Things Are Looking Up In Calgary’s Centre City
The City of Calgary’s ‘Clean to the Core ‘ program has been in place for almost 4 years now and according to a recent survey things are looking up. The Clean to the Core program began in the summer of 2006 and was designed to improve the lives of those who live and work in Calgary’s downtown core. The results of the survey, which was administered by the City, reveal that 90% of citizens feel safety has improved or stayed the same over the past year, and over 85% report that they are satisfied with the overall cleanliness of the area.
The mandate of the initiative is to create a long term vision, with short term goals, that target the areas of safety, cleanliness, and overall livability in the area with hopes of improving vitality and creating an appealing place to live, work, and play. Issues such as crime, graffiti, low-cost housing conditions, rundown vacant buildings, addiction, arts and culture, and improved communication between stakeholders are addressed in the plan.
Safety, a major component of the $16 million program, has improved as a result of the increased presence of law enforcement with the addition of 100 extra peace officers (police, transit, animal/bylaw).The survey revealed that 9 out of 10 Calgarians said they felt safe alone in the Centre City during the day; however, that number declines to less than half when asked if they felt safe after dark. The Calgary Police Service has released figures stating that over the last 3 years there has been a 21% drop in crimes against people and a 32% reduction in property crimes. These numbers are sure to improve with the addition of extra beat cops and the installation of more video surveillance cameras at LRT stations.
The Centre City, which is home to over 30,000 residents, 6,000 businesses, and close to 160,000 workers, encompasses Downtown, East Village, Stampede Park, East Victoria Crossing, Victoria Crossing Centre, Connaught Centre, West Connaught, West End, Eau Claire, and Chinatown, is poised for significant growth over the next 25 years with an anticipated addition of up to 40,000 new residents and 60,000 new employees by 2035. This growth will contribute to the revitalization plan as the infrastructure needed to accomodate it will include many new services, public spaces and buildings which will add to the vitality of the area and create a greater sense of community for those who live and work there.
So, if you have ever considered an ‘urban lifestyle’, maybe Calgary’s burgeoning Centre City is the place for you!!
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