Imperial Oil building office in Quarry Park

[northcrunk]

Personally the last thing I would want is a c-train station close to my house. Look at what has happened to Shawnessey since the train was put in there. It used to be a somewhat nice area.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by northcrunk

Personally the last thing I would want is a c-train station close to my house. Look at what has happened to Shawnessey since the train was put in there. It used to be a somewhat nice area.

What happened to the area post LRT expansion? I lived in Evergreen Estate up until 2001 but haven't really been back since moving. I know the eastern parts of Millrise and Shawnessy were always pretty crappy and felt somewhat run down but how have things changed in recent times?

[Muta]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

That cross section between 37th and 33rd, and 17th and Bow Trail is coming down the pipeline (Muta, can you confirm?)

Yep. Big development plans for the area, including the mall location (if they can get the Mexican owner to play nice). All barren locations at the moment are ready to go. Places such as Wendy's, the Rusty Cage (whatever it's called now), all that development will eventually be removed. This isn't a small project; this is a new TOD that the City is pushing hard for.

[northcrunk]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

What happened to the area post LRT expansion? I lived in Evergreen Estate up until 2001 but haven't really been back since moving. I know the eastern parts of Millrise and Shawnessy were always pretty crappy and felt somewhat run down but how have things changed in recent times?

More crime, punk kids running around, drunks hanging out at the DQ looking to score $1 burgers. My inlaws live near the station and most of the homes have become rentals and the people who live in (or the landlords) them don't give a crap and they are getting run down. I tell my wife all the time Shawnessy looks like Abbeydale now but not as nice lol. (I grew up in Abbeydale)

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by Muta

Yep. Big development plans for the area, including the mall location (if they can get the Mexican owner to play nice). All barren locations at the moment are ready to go. Places such as Wendy's, the Rusty Cage (whatever it's called now), all that development will eventually be removed. This isn't a small project; this is a new TOD that the City is pushing hard for.

I love the grandiose plans for the TOD that the City planners envision but I wish it was easier for them to make it a reality. It would have been expensive at the time but the City should have expropriated all the land between 33 and 37 street and Bow Trail and 17 Ave during the transit expansion.

They could have used the land for the LRT tunnel, built a new and proper rec centre with a new library (Killarney rec centre just isn't sufficient and the library in Spruce Cliff is pretty disappointing.) They could have built in some green space while also putting in some sort of new affordable housing solutions. The remaining sections/parcels could have gone to developers for commercial and residential purposes.

I hate seeing areas like Westbrook Mall and their ownership bring down or stall potentially attractive re-development.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

The SW ring road should probably take the approach of being a toll road much like the 407 in Toronto. That way maybe the City can make a little bit of money but more importantly maybe it could help appease the First Nation. I remember back in the day the idea was floated by Ralph Klein.

Why in the ever loving hell should we consider doing anything further to appease the Tsuu T'ina?

[Muta]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

I love the grandiose plans for the TOD that the City planners envision but I wish it was easier for them to make it a reality. It would have been expensive at the time but the City should have expropriated all the land between 33 and 37 street and Bow Trail and 17 Ave during the transit expansion.

They could have used the land for the LRT tunnel, built a new and proper rec centre with a new library (Killarney rec centre just isn't sufficient and the library in Spruce Cliff is pretty disappointing.) They could have built in some green space while also putting in some sort of new affordable housing solutions. The remaining sections/parcels could have gone to developers for commercial and residential purposes.

I hate seeing areas like Westbrook Mall and their ownership bring down or stall potentially attractive re-development.

Rarely do you ever see developments of this magnitude every completed at the same time - atleast not in Calgary. They are usually phased, and for good reason. Financing restraints, traffic management, community pushback... the list goes on.

Look at Banker's Hall - that 2nd tower didn't happen until 10 years later. The Westgate development (three condo towers) took four years. London at Heritage is STILL building, and that's a four-condo development going on six years now. Chinook Mall will be expanding across Macleod Trail... the list goes on. Rarely are these things ever all built at once.

There isn't really a need for the development to go ahead at the same time, either. I think that's just a personal preference on your part - which is fine, but it isn't something to be upset about. There's so many complicated factors that go into these massive developments that it is normal to expect a drawn-out timeframe for these things.

