Druh Farrell and Memorial Drive

[troutman]

Originally Posted by REDVAN

How does she keep getting elected? Brutal. If I lived in her ward, I'd vote her out.

Druh is delightful.

I want to go to there.

[Bigtime]

So how did that video exactly prove that there is too much traffic on a Sunday for this proposal to mean disaster?

If this city could put up with MAJOR road closures before (Centre street bridge, 6th avenue for a year), how is a 4 lane road becoming a 2 lane road for 5 days in August (on a Sunday) a disaster? What about all the multiple lanes that have been closed downtown and in the Beltline for well over 3 years? Surely if we can manage that we can at least give this idea a try.

Sure it may the right idea wrong road, but we have to start somewhere. At least this proposal doesn't completely shut down the entire road. Those Kensington business' making a big fuss are simply using this as an excuse for their business' losing ground to the other areas (17th avenue, 4th street) that are drawing more people to them. Their predicament is largely due to them stagnating and not allowing any real density into their area to bring more people there.

Edit: I was a little dissapointed there was no "silly hall" reference in the video. You missed the boat on that easy one.

[troutman]

Rick Bell from the Sun was on BT this morning talking about it. The MLA Swann got the idea from something similar that is done in WIN. He brought the idea to Druh.

A good idea, but wrong street.

[mykalberta]

I used to live 2 blocks off Memorial, why would anyone want to gingerly walk from the Curling rink to 10th street. There is plenty of room on the pathways. I cannot believe I am saying this but Rick Bell in the Sun had a good column about it on Sunday. It would make alot more sense to shut down Kensington Road.

[Cowboy89]

Originally Posted by troutman

Rick Bell from the Sun was on BT this morning talking about it. The MLA Swann got the idea from something similar that is done in WIN. He brought the idea to Druh.

A good idea, but wrong street.

I agree there. Memorial is a major road. I don't mind the idea of a pedestrian prominade much like 16th Street in Denver CO, just that considering that there are hardly any businesses on Memorial drive I don't see how it could accomplish the goals set out. I think it would be better if we set something up downtown or nearby that was a pedestrian street 24/7 in the spring/summer months so that new/existing businesses and other services could adapt and set up shop. 5 days a year is hardly something that a business model can be built around.

[MelBridgeman]

Maybe i can get Joe Ceci, to shutdown a few lanes of Deerfoot between 17th and Memorial for an outdoor concert and Family hoedown

[Ducay]

Originally Posted by Rathji

I guess I am behind the times, I had no idea we had one of those downtown.

You've never driven in or out of downtown on Bow Trail? Missed the giant skate park?

[troutman]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

I used to live 2 blocks off Memorial, why would anyone want to gingerly walk from the Curling rink to 10th street. There is plenty of room on the pathways. I cannot believe I am saying this but Rick Bell in the Sun had a good column about it on Sunday. It would make alot more sense to shut down Kensington Road.

Don't they already shut down Kensington for Salsa Fest?

http://www.visitkensington.com/

DATE: Sunday, July 19, 2009


The annual family event takes place along Kensington Road and 10th Street NW, and the Latin flavour will mambo through the neighbourhood all through the day. Music and dancing will fill the street, and our great restaurants and pubs promise to provide you with non-stop entertainment.

Both Kensington Road and 10th Street will be closed for the day. There's an LRT stop right at the Kensington Safeway, so public transit is a great way to beat the crowds. And we're right off the bike paths so why not ride, blade, run or walk on over to our festival!

My neighbors:

[mykalberta]

Yes. Which why it makes more sense.

There is definatelty a different vibe in Sunnyside, I can actually invision those people supporting closing down Memorial. Now that I am in the more superior and arrogant Crescent Heights it doesnt bother me as much. I always assumed the reason people wanted to walk the pathways was because it was next to the river. Clearly I am out of touch with the Sunnyside hemp crowd.

I am just amazed that an alderman can close down a road for no reason without any du dilligence whatsoever. If some alderman ###### decided to close 2 lanes of Centre Street every Sunday in August I would be supremely pissed.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

I am just amazed that an alderman can close down a road for no reason without any druh dilligence whatsoever.

Fixed

[millhouse11]

Originally Posted by Rathji

I guess I am behind the times, I had no idea we had one of those downtown.

Even Tony Hawk new about it...

http://expn.go.com/skt/hawktour/2001...607/19565.html

[Rathji]

Originally Posted by Ducay

You've never driven in or out of downtown on Bow Trail? Missed the giant skate park?

Almost never drive that route.

[Addick]

Originally Posted by SteveToms

This idea is borrowed from other cities, Calgary isn't being original it copies other cities constantly.

We need our ideas for the city, not other cities.

There are only so many new ideas that can be thought up. What needs to be done is the taking of ideas and concepts used in other cities and applying them in Calgary but in a form modified for the local environment.

Originally Posted by MelBridgeman

not sure what your talking about, calgary is perfectly liveable

For some it isn't and work needs to be done. For others it is, but why not increase the livability even more? Is there a limit to innovation that improves our lives?

Originally Posted by Shazam

Purdy buildings make a city more livable?

The Renaissance worked for Europe. Urban Design Guidelines and Urban Design Review Panels are not there to simply mandate the building of aesthetically pleasing buildings. A much more important function they preform is ensuring that new buildings have a built form that is conducive to Street-Life and does not negatively impact its local environment.

Originally Posted by mykalberta

I am just amazed that an alderman can close down a road for no reason without any du dilligence whatsoever.

I'm pretty sure she at least took a look at the traffic counts on Memorial during Sundays. Btw, did it really look that busy in the video post on the previous page?

[Tyler]

Is it wrong that I think she's kind of hot.

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by Shazam

Purdy buildings make a city more livable?

It's not about a building's 'prettyness' but good urban design helps make a city more liveable, yes - absolutely.

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by MelBridgeman

not sure what your talking about, calgary is perfectly liveable

Calgary's a liveable city sure, but there are a lot of areas where Calgary could improve. Increasing the residential population of the centre city, improving streetscapes and building new parks, urbanizing corridors and walkable main streets for places like Centre Street North, 17th SE etc, improving public transit service - and so on. I think Druh fights hardest amongst council to try and achieve those types of liveability gains.

[Knalus]

Originally Posted by Bunk

Calgary's a liveable city sure, but there are a lot of areas where Calgary could improve. Increasing the residential population of the centre city, improving streetscapes and building new parks, urbanizing corridors and walkable main streets for places like Centre Street North, 17th SE etc, improving public transit service - and so on. I think Druh fights hardest amongst council to try and achieve those types of liveability gains.

Couldn't agree more. Too often the default assumption is that to get anywhere, a car is used, and no one will ever want to walk anywhere. Ever try to walk north from Midnapore? Ever since they removed the fallen tree that crossed Fish Creek, it'll take you 20-30 min to go about one block north. And that's only if you want to risk your life walking along an off-ramp to go from Macleod to Canyon Meadows drive.

Since when is it assumed that people can't walk somewhere?

[North East Goon]

Where are all these people going to park if they make Memorial Dr. some sort of open air market?

[Byrns]

Originally Posted by Tyler

Is it wrong that I think she's kind of hot.

Yes. But the plus side is she'd be a cheap date going to the early bird specials.

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by Knalus

Since when is it assumed that people can't walk somewhere?

In Calgary of course, didn't you know it is winter here for 8 months of the year?