Groups push Calgary to improve conditions along Centre Street North

Two groups in Crescent Heights are renewing their calls for the City of Calgary to invest in public realm improvements along Centre Street North.

The Crescent Heights Community Association as well as the Crescent Heights Village business improvement area (BIA) say the continuing uncertainty of when the Green Line LRT will reach their neighbourhood is stifling confidence and investment there.

There's no timeline on a decision on when the Green Line will cross the Bow River and run along Centre Street up to 16th Avenue North. 

But local residents say there are things the city could do to update amenities on the busy street.

The groups are calling for upgrades such as repairs to deteriorating sidewalks, better lighting to improve safety, parking changes and a lower speed limit on Centre Street.

Investment stalled

The executive director of the BIA, Camie Leard, said no one is suggesting the city spend millions of dollars to improve the area only to see it torn up when the Green Line comes through.

But standing pat while the public realm deteriorates isn't an option either.

She said the uncertainty of when the LRT construction will begin is hurting the area.

"It makes it impossible to plan. It also kind of stalls investment in the area," she said.

"People who want to build projects maybe haven't been because, again, a major construction project is going to cause some blips — and to not know when that's gonna happen makes it really, really difficult."

The groups have been lobbying the city for the past couple of years, but so far, they say there have been no firm commitments from city hall.

"We've just been kind of left waiting and with the occasional sort of 'maybe we can do this or that' but nothing concrete," said Leard.

Time frame unknown

A decision on when the Green Line could head north out of downtown is still unknown.

City council voted to build the first stage of the LRT line from 16th Avenue N. through downtown and then on to Shepard station near 126th Avenue S.E.

However, council directed the Green Line board to break the project into two phases.

Once the cost of building the section from Eau Claire downtown to Shepard station is known, then a decision can be made about whether the city has enough money in its $5.5-billion budget to extend the line across the Bow River to reach Crescent Heights.

The councillor for the area, Terry Wong, said it's still too early to say when Green Line construction will happen on Centre Street.

The city has also not finalized plans for a new bus rapid transit route (BRT) that will service the Centre Street corridor until the Green Line is completed.

"When we know the Green Line is across the river and we know the BRT budget, that will be the determining factors as to how much and how fast we'll be able to put into interim amenities (on Centre Street)," said Wong.

He said council did commit to make interim streetscape improvements along Centre Street. He expects that plan will go before council during November's budget debate.

Wong said he expects that could include improved street signage, flower baskets and flower pots as well as new benches for the area.