Report tags Uptown 17th Avenue with highest retail rents in Calgary

Colliers International has dubbed Calgary's Uptown 17th Avenue the city's most expensive street to rent on.

The commercial real estate company took a look at top retail corridors around the world including New York's Fifth Avenue, Hong Kong's Queen's Road Central, London's Old Bond Street and the Champs-Elysées in Paris in a Global Retail Streets survey.

A spurt in Calgary's population growth, plus a strong economy and rising home prices is starting to make its mark on the city's rental vacancy and in turn could mean changes for the housing market.

The average apartment vacancy rate in Alberta's urban centres decreased from 4.7 per cent to three per cent between April 2011 and April 2012, according to the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).

Historic McDougall Centre thrives under many transformations

While you may not believe it today, Calgary was once known as the "Sandstone City" for its prevalent sandstone buildings constructed during the late 1800s.

As time passed, old was replaced with new and few of those elegant sandstone structures remain as evidence of the Sandstone City that was. One of those historical markers is the McDougall School building covering an entire block on 4th Avenue and 7th Street in downtown Calgary.

Calgary is a young city but its rich and fascinating history can be seen in its historic homes. And now your home can be part of the narrative.

The grassroots initiative Century Homes Calgary has put the call out to Calgarians with homes built in 1915 or earlier to be archived and featured as part of Historic Calgary Week 2012 starting July 27. Century homeowners research their home and create a sign both sharing the information and making it easily identifiable.

$10 million makeover for popular park

At over 100-years old, Calgary's Bowness Park is getting a well deserved $10 million makeover.

"I came to this park with my family as a child, I've fallen in the lagoon more than once, my sister had her wedding reception in this park," said Mayor Naheed Nenshi. "So even though I'm an east sider, like Calgarians across the city, I much love this park and I'm thrilled that we've been able to invest in this renovation."

Amenities and adventure a stone's throw away from Calgary

Immediately south of Calgary, the MD of Foothills has everything one could need for a natural escape from the hustle and bustle of city living.

Incorporated in 1954, the MD had a population of 21,258 as of 2011, an increase of 7.7 per cent compared to 2006. Aside from agriculture and industrial operations, the MD surrounds the communities of Okotoks, High River, Black Diamond, Priddis, Blackie, Turner Valley, Heritage Pointe, Aldersyde, Cayley, De Winton, Longview and Millarville.

The Koi fish are happy to be in their Devonian Gardens home.

Yesterday was the reopening of the Devonian Gardens in The Core Downtown. After 4 years the newly renovated indoor park was welcomed back into downtown culture with much fanfare including Mayor Nenshi, Alderman Druh Farrell, Alderman John Mar and Ann Charlton, Director of Parks. At yesterday's vine cutting there were a lot of news outlets but many more people enjoying their lunch, a welcome sight to the indoor oasis.