Calgary Civic Election Poll #3: The race heats up

[Cscutch]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

How do you figure? There is only so much land for single family dwellings. We dont have massive tracts of land in the middle of the city that can be developed. The only option is to build up, which is what many people don't want. High density properties are more expensive and less convenient for people who want to raise a family.

Just off Barlow and Memorial where all the old warehouses are.
Old Ramsey industrial area.

Both the areas would needs some environmental work done but valid locations. And it isn't all about infills any new communities built on the outside should be developed the same way Garrison Woods was.

[Muta]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

Sounds expensive. People want affordability, not a $700,000 infill 15 minutes from the core.

Building and maintaining critical infrastructure that needs to be built to support these outward-growing communities will be even more expensive in the long run.

On a related note, I still find it funny that no one has addressed the issue about the backlash towards the Peace Bridge costing $22 million but won't pipe up when transportation infrastructure that 75% of the municipal population won't use is built at a cost of $150 million. Per interchange. Anyhoo...

[Cscutch]

Originally Posted by Byrns

Thats ok, we'll just force those people out to Airdrie, Cochrane, etc. and they can just use the city services, including CT without paying towards the cost. Hey lets give them free park & ride too.

Charge $3 to park at a CTrain station for anyone that doesn't have a Calgary address. Infrastructure is already installed a the Ctrain stations.

[burn_this_city]

Originally Posted by Cscutch

Just off Barlow and Memorial where all the old warehouses are.
Old Ramsey industrial area.

Both the areas would needs some environmental work done but valid locations. And it isn't all about infills any new communities built on the outside should be developed the same way Garrison Woods was.

Those are fine examples if people don't mind living on old industrial land or adjacent to heavy industry. Ramsey has the rail yard and the chicken packing plant, not places I'd care to live nearby. Lynnview Ridge is a good example of using old industrial land with mixed results.

[bizaro86]

Ultimately, most people don't care that their big house in the 'burbs costs the city more money. If the city passed on more of those costs to developers, those houses would be more expensive, and people would pay for their new infrastructure.

I don't have an issue with the big house in the 'burbs, I live in one myself. But its reasonable to expect those wanting something to pay the full cost of it.

[Byrns]

Originally Posted by Muta

Building and maintaining critical infrastructure that needs to be built to support these outward-growing communities will be even more expensive in the long run.

On a related note, I still find it funny that no one has addressed the issue about the backlash towards the Peace Bridge costing $22 million but won't pipe up when transportation infrastructure that 75% of the municipal population won't use is built at a cost of $150 million. Per interchange. Anyhoo...

And about 2% of the population will use the $22 million bridge. (well plus all the tourists who are now booking trips to see it as we speak)

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by Cscutch

Charge $3 to park at a CTrain station for anyone that doesn't have a Calgary address. Infrastructure is already installed a the Ctrain stations.

How would you enforce that in practice? A new "Calgary" license plate system?

[Cscutch]

Originally Posted by bizaro86

How would you enforce that in practice? A new "Calgary" license plate system?

Truck drives around takes pictures of licence plates like they already due, and then it does a lookup in the veichle registry like it already does and if it is a Calgary Address, no ticket, outside of Calgary limits a ticket is enforced.

[burn_this_city]

Originally Posted by Muta

Building and maintaining critical infrastructure that needs to be built to support these outward-growing communities will be even more expensive in the long run.

On a related note, I still find it funny that no one has addressed the issue about the backlash towards the Peace Bridge costing $22 million but won't pipe up when transportation infrastructure that 75% of the municipal population won't use is built at a cost of $150 million. Per interchange. Anyhoo...

Even if 10,000 people a day used the Peace Bridge it would still only be 1% of the city population. An overpass is still better bang for the buck if 25% of the city uses it.

[Muta]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

High density properties are more expensive and less convenient for people who want to raise a family.

It's funny how millions and millions of people and families around the world in many cities of all sizes across many countries can do it, but for some reason, we here in Calgary just can't hey?

By thw way, you're right about the expensive part (unfortunately, but that goes back to the supply and demand problem), but wrong on the convenience part. How is it less convenient to live in a higher density area, likely where you're closer to work and still have all the amenities around you? I don't get that one...

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by Cscutch

Just off Barlow and Memorial where all the old warehouses are.
Old Ramsey industrial area.

Both the areas would needs some environmental work done but valid locations. And it isn't all about infills any new communities built on the outside should be developed the same way Garrison Woods was.

Add in the wasted land along 50th between Elbow and Macleod. The railyards. Bus barns. Bridges Phase 2. East & West villages.

Bridgeland, Kensington, Sunnyside, Mission, Sunalta, etc all have room for density increases without developments having to go vertical.

[Knut]

I think they should make toll roads for coming into the city for those that live in outlying communities like Airdrie, Strathmore and Okotoks. Kind of like the toll road system in Ontario. Cameras that take photos of your licence plate and you get a monthly bill for coming into the city every day. Out of province plates, Calgary Addresses and those that pay a Monthly fee will not be charged. make it like a Dollar every time someone comes into the city.

[Muta]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

Even if 10,000 people a day used the Peace Bridge it would still only be 1% of the city population. An overpass is still better bang for the buck if 25% of the city uses it.

I'd wager to say that it would be much less than that percentage that uses those interchanges. I was being generous and giving you the benefit of the doubt.

Besides, I'd also wager to say that given the associated mainentance, repair and environmental costs of isolated-use interchanges, and the associated residual financial benefits that a bridge like this can provide, the Peace Bridge is a better investment.

[shermanator]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

Sounds expensive. People want affordability, not a $700,000 infill 15 minutes from the core.

I don't know how many times this has to be brought up...

The affordability of houses in the suburbs is misleading, because developers do not pay the full costs of the required infrastructure for new suburbs.

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

Even if 10,000 people a day used the Peace Bridge it would still only be 1% of the city population. An overpass is still better bang for the buck if 25% of the city uses it.

275,000 some people are using an overpass each day??

[4X4]

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

Add in the wasted land along 50th between Elbow and Macleod.

There are huge power lines there. I can't say I'd want to live under an enormous power line. I doubt many people do.

[Bigtime]

So just about an hour left to file papers and no sightings of Connelly yet.

[SportsJunky]

Barry Erskine the gardening guy?

[Ducay]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

So just about an hour left to file papers and no sightings of Connelly yet.

You've staked out City Hall eh?

[Cscutch]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

Those are fine examples if people don't mind living on old industrial land or adjacent to heavy industry. Ramsey has the rail yard and the chicken packing plant, not places I'd care to live nearby. Lynnview Ridge is a good example of using old industrial land with mixed results.

I understand that but if the proper environmental studies are done, and cleanup is completed it would work.

On the first site people already live to the one side of in Mayland Heights.

The second site isn't that bad
http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=5...09602&t=h&z=17

it would have boundaries on Ramsey and the side closer to Manchester yards could be Light Commercial supporting the neighborhood. Actually there was a plan to develop the area for residential already but the developer went bankrupt.

The point is that when people say there is no places to build inner city you just have to look a bit harder.