Highs, lows, in-betweens
As I look back over this past year’s columns, it has been another exciting time in this city.
Elsewhere in this newspaper we will be reminded of the plight of so many caught in the flood waters, and those who are still suffering, but this is a rallying population and the majority of those businesses affected have been able to reopen and continue serving their customers.
As a book collector I feel for Tom Williams who will not be able to open his shop that was in the basement of a 17th Avenue S.W. building that was flooded to the ceiling. He lost a huge number of books accumulated over many years.
Another of the disappointments I recorded was the decision of the French government to close its consulate after just one year here. I appreciated being able to get to know Consul General Jean-Charles Bou and his family and am happy to report an email he sent says they are loving Strasbourg.
We did gain recognition from the president of Colombia, who posted Andreas Taleros to open our first consulate for his country that is enjoying increasingly beneficial relationships with this province.
The photograph that headed my Jan. 2 column showed a cyclist crossing the Peace Bridge. It has taken awhile — I, and many others, criticized it due to the manner in which it was planned — but it is attractive and makes for great promotional photographs.
The cyclists I’m not so sure about.
Cycle lanes do work in many cities I have visited, but the pandering by city hall to a vocal minority in a city where the car will always be king has caused many a skirmish. A cyclist complaining about lanes not being cleared of snow when my street is still difficult to get in and out of didn’t do them any favours. And I only escaped, by a single stride, being knocked over by one who felt he could ignore a red light on 6th Avenue.
There was good news in that we saw the opening of the south wing of Bow Valley College and the South Health Campus, completion of an extension to the Calgary Winter Club and plans approved for renovations and additions to the Glencoe Club. Construction is also almost complete on the block on 4th Street S.W. that had been in limbo for so long.
A good indicator of the strength of our economy is the number of new office towers being built in the core. And like the second tower of Eight Avenue Place and Centron’s Centre 10, they are leased as fast as they are built.
Many were surprised with the decision of Imperial Oil to relocate its Calgary headquarters into a campus style project in Quarry Park, a Remington development that shows how lifestyle, work and play can be successful.
Husky Energy has decided to remain in its downtown tower and my friends in the commercial real estate industry have been very busy relocating other large tenants within the core that has remained healthy and exciting.
A walk through the Core complex to Bankers Hall shows busy shops, coffee bars and restaurants. The Epcor Centre continued to put on an excellent variety of entertainment that took people into the east end of Eighth Av- enue where the finer restaurants will be joined next spring by a new tenant on the ground floor of the Burns Building.
10th Avenue south of the railroad tracks also underwent a positive change with restaurant and pub openings, new office buildings, an announced new hotel and conference centre and a throughway across 14th Street S.W. over to Crowchild Trail that has proved to be a very popular decision.
However, the intersection at 14th Street S.W. can cause frustration as the new lights on 10th Avenue are only a short block away and jam up traffic heading north.
East Village is finally taking shape, but in my mind the most dramatic developments are in and around our international airport.
I marvel at the speed of construction and the size of the new international terminal. When complete, along with the opening of the new runway and hotel, it will make us one of the classiest and most efficient airports in the world.
It’s been a good year, and I believe 2014 will be just as positive. Enjoy.