[Nawads]

Walked by Eau Claire Plaza today and they were testing out the water features. There looks to be about 20 of these mister fountains installed in a line. The mist goes up to about waist height and the fountains seem like they are sequenced a bit randomly. They also appear to be under-lit with coloured lights. Not quite a splash park like what used to be there but I could see this being a popular thing on a hot day. I'm a bit more optimistic than I was when I first heard about this mister thing being the water feature. Lots of tables, chairs and umbrellas stacked up around the site as well getting ready to be set out for opening day.

View attachment 662432

I'd love to see the old mall site turned into grass; it now gives this area a much more open feeling. It could be a great park space for the next few years until the city/developer figures out what to do.

 

[FriendlyDrunks]

I'd love to see the old mall site turned into grass; it now gives this area a much more open feeling. It could be a great park space for the next few years until the city/developer figures out what to do.

How about a big gravel lot, best I can do

 

[outoftheice]

Calgary’s reimagined Eau Claire Plaza set to open - Calgary | Globalnews.ca

The redesign is part of the Eau Claire refresh to allow for more flexible use of the area.

globalnews.ca

 

[1875]

took longer than the new arena?

 

[outoftheice]

Lol, and still not even done as the article mentions the play structure won't be installed and opened until the end of July.

 

[The Familia]

It really is a joke when you think about it lol.

 

[CT_]

 

[Nimbus]

Suuuuper weird to ride by Eau Claire plaza this morning and have it open. I'm shook.

 

[potatopizzafan]

Was definitely being well used yesterday.

 

[Surrealplaces]

It looks fairly similar to how it used to look. Function-wise, not much of a difference really.

 

[Albertasaurus]

I don't want to sound like Rick Bell, but how the hell did this thing cost $47 million?

 

[Surrealplaces]

I don't want to sound like Rick Bell, but how the hell did this thing cost $47 million?

And take 3 years. I don't like to sound like Rick Bell either, but I know where you're coming from. I'm looking at the plaza and thinking it was a lot of time and money, for something that doesn't seem much different. The riverfront portion is nice and there is a noticeable difference, but the section between the riverfront and 2nd ave feels like much ado about nothing. I also wish they had put in a protected bike lane from the river path over to third ave.

 

[outoftheice]

Happy Hotel Day!!!

https://twitter.com/x/status/1940437721484599486

 

[Joborule]

Was definitely being well used yesterday.
View attachment 663259

I used to pray for days like this.

 

[darwink]

I don't want to sound like Rick Bell, but how the hell did this thing cost $47 million?

And take 3 years. I don't like to sound like Rick Bell either, but I know where you're coming from. I'm looking at the plaza and thinking it was a lot of time and money, for something that doesn't seem much different. The riverfront portion is nice and there is a noticeable difference, but the section between the riverfront and 2nd ave feels like much ado about nothing. I also wish they had put in a protected bike lane from the river path over to third ave.

Lots of utility work (including to supply festivals with lots of on site power). Constrained site next to a water body, and very close to residential. The incremental expense of relocating programming that was typically on the plaza. Archaeology of the entire site down 2 metres. Integrating invisible flood protection. Buying the land/buying out the lease Hard Rock/Brewster's/KidsNCo was on.

May also include replacing the Jaipur Bridge? Always hard to nail down scope on these budgets versus a raft of adjacent projects.