Calgary Openings, Closings, and Developments

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Closing Kensington Crescent is of little value. It's basically a road used as a parking lot, very little foot traffic to justify that (what retail are you going to need to have no cars to access there? It's a spit and smoke zone for Side Street and Freehouse). This would just allow cars to continue unabated in the area, but now you're taking away a parking lot and forcing them back onto Memorial and more congestion on 10th/K Road intersection.

The vast, vast, vast majority of people are walking Kensington Road and 10th. They're not ducking into that alcove for much.

This is like a timid pilot project idea. I mean sure, go for it, but it's kind of pointless and does nothing to enhance the experience for actual pedestrian traffic. Moves the needle insignificantly.

You may have missed it due to walking all the mean pedestrian only streets of Toronto but the parking on Kensington Cres along Pulcinella to Side Street Pub is all patio space in the summer. The rest of the road is an unofficial Uber pickup drop off zone.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

You may have missed it due to walking all the mean pedestrian only streets of Toronto but the parking on Kensington Close along Pulcinella to Side Street Pub is all patio space in the summer. The rest of the road is an unofficial Uber pickup drop off zone.

So, basically still a road with extra places to sit when it's warm?

[Bigtime]

It's definitely a better vibe with those large patios there. Much less car traffic and related noise. Good spot. Could you close it fully but still keep access on the section from Kensington road to the parkade?

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

So, basically still a road with extra places to sit when it's warm?

No, it’s a space next to a road. Like a lot of restaurant/pub patios. Even better, it’s a single lane slow traffic one way road. It’s a step in the right direction. Unlike your plan which is a leap in the wrong direction.

[Fuzz]

We really just need to redesign our cities so that the roads become the alleys and the alleys become pedestrian zones. Stores are built backwards! They should have their ass end to the traffic, and their front end to the alley/ped zone/patios, and then you don't need alleys, and parking is on the ugly side with the garbage bins and loading zones. Plus then the wieners doing noisy loser laps up and down 17th would have no one to think they are impressing.



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[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

We really just need to redesign our cities so that the roads become the alleys and the alleys become pedestrian zones. Stores are built backwards! They should have their ass end to the traffic, and their front end to the alley/ped zone/patios, and then you don't need alleys, and parking is on the ugly side with the garbage bins and loading zones. Plus then the wieners doing noisy loser laps up and down 17th would have no one to think they are impressing.



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I think this is how they design in Rand McNally.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

No, it’s a space next to a road. Like a lot of restaurant/pub patios. Even better, it’s a single lane slow traffic one way road. It’s a step in the right direction. Unlike your plan which is a leap in the wrong direction.

Ah, I see. Use existing sidewalks for patio tables.

Don't let me get in the way of these bold, innovative ideas!

Meanwhile in Paris and Montreal:

Paris to ban cars on half of Place de la Concorde after 2024 Olympics

Montreal avenue’s car-free transformation proves a hit with residents, business owners

[Bigtime]

The sidewalk is still there, they put the temporary patios out into the angled parking area (war on angle parking!).

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Ah, I see. Use existing sidewalks for patio tables.

Don't let me get in the way of these bold, innovative ideas!

Meanwhile in Paris and Montreal:

Paris to ban cars on half of Place de la Concorde after 2024 Olympics

Montreal avenue’s car-free transformation proves a hit with residents, business owners

Why didn’t they make all their streets pedestrian only? Clearly not as visionary as guy from Toronto.

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Ah, I see. Use existing sidewalks for patio tables.

Don't let me get in the way of these bold, innovative ideas!

Meanwhile in Paris and Montreal:

Paris to ban cars on half of Place de la Concorde after 2024 Olympics

Montreal avenue’s car-free transformation proves a hit with residents, business owners

Wow, half of a little traffic ‘roundabout’ / random empty space. Innovative idea!

Wow, a pedestrian only street in the heart of Montreal where there’s a six lane road parallel and doesn’t have any land locked neighborhoods next to it. Innovative idea! If it’s such a great idea why summer only?

