Go to this link for more on the 17th Avenue Design Strategy:
http://calgaryheritage.org/CHIForum/viewtopic.php?t=125
To: the 17th Avenue Design Strategy Team
cc: Ald. Madeleine King, 17th Avenue stakeholders, others
The Calgary Heritage Initiative (CHI) is a city-wide heritage group that is dedicated to the preservation, productive use and interpretation of buildings and sites of historic and architectural interest in Calgary.
We have some comments on the proposed 17th Avenue Design Strategy.
The 17th Avenue Design Strategy was in part prompted by the controversy around the demolition and replacement of the Mount Royal Block.
Outstanding heritage buildings like the Devenish, and more ‘workmanlike’
heritage buildings like the lost Mount Royal Block, make an indispensable contribution to the eclectic character of 17th Avenue, provide cues for the design of new buildings, and are Avenue landmarks that are fondly embraced by Calgarians. It is important that these buildings be recognized, celebrated and preserved.
1. The use of the Devenish as a model for street wall scale along much of 17th Avenue seems appropriate and we commend this.
2. We support the idea that heritage can be preserved alongside new development, as expressed in the 5th Street intersection case study, where the Jalland Block in preserved while new development happens in the lot behind. This solution should be emphasized everywhere on the avenue where heritage plays a role.
3. A heritage inventory for 17th Avenue should be completed. While several 17th Avenue buildings are on the Municipal Inventory of Potential Heritage Sites, other potential heritage buildings have not been inventoried (the Jalland Block itself was not added to the inventory until 2004). Buildings that could be considered for the inventory include Crooks Drugs, the Calhoun Block (Megatunes), the Grant Bros. store (614 17th Avenue SW), the Costigan-Johnston-Sam Steele residence (Tequila), the Jimmy Condon building, and others. Buildings on the inventory should be eligible for programs that promote their restoration, repair and retention.
4. Opportunities for interpretation of historic places and events should be included in the plan. These include the 8000 year old native buffalo kill site in the vicinity of Tomkins park (the ‘Mona Lisa Site’), the Sherman Rink fire at the location of Humpy Hollow Park, and the famous streetcar crash at Crooks Drugs.
We look forward to the next iteration of the plan and are available if you wish to consult with us. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Janet Woolgar, Chair,
Calgary Heritage Initiative
Email: info@calgaryheritage.org
Website: www.calgaryheritage.org
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Update: Just for interest, here is a photo of 17th Avenue in 1967
For larger size go here: http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id ... 650&size=l