fond memories of this place.

[Muta]

Originally Posted by troutman

I'm interested to see what restaurants and shops move into the ground floors of all these condos. K'Ton could become an even better entertainment district.

That's what I think, too. Kensington is a great place to go, but it could be so much more. There really is a severe lack of good restaurants and a defining cultural institution in there - an new, intimate performance hall (seating for 500 or so) for local bands and other acts would be amazing in that area. Same with a jazz bar.

[Puppet Guy]

Lido was my favourite place to eat when I lived in Kensington. I'll have to get there for a burger before they shut it.

[Table 5]

I remember eating at the Lido weekly when going to college. The food was never that great (it definitely put the greasy in greasy spoon), it never looked that clean (god forbid you catch a glimpse of the kitchen), but it definitely had some character.

For food, I much preferred Take 10 down the street.

[Ozy_Flame]

Finally getting rid of the "dumpy" part of the Kensington. Ye gods, should have been done years ago. Lido Cafe was good though, and on the renderings of the Lido development, there appears to be maybe a space for a new Lido Cafe?

[SeeGeeWhy]

Originally Posted by troutman

Ezra is really unpopular in the community. Many think we can do Better Than Ezra.

It would be great for Kensington to attract more entertainment venues and solid restaurants.. its proximity to the river and its already cool identity make it the perfect district for this to happen. But honestly can the local population support it when the parking is so cruddy? Hopefully these high density mixed use developments encourage this area to take off in the ways we all know its possible.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Otto-matic

I know the vegan restraunt is moving back to Kelowna this summer.

Good riddance - check urban spoon for the funniest reviews ever.

http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/15/14597...e-Cafe-Calgary