City of Calgary is seeking proposals until September from design firms to reimagine 8 Street SW, between 17 Avenue SW and the Bow River.
The city cites the corridor is a vital place that will be central to the re-invention of the western part of our downtown that has been the hardest hit by office vacancies. It is also an important connector between the Beltline and the Bow River pathway system.
The vision for 8 Street SW is to create a pedestrian-focused destination area connecting “people, parks and neighbourhoods, supported by vibrant retail experiences, and a variety of transportation modes. This investment will support private investment along the street and create a high-quality north-south pedestrian route from 17 Avenue SW to the river.
“It’s time to rethink 8 Street SW. Calgary’s Greater Downtown Plan identified it as an important downtown street to transform into a complete street with accessibility for all modes of transportation and as a linchpin of the city’s goal to create a green network of tree-lined, pedestrian-friendly streets connecting downtown’s diverse neighbourhoods and inventory of parks, outdoor spaces and pathways,” said City of Calgary director of downtown strategy Thom Mahler.
The improvement project is part of the city’s 8 Street Corridor Public Realm Master Plan, which was completed in 2016 and includes reconstruction of the 8 Street underpass. Calgary’s Greater Downtown Plan, which was approved in 2021, also identifies public realm improvements for 8 Street SW as a priority.
“A lot has changed since the 8 Street Corridor Public Realm Master Plan was developed, with the westside of Calgary’s downtown changing significantly since 2016. We’re excited to launch this project to help shape the future of downtown and support community vibrancy in this important downtown neighbourhood,” said Shannon Reid, project manager for the 8 Street SW Public Realm Improvement Project.
The objective of the 8 Street SW project is to execute the planning, design, and implementation of the remaining public realm improvements identified in the 8 Street Corridor Public Realm Master Plan – including the redevelopment of the streetscape and adjoining riverfront park.
The RFP can be viewed here.
