Main Streets
Creating resilient, adaptable and attractive public spaces Main Streets
The Main Streets Program is one of the ways that The City is making our city a great place to make a living, and a great place to make a life by creating places people want to live, work and play.
Main Streets under construction
Construction is underway on these Main Streets:
The Main Streets program vision
Calgary’s Main Streets are places where citizens come together. They are places where we want to go, we enjoy, and we connect as a community. The transformation of Main Streets will occur jointly through public and private investment, and will empower citizens to travel less and live more by providing the things we need right in our own communities.
Five stages to Main Streets
Building Calgary's future Main Streets doesn't happen overnight. The City has a comprehensive process from initial idea to final outcome. Interested parties and community members exchange ideas and are kept informed along the way.
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Stage 1
Strategize
• Two years of engagement.
• Economic market analysis.
• Evaluated 24 Main Streets.
• Designs for building Main Streets.
• A strategy for implementation.
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Stage 2
Plan
• Land use redesignations.
• Local plan amendments.
• Infrastructure capacity assessments.
• A plan for people, place and infrastructure.
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Stage 3
Design
• Public realm, transportation and infrastructure designs.
• Construction documents.
• Streetscape master plans.
• A shovel-ready project.
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Stage 4
Build
• Catalytic capital investments in public realm.
• Promote private investment through development and business activity.
• Community transformation.
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Stage 5
Live
• Ongoing maintenance and operations by asset owners.
• Promote a vibrant place and economy.
• Places for people to live, work and play.
Active projects
The transformaton of a Main Street happens in stages:
Plan
Projects we're preparing for future design work
These projects have initiated or completed land-use redesignations and streetscape master plans, but aren't quite ready to proceed with shovel-ready designs because the planning phase isn't fully complete.
- Bowness Road N.W.
- Inglewood (9 Avenue S.E.)
- Montgomery (16 Avenue N.W.)
- Centre Street N. (River to 16 Avenue - part of Green Line)
Design
Projects we're getting shovel-ready
These projects have completed the planning phase and we're making them shovel-ready. They are unfunded or partially funded for construction.
Build
Our active construction projects
These projects have undergone adjacent land-use redesignation, approved designs, and are funded for construction.
- 17 Avenue S.W. (Segment 1)
- 37 Street S.W.
- Bridgeland (Phase 1 - Edmonton Trail)
- Marda Loop
- Montgomery (Segment 1 - Bowness Road N.W. )
Strategize
Our future priorities
These projects have yet to undergo land use redesignation or master planning, but are identified as priorities in the 2018 Council approved Main Streets Implementation Plan.
North Calgary:
- 4 Street N.W.
- Kensington Road N.W. (Segment 2 - Crowchild Trail to 14 Street)
- Centre Street N.E. (Segment 2 & 3 - 16 Avenue to north of 32 Avenue)
- Edmonton Trail N.E. (Segments 1 to 3 - River to north of 32 Avenue)
- 36 Street N.E.
South Calgary:
- 10 Avenue S.W.
- 14 Street (Segment 1 - River to 17 Avenue)
Strategize
Our long term plans
These main street areas were approved but are not identified as priorities in the 2018 Council approved Main Streets Implementation Plan. This list will be reviewed on a periodic basis and updated accordingly.
North Calgary:
- 10 Street N.W.
- 14 Street N.W. (Segment 2 - River to 8 Avenue)
- 16 Avenue N.W (Segment 2 - 16 Avenue to Centre St.)
- Edmonton Trail N.E.
South Calgary:
- Macleod Trail
- Richmond Road S.W.
- 4 Street S.W.
- 14 Street S.W. (Segment 2 - 17 to 33 Avenues)
- 17 Avenue S.W. (Segment 2 - 14 Street to Crowchild Trail)
- 17 Avenue S. (Segment 3 - 14 Street S.W. to Macleod Trail S.E.)
Frequently asked questions
What is a Main Street?
A Main Street is the cultural, social and economic focal point of a community. As the heart of the community, a Main Street is vibrant by design – they allow for a wider variety of uses (eg. Retail space and offices) and mixed housing options, to support the higher density of development necessary to support that variety of uses. Main Streets are places where people in a community can live and come together to enjoy a variety of activities.
Why do we need a Main Streets program?
To reach their full potential, Calgary’s Main Streets need both public and private investment. The Main Streets program is a continuum that goes from changes to land use that will support development opportunities to a streetscape master plan that is designed to support these changes and can be constructed in a coordinated fashion. The increase in development activity will bring more people and new jobs to the community, making the area more attractive to local businesses and residents.
What makes a vibrant Main Street?
A vibrant Main Street is resilient, adaptable and attractive. Main Streets capture the character of a community by being inviting, safe, attractive and memorable. They are diverse streets when it comes to commerce, residents and culture, featuring a mix of old and new and a land use framework that supports this diversity. This diversity is also supported by a multi-modal transportation network.
Which Main Streets are funded for construction?
Currently there are six Main Streets funded for construction. Depending on budget limitations some Main Streets are only funded for a portion of the design that will address the community’s highest needs.
- 37 Street Main Street
- West 17 Avenue Main Street
- 33/34 Avenues S.W.
- Montgomery (Bowness Road) Main Street
- 1 Avenue N.E.
- Centre Street N. (funded through Green Line)
Due to budget limitation, some of the above Main Streets will be constructed in phases or short-term improvements that address the community’s highest needs may be implemented.
Why is my Main Street not currently funded for design and construction?
The Main Streets program team has identified five Main Streets as current priorities. Once these Main Streets have been seen through to completion, we will work with Council to determine whether funding can be allocated to the next group of prioritized Main Streets.
