Calgary eyeing 8 Street SW reimagining
Posted Aug 17, 2022 11:14 am.
Last Updated Aug 17, 2022 11:15 am.
The City of Calgary is looking for design firms to give 8 Street SW, between 17 Avenue SW to the Bow River, a facelift.
The city calls it a vital corridor that’s been hardest hit by office vacancies, adding it’s an important connector between the Beltline and the Bow River pathway system.
“It’s time to rethink 8 Street SW,” said Thom Mahler, the city’s director of downtown strategy.
“Calgary’s Greater Downtown Plan identified it as an important downtown street to transform into a complete street with accessibility for all modes of transportation and as a linchpin of the city’s goal to create a green network of tree-lined, pedestrian-friendly streets connecting downtown’s diverse neighbourhoods and inventory of parks, outdoor spaces and pathways.”
This project is an update to a completed plan from 2016 which included the reconstruction the 8 Street SW underpass.
Shannon Reid, project manager for the 8 Street SW Public Realm Improvement Project, says the goal is to create a modern, pedestrian-focused area to connect people to parks and neighbourhoods.
“A lot has changed since the 8 Street Corridor Public Realm Master Plan was developed, with the westside of Calgary’s downtown changing significantly since 2016,” Reid said. “We’re excited to launch this project to help shape the future of downtown and support community vibrancy in this important downtown neighbourhood.”
