Inglewood: The Calgary community comes of age
The Homestretch | CBC News | Posted: January 28, 2016 9:59 PM | Last Updated: January 29, 2016
CBC Radio's The Homestretch explores why Calgarians are drawn to this city street
So you've got a bit of money in your pocket, a spring in your step, it's warm out and you want to be where the action is.
Time to hit one of Calgary's main streets.
- Calgary's many main streets and what they say about the city's character
- Kensington Road: What makes it all it is?
In Calgary's oldest community, residents are working hard to maintain the character and charm of their main street.
They've even come up with the acronym for how they want it to look going forward: KISS — "keep it slightly sleazy."
According to a 2014-2015 city survey of Ninth Avenue S.E., KISS is not a call for littered sidewalks, sex shops and seedy bars. It's more like a protest against the gentrification of Inglewood.
"It's true. None of us want to see this place become completely homogeneous, you know, with all the same people," said longtime resident Liz Tompkins.
The City of Calgary figures there are about 24 main streets in Calgary — each one a unique jumble of shops, sidewalks, restaurants, coffee shops and homes that come together to create a bit of urban magic.
As part of our Calgary at a Crossroads projects, the Homestretch's Jenny Howe has been pulled on her boots and is walking our main streets.
- AUDIO | Main Streets: Kensington
- AUDIO | Main Streets: Higher Grounds Coffee Shop
- AUDIO | Main Streets: Purple Perk regular Gerry Edwards
- AUDIO | Main Streets: Origins, Evolution, Success of Calgary's Main Streets
Calgary at a Crossroads is CBC Calgary's special focus on life in our city during the downturn. A look at Calgary's culture, identity and what it means to be Calgarian. Read more stories from the series at Calgary at a Crossroads.