Documents and reports
Main Streets Program Documents
Planning and Urban Development Committee Reports
Bowness Road N.W. (Bowness)
Bowness Road N.W. (Montgomery)
- Montgomery Area Redevelopment Plan
- Strategize Phase – What We Heard Report – 2015
- Strategize Phase – Local Viewpoint Map - 2015
- Planning Phase – What We Heard Report - 2016
- Planning Phase – Land Use Changes – May 2017
- Design Phase – What We Heard Report – March 2018
- Design Phase – Parking and Driving Feedback Map – March 2018
- Design Phase – Walking, Transit and Cycling Feedback Map – March 2018
- Design Phase – Placemaking Feedback Map – March 2018
- Design Phase – Streetscape and Safe Public Spaces Feedback Map – March 2018
- Design Phase - What We Heard Report - March 2019
- Design Phase - What We Heard Report - June 2019
- Design Phase - Streetscape Master Plan - 2019
16 Avenue N.W. (Montgomery)
16 Avenue N
- 16 Avenue North Area Redevelopment Plan
- Strategize Phase – What We Heard Report - 2015
- Strategize Phase – Local Viewpoint Map (Banff Trail/Capitol Hill/Hounsfield Heights-Briar Hill) – 2015
- Strategize Phase – Local Viewpoint Map (Mount Pleasant/Rosedale/Crescent Heights) – 2015
- Strategize Phase – Local Viewpoint Map (Tuxedo/Mountview/Renfrew) – 2015
Kensington Road N.W.
10 Street N.W.
4 Street N.W.
Centre Street N.
- Crescent Heights Area Redevelopment Plan
- North Hill Area Redevelopment Plan
- Strategize Phase – What We Heard Report - 2015
- Strategize Phase – Local Viewpoint Map (16 Avenue to McKnight Boulevard) – 2015
- Strategize Phase – Local Viewpoint Map (Bow River to 16 Avenue) – 2015
- Design Phase - What We Heard Report - April 2019
Richmond Road S.W.
37 Street S.W.
- Killarney-Glengarry Area Redevelopment Plan
- Richmond Area Redevelopment Plan
- Strategize Phase – What We Heard Report – 2015
- Planning Phase – What We Heard Report – 2016
- Planning Phase – Land Use Changes – May 2017
- Design Phase – What We Heard Report – March 2018
- Design Phase - What We Heard Report - February 2019
- Design Phase - Streetscape Master Plan
17 Avenue S.W.
- Killarney-Glengarry Area Redevelopment Plan
- Richmond Area Redevelopment Plan
- Strategize Phase – Local Viewpoint Map (Crowchild Trail-37 Street) – 2015
- Strategize Phase – Local Viewpoint Map (14 Street-Crowchild Trail) – 2015
- Strategize Phase – Local Viewpoint Map (MacLeod Trail-14 Street) – 2015
- Planning Phase – What We Heard Report – 2016
- Planning Phase – Land Use Changes – May 2017
- Design Phase – What We Heard Report (Crowchild Trail-37 Street) – September 2018
- Design Phase - What We Heard Report - February 2019
- Design Phase - Streetscape Master Plan
10 Avenue S.W.
14 Street S.W.
- Hillhurst/Sunnyside Area Redevelopment Plan
- Sunalta Area Redevelopment Plan
- West Village Area Redevelopment Plan
- Beltline Area Redevelopment Plan
- South Calgary/Altadore Area Redevelopment Plan
- Bankview Area Redevelopment Plan
- Lower Mount Royal Area Redevelopment Plan
- Upper Mount Royal Area Redevelopment Plan
- Strategize Phase – What We Heard Report – 2015
- Strategize Phase – Local Viewpoint Map - 2015
33/34 Avenues S.W.
- Marda Loop Area Redevelopment Plan
- Richmond Area Redevelopment Plan
- South Calgary Area Redevelopment Plan
- Strategize Phase - What we Heard Report - 2015
- Strategize Phase - Local Viewpoint Map - 2015
- Planning Phase – What We Heard Report – May 2018
- Planning Phase – What We Heard Report – October 2018
- Planning Phase - Land Use Changes - May 2019
- Design Phase – What We Heard Report – March 2018
- Design Phase – What We Heard Report – May 2018
- Design Phase – What We Heard Report – October 2018
- Design Phase - Streetscape Master Plan - 2019
4 Street S.W.
50 Avenue S.W.
Edmonton Trail N.E.
- Crescent Heights Area Redevelopment Plan
- Bridgeland/Riverside Area Redevelopment Plan
- North Hill Area Redevelopment Plan
- Winston Heights/Mountview Area Redevelopment Plan
- Strategize Phase – What We Heard Report - 2015
- Strategize Phase – Local Viewpoint Map (Bow River-16 Avenue) – 2015
- Strategize Phase – Local Viewpoint Map (16 Avenue-32 Avenue) – 2015
1 Avenue N.E.
- Bridgeland Area Redevelopment Plan
- Strategize Phase – What We Heard Report – 2015
- Strategize Phase – Local Viewpoint Map - 2015
- Planning Phase – What We Heard Report – 2016
- Planning Phase – Land Use Changes/Character Home Incentive District – 2017
- Design Phase – What We Heard Report – June 2018
- Design Phase - What We Heard Report - March 2019
- Design Phase - What We Heard Report - July 2019
- Design Phase - Streetscape Master Plan
32 Avenue N.E.
36 Street N.E.
17 Avenue S.E.
9 Avenue S.E.
- Inglewood Area Redevelopment Plan
- Strategize Phase – What We Heard Report – 2015
- Strategize Phase – Local Viewpoint Map - 2015
- Design Phase – What We Heard Report – May 2017
- Design Phase – What We Heard Report – August 2017
- Design Phase – What We Heard Report – February 2018
- Design Phase – Streetscape Master Plan – June 2018