You’ve heard of Stephen Avenue correct? We go all in pedestrian only year round.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Ah, I see. Use existing sidewalks for patio tables.

Don't let me get in the way of these bold, innovative ideas!

Meanwhile in Paris and Montreal:

Paris to ban cars on half of Place de la Concorde after 2024 Olympics

Montreal avenue’s car-free transformation proves a hit with residents, business owners

Those cities have much more densification and Montreal is full of the "missing middle" type residential which Calgary does not have in abundance. We need more 3-5 floor residential and 16+ story condos to be dense enough to support vibrant, walkable, car-banned neighborhoods and businesses.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Have you seen Platform? I’ve mentioned it a couple times not because I think it should be copied exactly, but I do think we can think about parkades differently and make them both visually appealing and incorporate retail, office space, and other aspects directly into them.

Parkades are eyesores if you build eyesores.

Platform...it's weird. I kind of hate it. I watched it being built from the ground up. It's different than your typical box parkade but it's also an eyesore. It's a brutalist oval surrounded by spikes pointing into the sky. I have to look at it every single day. I don't enjoy it. Its interesting how it's a multiple use venue and how its designed to be turned into a different building if cars ever stop being a thing but it's just strangely uninspired and unfinished looking, especially from a higher vantage.

[The Familia]

Platform is such a disappointment and an ugly beast to look at.

[topfiverecords]

Suburbanites hate parkades. They get so used to surface parking that when they come inner city, parkades incite high anxiety. “Where do I enter?” “How many levels am I going to have to go down?” “How do I get out? An elevator?” “Where does the elevator go?” “How do I get back in later?” “Is it accessible 24 hrs?” “Where do I pay?” “What if there are no spots?” “Is my car safe in there?” “Maneuvering this massive SUV or truck in a tight space is tedious”

“Oh screw it, I’ll drive around and around for 1/2 hour until a street spot opens up” “Oh crap, parallel parking” “Forget it, I’m going home.”

[Muta]

Originally Posted by The Familia

Platform is such a disappointment and an ugly beast to look at.

It's supposed to support the amenities and attractions in the East Village, as well as provide parking for the future arena, convention centre, the redeveloped Arts Commons, and eventually support the TOD development of the Rivers District and the Green Line. I don't hate it, but it definitely isn't the original design I was hoping it would be; that's what happens when things get value engineered. Happens to almost every project.

The cool thing is that Platform is designed to be converted entirely to residential if need be; the design is quite unique in that regard. There was a rendering once floating around with it as a converted residential structure; if I can find it I will share it.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Muta

The cool thing is that Platform is designed to be converted entirely to residential if need be; the design is quite unique in that regard.

This always comes up, but I don't get how this would possible... there's a fairly significant slope across all the levels (because parkade). Who wants to live/work in a building where the floors are uneven?

[Muta]

Originally Posted by Table 5

This always comes up, but I don't get how this would possible... there's a fairly significant slope across all the levels (because parkade). Who wants to live/work in a building where the floors are uneven?

Agreed, but I've spoken with CMLC and the architects, and they say it is ready for conversion. I'm sure there is a solution to this. I can try and find out about the slope issue.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Muta

Agreed, but I've spoken with CMLC and the architects, and they say it is ready for conversion. I'm sure there is a solution to this. I can try and find out about the slope issue.

I'm definitely curious to know how they would do that, so please share if you find out. I'm no architect/engineer by any means, but to me it seems like it would need to be a pretty significant undertaking (removing/re-pouring al the floors?).

[Ozy_Flame]

Is there any demand yet for conversion? I suspect it's going to be a parking lot for the foreseeable future?

[Muta]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Is there any demand yet for conversion? I suspect it's going to be a parking lot for the foreseeable future?

Not yet - it's a loooong way off. The good thing is that it's ready for conversion if need be; that's a discussion that won't happen for a while yet though. I'd put money on that happening (if at all) after the arena, convention centre, Green Line Phase 1 and Arts Commons are completed, and East Village and Rivers District are further along.