As for affordable housing, a library, commercial development zones, etc... those are all being factored in. In fact, you may not know this, but the Shaganappi library is moving to a new location (I believe it's going to be in the new Transit Centre building, but I'm not 100% sure).

It's all going to come, just be patient.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by Muta

Rarely do you ever see developments of this magnitude every completed at the same time - atleast not in Calgary. They are usually phased, and for good reason. Financing restraints, traffic management, community pushback... the list goes on.

Look at Banker's Hall - that 2nd tower didn't happen until 10 years later. The Westgate development (three condo towers) took four years. London at Heritage is STILL building, and that's a four-condo development going on six years now. Chinook Mall will be expanding across Macleod Trail... the list goes on. Rarely are these things ever all built at once.

There isn't really a need for the development to go ahead at the same time, either. I think that's just a personal preference on your part - which is fine, but it isn't something to be upset about. There's so many complicated factors that go into these massive developments that it is normal to expect a drawn-out timeframe for these things.

As for affordable housing, a library, commercial development zones, etc... those are all being factored in. In fact, you may not know this, but the Shaganappi library is moving to a new location (I believe it's going to be in the new Transit Centre building, but I'm not 100% sure).

It's all going to come, just be patient.

It is probably just an issue that has grown inside me over the years based on the nature of development in Calgary. Projects, from infrastructure to commercial to residential to recreational, in this city just seem to inefficient, slow and poorly planned. I guess I'm just getting tired of all the construction, big plans and failed dreams.

[CubicleGeek]

I think it's more of a matter of builders wanting to capitalize on their investments sooner - I would imagine it would be faster to finish one building in a multi-tower complex and start selling units right away than attempt to finish them all at once. It also helps de-risk the project. If the project finishes during a downturn its better to only have one building finished as opposed to several. For that reason, lots of development projects never hit their original plan (i.e. tower 2 of the Bow).

[corporatejay]

Westbrook mall just seems like a massive wasted opportunity. What a horrible disgusting mall that could have really great potential.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by corporatejay

Westbrook mall just seems like a massive wasted opportunity. What a horrible disgusting mall that could have really great potential.

The same can be said for North Hill mall. Maybe it is the same ownership?

[bizkitgto]

Originally Posted by Clarkey

Imperial is a crappy place to work, I haven't heard a good thing about that company. Do they still block internet surfing?

I've heard lot's about the poor work culture (long hours, weekend, etc) and no bonus to compensate. How do they retain their employees?

[J pold]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Makes sense on Bantrel. One thing I will never understand on the Westmount campus is why they put the parkade on the edge of the development. That should have gone where building 5 is so it could be central and service everyone, and building 5 where the parkade currently is.

I've always thought this myself and am not sure why GWL went ahead the way they did. I imagine it has something to do with the city in the original development permit. They are very sticky about parking and as much as possible want to force it underground or upwards in above ground parkades.

[Reaper]

Originally Posted by bizkitgto

I've heard lot's about the poor work culture (long hours, weekend, etc) and no bonus to compensate. How do they retain their employees?

They recruit people straight out of school, mess them up and then make them feel like no one else would hire them. Basically, they are the wife-beater of companies.

[darklord700]

Originally Posted by Reaper

They recruit people straight out of school, mess them up and then make them feel like no one else would hire them. Basically, they are the wife-beater of companies.

They asked for my Uni transcript when I applied for a job there last time. Now I'm glad my grades were good enough to be hired by them.

[Canehdianman]

Originally Posted by Reaper

They recruit people straight out of school, mess them up and then make them feel like no one else would hire them. Basically, they are the wife-beater of companies.

I'm not sure I'd mind getting beaten if I could walk to work everyday and go home to see my dog over lunch.

[Reaper]

Originally Posted by Canehdianman

I'm not sure I'd mind getting beaten if I could walk to work everyday and go home to see my dog over lunch.

Ugh. You sound like all those women who say they'd let Chris Brown beat them because he's "hot."

[bizkitgto]

Originally Posted by fotze

That's a good analogy. They claim to pay in the top decile or something like that.

Plus you are pretty assured to never have layoffs,

Top pay - even with no bonus?

[Flames in 07]

Yea high salaries. And very good pension program.

[bizkitgto]

Originally Posted by Flames in 07

And very good pension program.

Ahhh - the golden handcuffs