Re-discovering Calgary’s downtown

It’s no secret, times are tough in Calgary’s downtown right now. The pandemic, the soft economy, the high office vacancy rates, and more, have all combined to put a damper on the vibrancy of the city centre.

But on a lovely fall afternoon, amidst the stunning foliage lining the river pathways, and the weekend strollers taking in the last little bit of warm weather, the downtown area never seemed more alive.

For those who haven’t visited the city core in a while, they’re in for a surprise in what it offers not just by way of the new sights and sounds of downtown, but also in the array of residential options it now offers.

The East Village had long been the hotspot of residential growth. A 2016 census says there are 3,242 residents living in this redeveloped area just east of the core, and its population is expected to rise 200 per cent by 2042. Many of the residential towers – including Verve by FRAM Slokker - have been built out since then and there are still move-in ready options.

There is also Waterfront, a master planned, mixed use community on the banks of the Bow River where Prince’s Island Park meets Chinatown. The 5.2-acre site has been transformed from the former home of the Greyhound bus barns to a sophisticated downtown community and is touted as the single largest condominium development in Calgary at over 1 million square-feet, with over 19,000 square-feet of retail amenities.

Downtown residents get to enjoy the new RiverWalk urban waterfront park, a four-kilometre stretch of walking and biking trails skirting the Bow River. It is a beautiful promenade where pedestrians and cyclists can enjoy some green space in the heart of the city. It was also designed to preserve and protect the river environment as well as flood protection.

The RiverWalk stretches from the west part of downtown on the tip of Prince’s Island Park near the iconic Peace Bridge all the way to East Village, and it is a lively, Instagram-worthy spot in early fall.

The city recognizes the importance of the downtown core to all of Calgary and in April, City Council approved a $200M Greater Downtown Plan. According to the Calgary Downtown Association (CDA), the plan is the result of extensive engagement with citizens, the CDA, the downtown business community, and community associations.

“But while the consultations were varied and extensive, the plan has one goal: create a thriving downtown so that Calgary itself can thrive. That means creating a place where people want to live and businesses want to set up shop,” the CDA says.

The $200M investment is the first step. The money is earmarked to address office vacancy, improve downtown vibrancy and support the development of complete neighbourhoods. The lion’s share of the money will go toward Arts Commons Transformation Phase 1 ($80M) and projects to improve public spaces and downtown neighbourhoods ($55M).

Prince’s Island Park is already getting an upgrade with the construction of a new pedestrian bridge to Eau Claire. The iconic, historic park, which used to be a sawmill, had seen life return over the summer with the return of Calgary Folk Fest. Of course, River Café at the heart of the island is still the spot for a romantic dinner or a relaxing brunch.

Speaking of restaurants, the downtown offers anything and everything from boisterous night clubs, character-filled pubs and eateries, and world-class diners offering dishes of every international stripe.

On can experience all this in a leisurely stroll through Stephen Avenue. It is Calgary’s main connector to arts, culture and commerce, and the City is working on plans to improve the look and accessibility of this vital stretch of 8th Avenue SW.

Shopping is also abundant in the core at the CORE Shopping Centre. It collects the various downtown shopping malls of TD Square, the Holt Renfrew building, and the former Calgary Eaton Centre. It is the dominant shopping complex located in the downtown core of Calgary and spans three city blocks and contains approximately 160 retailers on four levels.

It also houses the new and improved, City-run Devonian Gardens. The Devonian Gardens is an indoor urban oasis in the heart of Calgary that offers one hectare of botanical gardens including over 500 trees, 50 varieties of plants, a 900 square-feet living wall, fountains, fishponds and a playground to climb and explore.

There is so much more to explore in Calgary’s downtown core, it’s time for everyone to visit – maybe even make plans to move there – and help its continued growth.