CentreCity

Calgary's Urban Arts Festival

This recently came across my desk, and it should be an enjoyable way to spend a friday. 

Tomorrow, the City and the Blue Collar Dance Company are partnering for the second annual LiveStyle: Calgary's Urban Arts Festival.

This free event runs from 9am - 9pm on Friday, May 1 at the Jack Singer.

A lunch hour showcase by the Blue Collar Dance Company will celebrate "International Dance Day" with performances by Arabia Adorned, Danny Nielsen, Studio Sublime, Caroline Fraser and the Bhangra Flames.

There are plenty of other activities running throughout the day, so its worth stopping by.

More info here.

Mayor Reports To Calgarians

Mayor Bronconnier released his 2008 annual report to Calgarians online this morning.  He offers his assessment of "The Year that Was" in 2008, and the strategic plans for our city in 2009 and beyond.

The Mayor's Annual Report (video) highlights that 2008 was really "two years in one" for Calgary. The beginning of the year was marked by a "red hot" economy, with our city topping the list of nearly every economic indicator. By the Fall however, Calgary was seeing the effects of the dramatic global economic downturn.

Open Spaces: Window to a View

The City of Calgary Public Art Program is looking for Calgary artists interested in an opportunity to exhibit their art for a six-week period in a highly visible downtown location.

Called The Open Spaces: Window to a View, chosen artists will utilize window spaces on the LRT platform adjacent to the Telus Convention Centre between 1st St. and Centre St. SE vitalizing this downtown transportation hub.

Time to Rid the Streets of Grime

 

Invisible Project

Calgary: a top Canadian city to live in

One of North America’s leading urban thinkers has named Calgary as one of the top places to live in Canada.

Richard Florida, renowned author of The Rise of the Creative Class, has listed Calgary among the top cities in a study of 145 metropolitan areas in Canada, lauding it for its economic strength, quality of life and job potential.

“Calgary has, in effect, really grown up,” said Florida, who crunched the numbers for the first Canadian edition of his Who’s Your City? series.

The rankings, which cover five separate demographic groups, name Calgary as tops among recent university grads, second for mid-career professionals and No. 3 for families, empty nesters and retirees.

“There’s been a misconception of Calgary as a boom town, but the young people who have flocked to the city like it a lot and they have reason to stay.”

City considers grace period for struggling developers

A City committee has recommended City Council go ahead with extending the grace period for developers who have put projects on hold due to the economic downturn.

Developers under the amendment would have up to twelve months to wait out the economic storm, and "make it as easy as possible for developers when the market turns, to be able to re-establish their development," said Ald. John Mar.

However, there are concerns over the safety of the various stalled construction sites across the city. The committee said developers would still have to follow safety code procedures even if there is no active work going on.

Apparently not everyone is following those rules. The City is taking the developer of a downtown mixed-use skyscraper project to court for an alleged failure to properly maintain its site. But, according to The City, that's a rare situation.

"We've really issued only ten orders on a property owner to actually take steps to ensure the site is maintained properly," said senior special projects manager Cliff de Jong.

- Admin, from Metro News Calgary

More buskers expected in Calgary's core

Calgary’s core will continue to be a busker-friendly place this year after permits and restrictions were relaxed on a trial basis last year.

Starting last August, buskers were not required to obtain permits from The City but were required to obtain a Busker ID from the Calgary Downtown Association.  Busking was freely allowed from the Beltline to Prince's Island Park and 14th St SW to City Hall. The only restrictions were no amplification and no use of fire or sharp instruments.

The same situation will exist this year in hopes of attracting more performers downtown wanting to showcase their talents.

Test-driving vehicle free sundays

We've talked about this idea before, but it might gain some traction this year.  

Ald. Farrell is proposing that the city pilot closing down half of Memorial Dr. to vehicular traffic, so that the space can be reclaimed for a few sundays in August, creating a promenade for pedestrian and cyclists.   

The idea is all about "giving people a little bit more room in an urban area," Ald. Farrell said. "It's taking back the street for one day a week in the summer."

Calgary's Plus-15 guy

He's known simply as "the +15 guy."

Ray Ference, who is part of the Centre City Team in The City's Land Use Planning & Policy business unit, is responsible for administering the longest elevated pedestrian walkway in the world, Calgary's +15 system.

"My job is to administer the +15 network and see to it that building owners comply with the development agreements," said Ference, referring to such things as maintenance, hours of operation and security. "I also ensure that proposed developments are designed in accordance with policy."

It's also his job to make sure that the +15 is available to the public. "In my opinion," he says, "everyone is entitled to use the system. It's there for all the citizens of Calgary and our visitors."