New Plan for Calgary Offers the Best of Both Worlds

Calgary is poised to make itself into a city that encourages density without sacrificing too much of the leg room currently offered by existing suburbs.

1 minute read

November 18, 2008, 1:00 PM PST

By Judy Chang


"'Right now, we are stuck in a freeway superstructure-based network of segregated land uses that keeps all the houses away from many shops and employment and really forces everybody to own and operate a vehicle,'" says former real estate developer Jim Dewald, now an expert in global management at the Haskayne School of Business.

It may seem a stretch, but you must aim for the stars if you want to hit the moon, says David Watson, a veteran city planning manager who is determined not to let this plan be shelved."

"Ald. Ric McIver, whose ward borders Anderson station, says the city should prepare more modest, five-year growth proposals instead of the radical change of 30-year plans.

'If you take a 4,000-person community and you say to them we're going to put 4,000 more people in, you scare people that their quality of life is going to be ruined, and I can't blame them,' he says.

Developers face no such neighbourhood resistance as they expand on the periphery."

Sunday, November 16, 2008 in Calgary Herald

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

June 11, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Rendering of Shirley Chisholm Village four-story housing development with person biking in front.

San Francisco's School District Spent $105M To Build Affordable Housing for Teachers — And That's Just the Beginning

SFUSD joins a growing list of school districts using their land holdings to address housing affordability challenges faced by their own employees.

June 8, 2025 - Fast Company

Yellow single-seat Japanese electric vehicle drivign down road.

The Tiny, Adorable $7,000 Car Turning Japan Onto EVs

The single seat Mibot charges from a regular plug as quickly as an iPad, and is about half the price of an average EV.

June 6, 2025 - PC Magazine

People riding bicycles on separated bike trail.

With Protected Lanes, 460% More People Commute by Bike

For those needing more ammo, more data proving what we already knew is here.

45 minutes ago - UNM News

Bird's eye view of half-circle suburban street with large homes.

In More Metros Than You’d Think, Suburbs are Now More Expensive Than the City

If you're moving to the burbs to save on square footage, data shows you should think again.

2 hours ago - Investopedia

Color-coded map of labor & delivery departments and losses in United States.

The States Losing Rural Delivery Rooms at an Alarming Pace

In some states, as few as 9% of rural hospitals still deliver babies. As a result, rising pre-term births, no adequate pre-term care and "harrowing" close calls are a growing reality.

June 15 - Maine Morning Star