Your Plan for the Future of Parkdale
I view Parkdale as a unique neighbourhood in Calgary. Our geographic location defines where we live, and our connections and community amenities combine to make us a vibrant place to call home. To strengthen and enhance our assets, the Planning and Development Committee is inviting all residents of Parkdale to participate in developing a vision for growth and change of the built form in our geographic community.
The Municipal Development Plan policies state that rather than continuing to grow outwards, 33% of Calgary’s future population growth will be within the existing developed area by 2039, and 50% will be accommodated within the developed area over the next 60 to 70 years. In recent years, The City of Calgary has undertaken a planning process to direct growth and change, specifically to increase density in all existing communities through a local area plan process. I’ve watched the struggles and conflicts between The City and communities in the development of the first Local Area Plan and ongoing plans for two other areas. The process, despite The City’s best efforts, has come across as top down. “Bureaucratic “top down” approaches have clashed with grassroots “bottom up” approaches….” (Review of film: Citizen Jane: Battle for the City).
Jane Jacobs wrote about sidewalks, parks, retail design, and promoted higher density, short blocks, local economies, and mixed uses. Most of her values are incorporated into The City’s vision for greater Calgary. However, implementation of that vision in communities has not been successful. The primary criticism I hear from many of the involved communities is their involvement has not been meaningful or respected.
I am an advocate of true engagement, as stated by Jane Jacobs in The Death and Life of Great American Cities – “Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody.” Parkdale can be different if we bring our “grass roots” input to the process. This is why we are asking you to work together to define our vision for our geographic community, and how our vison can guide how Parkdale grows and welcomes change.
Our first workshop is May 18 and the second is June 8 at Parkdale Nifty Fifties. I am delighted to announce that Richard White, the Everyday Tourist, will be a guest speaker on May 18. We look forward to seeing you there! See details in the related announcement.
If anyone is interested in being a member of our Planning and Development Committee, please send an email to the PCA, [email protected].
